Build around the facility, supply chain and market route.
ITQAN helps assess the jurisdiction, activity, entity, facility, customs, visas and post-licensing work.
KEZAD means Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. Part of AD Ports Group, it operates economic zones, industrial real estate and business facilities across Abu Dhabi.
Its portfolio includes Free Zone and Domestic Economic Zone options, so jurisdiction, activity and facility must be confirmed together. KIZAD is a legacy search term; KEZAD is the current identity.
| Consideration | KEZAD Free Zone | Domestic Economic Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Foreign ownership, subject to entity and activity. | Current UAE ownership rules apply. |
| Target market | Export, re-export and international distribution. | Direct UAE and GCC-focused operations. |
| Customs treatment | Free-zone declarations and transaction-based duties. | Domestic customs and product procedures. |
| Facilities | Offices, warehouses and industrial facilities. | Land and facilities based on operations. |
| Market access | Mainland sales may require an importer and clearance. | Domestic access, subject to licence and regulation. |
Origin certification, GCC duty treatment and “Made in UAE” status depend on manufacturing, customs, local-content and certification rules; they are not automatic.
Potential applicants include importers, exporters, distributors, logistics providers, warehouse operators, light industry, manufacturers, automotive-parts companies, food processors, packaging and assembly operations. Activities require approval.
Sector clusters can place companies closer to infrastructure, suppliers, logistics providers, utilities and related services. They do not replace licensing or technical approval.
Routes may cover trading, services, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, import, export and distribution. The activity must match products, processes and revenue.
Combinations require approval. Goods movements may need customs registration; regulated sectors can require technical, environmental, Civil Defence or regulator consent.
Import, export or distribution
Freight, storage or supply chain
Production, processing or assembly
Approved support activities
Categories include workstations, offices, warehouses, light-industrial units, serviced land, build-to-suit projects and startup solutions, subject to availability.
Eligible administrative or service operations.
Approved storage, distribution or fulfilment.
Production requiring utilities and technical review.
Custom facilities for an approved project.
Facility choice can affect licensing, customs, visas, utilities, safety approvals, fit-out and annual cost.
Free Zone company and branch routes may be available to individual or corporate investors. Corporate applicants and branches normally provide authenticated parent documents, resolutions and signatory records. UBO records are required.
Business and market
Free Zone or Domestic
Activity and licence
Facility and space
Initial review
Documents and plan
Technical approvals
Company and licence
Lease and facility
Customs, visas and banking
Accounting and compliance
Industrial projects normally require more feasibility, facility and approval planning than office-based companies. No fixed completion period is guaranteed.
Costs can include licensing, entity, facility, visas, customs, studies, utilities, deposits, fit-out, safety approvals and renewal.
ITQAN prepares an itemised quotation after confirming the operating model. An office promotion cannot estimate an industrial project.
Banks review ownership, funds, suppliers, customers and transactions. Customs-facing companies need accurate declarations, inventory, invoices, bookkeeping, UBO, AML and approval records.
Corporate Tax registration and VAT assessment may apply. The 0% rate requires Qualifying Free Zone Person and Qualifying Income conditions; it is not automatic.
Manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, distribution and re-export.
Technology, sustainability, research and office-based services.
Compare activity, customers, customs, facilities, supply chain and expansion.
Explore Masdar City Free ZoneITQAN supports jurisdiction, activity and facility review, documents, applications, external approvals, customs and immigration guidance, visas, banking preparation, accounting, tax and renewals.
ITQAN is not KEZAD, customs, a regulator or bank. They decide independently.
Practical answers for industrial, logistics and trading investors.
It is a formation jurisdiction within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, part of AD Ports Group, supporting approved trading, logistics and industrial operations.
The Free Zone is commonly considered for export and re-export. The Domestic Economic Zone is generally structured for direct UAE and GCC markets. Customs, ownership and activity rules require review.
Importers, exporters, distributors, logistics providers, warehouse operators, manufacturers and assemblers may consider it, subject to approval.
KEZAD publishes warehouses, light-industrial units, serviced land and build-to-suit facilities. Availability, permitted use and utilities must be confirmed.
A Free Zone licence does not provide unrestricted mainland access. The importer, customs route, duties and product approvals must be assessed.
Cost depends on the licence, entity, facility, utilities, visas, customs and approvals. ITQAN provides an itemised quotation.
No. KEZAD, authorities, facility providers, immigration and banks decide independently.
Share the activity, products, markets, trade route, facility, shareholders and visas.
Discuss Your KEZAD Requirements