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Abu Dhabi Has Dropped Business Setup Fees By Up To 94%

Thanks to the new initiative, setting up a new business in Abu Dhabi will cost you as little as 1,000 AED.

Published

4 years ago

August 6, 2021

Joanna Melki

abu dhabi has dropped business setup fees by up to 94 percent

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Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and other government entities are determined to make the capital of the United Arab Emirates even more attractive to entrepreneurs because they’ve decided to lower business setup fees by up to 94 percent.

“We hope this significant change in fee structure helps to further ease the set-up process for new and existing investors,” explains Mohammed Al Shorafa, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. “Our goal for Abu Dhabi, as part of our new economic strategy, is to create a thriving business environment that encourages growth and innovation. Ease of starting and managing a business is a key lever, and we strongly believe the restructuring of fees will help us achieve this goal.”

The new business setup fees amount to just 1,000 AED ($273 USD), and they came to effect on July 27, 2021, covering all fees from Abu Dhabi government entities such as Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, membership fees for Abu Dhabi Chamber, CoC (Certificate of Conformity) issuance fee, and others.

This isn’t the first move Abu Dhabi have made in order to attract more entrepreneurship. In the past, the city has provided everything from rent rebates and discounts on utility bills to loan guarantee packages. Combined, all these business growth measures create an environment that’s especially favorable to tech entrepreneurs, who often compete with large enterprises with minimal financial resources. The less fees and other expenses they have to worry about, the more money they can dedicate to developing a great product and making it available to customers.

Also Read: How To Start An Online Business In Dubai (2023 Guide)

Abu Dhabi expects its economy to grow as much as 8 percent during the next two years as it recovers from the pandemic. The growth is expected to be driven mainly by government spending, foreign direct investment, the oil sector, and financial services.

Related Topics:Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

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Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.