Masdar City Free Zone

Masdar City Free Zone is Abu Dhabi’s multi-phased renewable energy project with a mission to invest, incubate and establish a commercially feasible new-energy industry and cleantech hub in Abu Dhabi as well as around the globe. Masdar City is located near Abu Dhabi International Airport and it is emerging as a global hub for the promotion, marketing, sale, servicing and demonstration of renewable energy and sustainable technologies, as well as exploration and development, and investment in renewable energy.

Masdar City plays a very crucial role in encompassing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in sustainable environment and energy beyond hydrocarbons. The Masdar City services as a bridge between today’s fossil-fuel economy and the economy based on sustainability of the future. Masdar City is clean-tech centre and the first project of its kind in the world. It will be the most sustainable cnetre in the world. Masdar City is home to the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As a business centre, Masdar City offers an environment that encourages innovation, offers business development opportunities, provides a lab and test facilities for new technologies, inspires knowledge sharing between likeminded professionals and serves as a magnet for excellent cleantech talent. Moreover, some of the most progressive laboratories in the world are placed at the Masdar Institute, and the existence of such graduate-level research institute provides opportunities to experiment new technologies and ideas. The institute, the world’s first graduate university focused on renewable energy and cleantech, provides a steady stream of some of the best graduates anywhere in the sector.

Masdar City is set to be home to numerous globally renowned companies in cleantech. Such companies include some of Fortune 500 multinationals and the most cutting-edge technology firms. MENA and Asian regions as fast-growing markets are in need of sustainable technology and renewable-energy products and services, driven by strong economic and demographic growth and as well as flexible and supportive regulatory environments and commitments on government levels to sustainable future.

As a free zone, Masdar City offers benefits such as 100% foreign company ownership without the need for a local sponsor or partner. At the same time, company setup process is hassle-free and straight forward.

At Masdar City, companies can:

• Set up headquarter office or regional representative and marketing offices
• Display new technologies in renewable energy and sustainable technology
• Use the facilities of City to experiment new ideas and innovations
• Conduct research in collaboration with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
• Setup research, lab and development facilities
• Offer goods and services for the development of Masdar City further
• Become a part of the large, lucrative and growing cleantech business hub of the Middle East and Asia.

Facilities and Features:

There are many facilities and features the Masdar City offers to its members, including:

• Continuous knowledge sharing across the Masdar City members who are the most talented experts in their sectors.
• Availability of advanced laboratories within the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
• The most effective, state-of-the-art and sustainable infrastructure and buildings that provide the ideal working and living environment for companies and their staff.
• All the amenities one would expect from a world-class city.
• All types of office facilities including high-class offices, laboratories, testing facilities, concept stores and retail shops.

Free Economic Zone Benefits:

Masdar City is developed as a Free Economic Zone and offers all the benefits that any other Free Zone in the UAE offers. Though Masdar City’s is focused on clean technology and development of renewable energy and sustainable economy.

As a Free Zone, Masdar City offers following benefits:

• Speedy and easy set up registration and licensing process
• No taxes or customs duty for import and export
• No any kind of personal and corporate tax
• No restrictions on capital repatriation and profits
• 100% foreign ownership of companies
• No currency restrictions
• Companies can hire staff from other countries
• A stable and pleasant working environment
• High quality of living standards
• Well established logistics network including air, sea and road

Areas of Focus

Investors or corporations looking to establish a presence in Masdar City should identify in which specific sector(s) they will operate:

• Water and Waste Water
• Energy Generation
• Air and Environment
• Energy Storage
• Energy Transmission and Distribution
• Energy Efficiency Equipments
• Recycling and Solid Waste
• Transportation
• Green Building
• Regional Headquarters
• Consultancy
• Organic Products
• Non-Profit Organisation
• Cleantech and ICT
• Marketing
• Business Information
• Human Resources Development
• Service Providers

Types of Company Legal Structures

There three types of company legal structures that one can select to incorporate:

• A branch of a foreign company or UAE-based company (including companies incorporated in other free economic zones in the UAE)
• A free zone limited liability company owned by a corporate shareholders
• A free zone limited liability company owned by an individual shareholders

Our Expertise

At Mimo Legal Consulting we have the expertise you need to setup your business in the UAE. We will help you to choose the right legal structure and license based on your requirements and business objectives. We also assist you in opening your bank account and acquiring residency visas in the UAE. If you are interested in setting up your business in the UAE, please contact us for further information.