Beside the Capital's Airports
Adjacent to Abu Dhabi International, with a presence across Al Ain and Al Bateen — direct proximity to air cargo, passenger traffic and aviation infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ)
Company Formation
Set up beside the capital's airports. Operated by Abu Dhabi Airports and spanning more than 12 km² around Zayed International Airport, with a presence across Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive airports, ADAFZ is built for aviation, aerospace, logistics and air-connected trade — with warehousing and aircraft hangars on site.
- 100% Ownership
- Abu Dhabi Airports
- Aviation & Aerospace
- Logistics & Cargo
- Airside-Adjacent
The Capital's Airport Free Zone
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) is operated by Abu Dhabi Airports and spans more than 12 km2 adjacent to Zayed International Airport, with a presence across Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive airports. Built for aviation, aerospace, aircraft interiors, airport services, logistics, e-commerce and ICT, it offers warehousing and aircraft hangars under 100% foreign ownership.
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) is operated by Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of the emirate's airports. It spans more than 12 km² adjacent to Zayed International Airport, with a presence across Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive airports, giving businesses direct proximity to air cargo, passenger traffic and aviation infrastructure.
Its focus follows its location. ADAFZ was built to serve aviation, aerospace, aircraft interiors and airport services, alongside logistics, e-commerce and ICT businesses that depend on air connectivity. It offers world-class warehousing units and aircraft hangars, making it a natural base for MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), air cargo, freight forwarding and time-sensitive trade. For any business whose model runs through an airport, ADAFZ pairs that airside adjacency with 100% foreign ownership and the standard free-zone framework.
Airside adjacency + hangars and cargo infrastructure
Why Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
ADAFZ competes on aviation and air-logistics capability. For aerospace, MRO, cargo and air-connected trade, proximity to the runway and the right facilities are the deciding factors.
Hangars & Warehousing on Site
Aircraft hangars and world-class warehousing units — the facilities aviation, MRO and air-cargo businesses actually need.
Air-Logistics & Cargo Focus
Built for air freight, forwarding and time-sensitive trade that depends on fast, reliable airside access.
Backed by Abu Dhabi Airports
Operated by the emirate's airports operator — the institutional weight and operational integration behind the zone.
100% Foreign Ownership
Full foreign ownership of the company, with profit and capital repatriation — no local partner required.
UAE Free-Zone Tax Status
Free-zone status with eligibility for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income.
Ideal for
- Aviation and aerospace businesses
- Aircraft MRO, interiors and parts
- Air cargo, freight and logistics operators
- E-commerce and fulfilment with air dependency
- ICT and airport-services businesses
- Time-sensitive and high-value trade
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone Licence Types
ADAFZ licences are weighted towards aviation, logistics and air-connected trade.
Aviation / Aerospace Licence
For aviation, aerospace, MRO, aircraft interiors and airport-services businesses operating beside the runway.
- Aircraft MRO & engineering
- Aerospace components & interiors
- Airport & ground services
- Aviation training & support
- Aviation technology
Logistics / Cargo Licence
For air cargo, freight forwarding, warehousing and the time-sensitive logistics that depend on airside access.
- Air cargo & freight forwarding
- Warehousing & distribution
- E-commerce fulfilment
- Cold-chain & express
- 3PL & supply-chain services
ICT / Commercial Licence
For ICT, trading and commercial activities that benefit from an airport-connected base.
- ICT & technology
- High-value & time-sensitive trade
- Import / export & re-export
- Sales & marketing offices
- Commercial representation
Legal Structures Under Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
ADAFZ recognises the standard free-zone legal forms.
Free Zone LLC (Single Shareholder)
A limited-liability entity with one shareholder, individual or corporate — common for owner-run businesses.
Free Zone LLC (Multiple Shareholders)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders, for partnerships and joint ventures.
Branch of an Existing Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign aviation or logistics company operating under the parent's identity.
How an Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone Company Is Formed
Six steps from activity to a licensed, airside-connected operation.
- 01
Define Activity & Licence Type
Select the aviation, logistics or ICT/commercial activities and the matching licence, and size the facility — hangar, warehouse or office.
- 02
Reserve Name & Initial Approval
Reserve the company name and secure initial approval for the chosen activities.
- 03
Arrange Facility
Select the hangar, warehouse, cargo or office facility that matches the licence and the operation.
- 04
Submit Documents & Sign
Submit incorporation documents and sign the constitutional documents; aviation-regulated activities complete the additional approvals.
- 05
Licence, Establishment Card & Customs
The licence and establishment card are issued, and customs registration is completed for cargo operators.
- 06
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process residence visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone Setup
The standard set, with extra detail for aviation and cargo activities.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed company names and a description of activities
- Business plan for aviation, MRO or logistics operations
- For corporate shareholders: licence, constitutional documents, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
ADAFZ pairs airside adjacency with free-zone ownership.
