Incorporation • ADGM

ADGM Operating Company

Businesses can establish an operational company in ADGM quickly and easily and benefit from the selection of a wide range of permitted business activities.
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Why an ADGM Operating Company?

Grow and scale in Abu Dhabi’s award-winning international financial centre, providing an international and supportive business environment. Companies benefit from the low cost, speed, and simplicity that ADGM’s fully digitized incorporation process achieves, while investors are attracted by the investment flexibility and legal protections that ADGM’s regulatory environment provides. Clara can also assist with work permits and visas, securing office space and other government services.

Please get in touch with us to get an instant quote on your email in under one minute.

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Journey

Process of forming an ADGM Operating Company

Proposal

Sign proposal with pricing.

01

/07

KYC

Client completes KYC form to provide identification details. Client is the individual or corporate entity who will sign our engagement and pay our invoice.

02

/07

Engagement

Engagement letter signed and invoice paid.

03

/07

Complete form

Client completes the business application form.

04

/07

Sign Lease

Client signs the office or desk lease.

05

/07

Incorporation documents

Clara prepares the documents and client signs.

06

/07

Submission

Incorporation documents submitted to ADGM

07

/07

From SPVs to Tech Startup licenses and foundations, Clara’s got you covered in ADGM.

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ADGM Operating Company

Requirements to set up an operating company in ADGM 

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Proposal

A proposal with pricing will be prepared based on the requirements of the company being formed.

Information on structure and documents provided

Provide information on the company being formed, including its shareholders, directors, authorized signatory, its proposed activities, and data protection activities.

You can adopt the ADGM model Articles of Association or provide your own amended Articles and you will need to provide the location of where the financial records will

be maintained.

Submit and review

After completing the information and compiling the identification documents for all the stakeholders, you submit your incorporation to Clara. This will be reviewed by the Clara team and must be approved by our compliance team.

Invoice and payment

Clara issues your invoice, and payment is to be received.

Lease

A signed copy of your office lease on Al Maryah or Al Reem Island must be provided to Clara. The lease must be for a minimum of 12 months and issued in the name of the company being incorporated.

Sign and submit

Clara will create the incorporation pack which is sent to all stakeholders for e-signature. After the incorporation documents are signed, Clara will file the incorporation application with ADGM.

Incorporation

The ADGM review time is typically 7–10 business days. You can track the progress on the Clara dashboard every step of the way.

Clara bundles

Save up to $795 when you bundle your formation with our platform subscription

Make the most of Clara by integrating the formation and management of your company with our wider company OS.
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3,000+

Companies incorporated
In ADGM and DIFC.

45+

Countries
Our customers operate from more than 45 different countries.

80%

Savings on fees
Our customers on average save more than 80% on their annual legal and admin fees.

Clara Money

Launch your USD bank account in minutes when your company is managed by Clara Formations.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any minimum capital requirements?

Operational companies that are set up as private companies limited by shares do not have any minimal capital requirements. Public Companies have minimum share capital requirements.

Will my ADGM company need to lease an office?

Operating companies must have a minimum of one allocated desk space on Al Maryah or Al Reem Island. A lease, in the name of the ADGM company being formed, will need to be signed before ADGM will issue the commercial license. The number of desks or size of the office leased will limit the number of visas available to the company. You will find a number of office space providers here.

Can I incorporate the ADGM company with multiple classes of shares and / or customized Articles of Association?

Yes, you can. You will need to provide Clara with the customized Articles of Association for filing at the time of incorporation. A declaration will need to be signed by the incorporating shareholders that these have been prepared in accordance with the ADGM Regulations.

Are there ongoing obligations for an ADGM company?

Yes. With the introduction of corporate tax in the UAE, all entities must register with the FTA within 3 months of incorporation and complete regular filings with the FTA. Clara does not provide accounting or tax advisory services and will not be providing notifications for due dates for any filings due with the FTA.

Most changes to a company (e.g. director and shareholder changes) trigger an obligation to file the change within 14 days. Notify Clara in advance or immediately following changes. Annually, the company must file its commercial licence and data protection renewal, an annual confirmation statement and financial accounts.

What are you waiting for?

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