The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has announced significant reductions in licensing fees for non-financial and retail businesses, effective from January 1, 2025. The new fee structure is part of transitional arrangements for businesses on Al Reem Island, within ADGM’s jurisdiction, which includes both Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
Under the revised structure, fees for new non-financial business registrations will drop from $10,000 to $5,000, while annual license renewals will decrease from $8,000 to $5,000. For the retail category, new registration fees will be cut from $6,000 to $2,000, and renewals will also be reduced to $2,000.
The changes come after a series of consultations with Al Reem Island businesses. Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM’s Registration Authority, said, “We assessed the financial impact on different business categories and previously implemented a fee waiver for qualifying non-financial and retail businesses on Al Reem Island. Building on these efforts, we have now revised our fee structure to include significant reductions for the same categories starting next year. Our aim is to minimize potential disruptions for businesses transitioning to an ADGM licence, enabling them to operate efficiently within our jurisdiction.”
While the reductions benefit non-financial and retail businesses, other categories will see changes as well. Licensing fees for the financial category will increase from $15,000 to $20,000, with renewals rising from $13,000 to $15,000. Tech and fintech startups will see fees increase from $1,000 to $1,500 for both new registrations and renewals. Fees for the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) category will remain unchanged at $1,900.