Licence onlyAED 7,000
Extra visaVisa package 3,050 + medical 350 + EID 450 (+ est. card 1,600, eChannels 2,600 once; 2,500 refundable deposit)
OfficeVirtual desk 6,000/yr; flexi desk 10,000/yr
Visa quotaInnovation 2; Enterprise 3
Activities per licence2–6 by package (+2,500 general / 5,000 special)
What the lowest price covers: Startup package: up to 2 activities (+5% VAT); office separate
Fees subject to 5% VAT except leases.
Official packages
| Package | Price | Visas | Term | Includes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup +5% VAT | AED 7,000 | 0 | 1 | Licence Not included: Office; visa costs – see fee items | High |
| Innovation +5% VAT | AED 12,000 | 0 quota 2 | 1 | Licence; 2-visa quota Not included: Visa costs – see fee items | High |
| Business One +5% VAT | AED 17,500 | 1 | 1 | Licence; one free visa | High |
| Enterprise +5% VAT | AED 27,000 | 0 quota 3 | 1 | Licence; 3-visa quota Not included: Visa costs – see fee items | High |
Official fee items
| Item | Amount | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual desk | AED 6,000 | per year | |
| Flexi desk | AED 10,000 | per year | + refundable deposit of 2 months' rent |
| Immigration establishment card | AED 1,600 | one-off | |
| eChannels registration | AED 2,600 | one-off | Annual renewal figure on site has a typo – confirm |
| Employment visa deposit | AED 2,500 | per employee | |
| Employment visa package (2-year) | AED 3,050 | per person | Excludes medical and Emirates ID |
| In-country entry permit | AED 800 | per person | If applicable |
| Change of status | AED 900 | per person | If applicable |
| Medical | AED 350 | per person | |
| Emirates ID (2 years) | AED 450 | per person | |
| Special company name | AED 1,000 | one-off | Subject to DED approval |
| Extra activity – general | AED 2,500 | per activity | |
| Extra activity – special | AED 5,000 | per activity |
Licensed activities
Masdar City doesn’t publish an activity list online. Ask the zone or a setup company.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Masdar City licence cost?
The cheapest package Masdar City publishes is Startup at AED 7,000, which covers startup package: up to 2 activities (+5% VAT), office separate. These are Masdar City’s own figures, checked on 2 Nov 2026. A bigger office, extra activities or visas, and government fees can add to the total — the packages table above shows what each price includes.
How many visas can I get with a Masdar City licence?
The published visa allowance is innovation 2, Enterprise 3. Each additional visa costs Visa package 3,050 + medical 350 + EID 450 (+ est. card 1,600, eChannels 2,600 once, 2,500 refundable deposit). Visa medicals and Emirates ID are paid separately to the government. If you plan to hire more people later, check the quota before you pick a package.
What business activities are allowed in Masdar City?
Masdar City doesn’t publish its full activity list online. It mainly serves clean tech, sustainability, startups, consulting. Ask the zone to confirm your activity before paying, or search 25,000+ activities to find zones that list it officially.
Do I need an office in Masdar City?
The published package comes with virtual desk 6,000/yr, flexi desk 10,000/yr. A larger or dedicated office costs more, so ask for the exact space your visa count needs.
Who is Masdar City a good fit for?
Masdar City is a common choice for clean tech, sustainability, startups, consulting. Strengths: published official packages and itemised fees, startup ecosystem. Worth checking first: LLC capital requirement. Compare Masdar City side by side with other zones.
Can a Masdar City company sell to customers in mainland UAE?
Usually not directly. A free zone company is licensed to work inside its zone and to trade internationally. To sell to customers elsewhere in the UAE you normally need a local distributor, a mainland branch, or an extra permit from the emirate’s economic department. If most of your customers will be in the UAE, also look at Abu Dhabi mainland.
How do I contact Masdar City?
Phone: 800 6239, email: Not published (form). Website: masdarcityfreezone.com ↗. Authorised channel partners page: masdarcityfreezone.com/authorised-channel-partners. If you’d rather have someone handle it for you, tap “Get help on WhatsApp” on this page to reach our setup partner.