Free Zones

KEZAD: Company Setup & Accounting Guide

2025-12-28 · 4 min read · By Aureus Worldwide

KEZAD, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, is Abu Dhabi's flagship integrated economic zones platform, operated by AD Ports Group and built around large-scale industry, manufacturing, logistics and trade. Linked to Khalifa Port and offering both free-zone and non-free-zone options, it is one of the largest industrial ecosystems in the region. This guide explains how a KEZAD company setup works, the licences and land it offers, the steps, and the accounting and tax obligations that follow.

Why choose KEZAD

KEZAD's defining advantages are scale and integration: vast industrial land, warehousing, utilities and logistics infrastructure connected to Khalifa Port and Abu Dhabi's wider network. It offers 100% foreign ownership in its free-zone areas, profit repatriation and a single-platform process, plus the flexibility of free-zone and non-free-zone setups. It suits manufacturers, heavy industry and logistics operators that need real capacity rather than a virtual office.

Who it suits

KEZAD is a strong fit for:

• Manufacturing and heavy-industrial operations
• Logistics, distribution and supply-chain businesses
• Trading companies needing warehousing at scale
• Metals, chemicals, food and building-materials sectors
• Companies wanting industrial land near Khalifa Port

Licence and activities

KEZAD issues licences across industrial, logistics, commercial and service categories, with free-zone and non-free-zone routes.

Confirm the current activity list, the free-zone versus non-free-zone choice and any approvals with the authority.

Facilities

KEZAD is infrastructure-led, typically offering:

• Large industrial land plots for development
• Pre-built warehouses and logistics units
• Utilities, worker accommodation and port links
• Sector-specific zones and clusters

Premises and land choices affect visa allocations, so plan them with your workforce needs and confirm current options with the authority.

Setup steps

1. Choose your activity, licence type and free-zone vs non-free-zone route.
2. Reserve a compliant company name.
3. Select your structure and shareholders (full foreign ownership in free-zone areas).
4. Choose land or premises.
5. Submit documents and receive approval and the licence.
6. Process establishment card and visas, including labour where relevant.
7. Open a corporate bank account, see our bank account guide.

Our company formation team can run this end to end.

Accounting, audit and tax considerations

A KEZAD company has the same UAE-wide obligations as any other entity:

• Bookkeeping and cost accounting. Manufacturing and logistics need strong cost, inventory and fixed-asset accounting, see our accounting service.
• Audit. Free zones commonly expect audited financial statements at renewal; our audit team arranges this through licensed partner firms.
• Corporate Tax. Register and file federally. A QFZP may access 0% on qualifying income with substance and within the de minimis limits; otherwise 9% applies above AED 375,000. Note that non-free-zone entities are taxed on the standard basis, see our tax service.
• VAT and customs. Register for VAT at the threshold and manage import VAT, customs duty and excise where relevant.

Setup timeline and costs

A KEZAD setup ranges widely: a service or trading licence can be quick, while securing and developing industrial land or commissioning a warehouse adds substantial lead time. Costs depend on the free-zone or non-free-zone route, the licence type, the land or premises, utilities, the number of visas (including labour) and your activities, and KEZAD revises its terms periodically. Confirm current fees, land terms and packages directly with the authority rather than relying on third-party figures, and plan around a realistic project timeline. Customs registration, sector approvals for certain industries and bank-account opening can extend the overall process.

Staying compliant after setup

A KEZAD licence is renewed periodically, and obligations continue between renewals. Diarise renewal and lease dates and prepare early so visas, labour quotas, customs codes and banking are not disrupted. Industrial and logistics businesses should keep cost, inventory, asset and customs records current throughout the year, alongside Corporate Tax registration and any VAT filings. Remember that non-free-zone entities are taxed on the standard basis, so confirm which regime applies to your setup, and review land use and visa allocation before each renewal to keep a large operation running without gaps.

KEZAD at a glance

KEZAD versus Masdar City

KEZAD is built for heavy industry and logistics at scale, while Masdar City Free Zone targets clean tech, sustainability and knowledge businesses in Abu Dhabi. Choose based on whether you need industrial capacity or an innovation-led address. For a broader framework, see choosing the right UAE free zone.

How Aureus Worldwide helps

Aureus Worldwide helps founders set up in KEZAD end to end, choosing the free-zone or non-free-zone route, the right licence, land and visas through our company formation team. We then keep you compliant with accounting, Corporate Tax, VAT and customs, and arrange audit through licensed partners. We confirm changeable fees and land terms with the authority before you commit. To set up in KEZAD, contact us.

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