100% foreign ownership of the company
Full repatriation of profits and capital
Proximity to Abu Dhabi International and two further airports
Aircraft hangars and world-class warehousing on site
An aviation, aerospace and air-cargo ecosystem
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
Operated by Abu Dhabi Airports
More than 12 km² at the capital's main airport, plus a presence at two more
Tax & Compliance Position — Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
ADAFZ entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. As an air-cargo and logistics zone, the VAT and customs position around goods matters.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
ADAFZ entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income.
QFZP eligibilityQualifying activities include logistics, MRO and qualifying trading; sales into the UAE mainland are treated differently. Eligibility needs adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Air-Cargo Treatments Apply
ADAFZ entities follow UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold. Exports and certain international transport and aviation services can be zero-rated, while domestic supplies are standard-rated.
Designated Zone status: verify with FTADesignated-Zone status for goods is set by Cabinet decision and can change; for an air-cargo or logistics operation the treatment turns on the flow. We confirm the current status and map the VAT treatment to your specific operation.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment, with cargo/aviation flows correctly treated
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Customs registration and per-shipment documentation for cargo operators
- Aviation-sector approvals where the activity is regulated
- Trade-licence renewal with the free zone authority
- ESR notification + UBO register maintained and updated
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (Designated Zones)
Sectors Active in Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
ADAFZ's tenant base is aviation, logistics and air-connected trade.
Aviation & Aerospace
MRO & Aircraft Interiors
Air Cargo & Logistics
E-Commerce & Fulfilment
ICT & Technology
Airport Services
Warehousing & Distribution
Trade & Representation
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs ADAFZ setups end-to-end — matching the licence and facility to your operation and handling customs, banking, visas and tax.
Aviation & Logistics Structuring
We structure the entity around your aviation, MRO, cargo or air-logistics operation and the facility it requires.
Cargo & Customs Setup
Customs registration and documentation set up for air cargo, with VAT treatment mapped to your flows.
Aviation Tax & VAT
QFZP assessment for logistics and MRO, plus the zero-rating that can apply to international transport and aviation services.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that onboard aviation and logistics businesses, with the compliance file prepared.
Visas & Emirates ID
Investor, technical and operational visas processed with Emirates ID and medicals.
Ongoing Compliance
Corporate Tax, VAT, customs, ESR and UBO obligations handled so the operation stays compliant.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of an ADAFZ setup — aviation/logistics structuring, customs, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Aviation & Logistics Founders Choose Avyanco for ADAFZ
Three things that come up in every ADAFZ engagement once the licence is issued.
Aviation & Air-Logistics Fluency
We set up aviation, MRO and air-cargo businesses and understand the airside, facility and customs realities ADAFZ is built around.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, facility, customs, bank, visas and tax — coordinated by one team.
Tax Done for Air Trade
QFZP and VAT mapped for the way aviation, MRO and air-cargo revenue actually arises.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone suits aviation, aerospace and air-logistics businesses. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE entities through Avyanco.
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone.
What is Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ)?
ADAFZ is a free zone operated by Abu Dhabi Airports, spanning more than 12 km² adjacent to Zayed International Airport, with a presence across Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive airports. It is built for aviation, aerospace, aircraft interiors and airport services, alongside logistics, e-commerce and ICT, and offers warehousing and aircraft hangars on site.
What is ADAFZ best for?
It is built for air-connected business — aviation, aerospace and MRO; air cargo, freight forwarding and logistics; e-commerce fulfilment with air dependency; and ICT and airport services. Its defining advantage is airside adjacency plus the hangars and warehousing those operations need.
Does ADAFZ have aircraft hangars and warehousing?
Yes. ADAFZ offers world-class warehousing units and aircraft hangars, which is what makes it suitable for MRO, air cargo and aviation businesses rather than a general office-based zone.
Does an ADAFZ company qualify for the 0% Corporate Tax rate?
ADAFZ is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person — which can include logistics, MRO and qualifying trading — while mainland sales are treated differently and non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. We assess the position against your activity.
How is air cargo treated for VAT?
Exports and certain international transport and aviation services can be zero-rated under UAE VAT, while domestic supplies are standard-rated at 5%. Because the treatment depends on the flow, we map the VAT position to your specific cargo or aviation operation rather than assuming a single rate.
Which airports does ADAFZ serve?
ADAFZ operates in proximity to Zayed International Airport, with a presence across Al Ain International Airport and Al Bateen Executive Airport — giving businesses options across passenger, cargo and executive-aviation traffic in the emirate.
Verification & independence
Content verified against Abu Dhabi Airports (adairports.ae) and the UAE Ministry of Economy as of June 2026. Public sources differ on the zone's exact founding year, so this page does not pin it to a single year. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of Abu Dhabi Airports, ADAFZ and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Free zone regulations, Designated-Zone status, aviation-sector approvals, licence categories, VAT treatment and Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with the free zone authority and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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