Free zone company
Company setup in KIZAD, the KEZAD free zone in Abu Dhabi
KIZAD is the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, the industrial and logistics zone next to Khalifa Port. Since 2022 it has been part of KEZAD Group, which belongs to AD Ports Group. It suits manufacturers, logistics firms and traders who need land, warehouses or port access. Caliph helps you choose between its free zone and mainland options and prepares the application.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Emirate
- Abu Dhabi
- Authority
- KEZAD Group (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi), part of AD Ports Group
- Location
- Next to Khalifa Port, between Abu Dhabi city and Dubai
- Known for
- Manufacturing, logistics, metals, polymers, food processing and automotive
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership in the free zone
- Office options
- Shared workstations, offices, pre-built warehouses, light industrial units and serviced land
Overview
Most people still say KIZAD, but the name on the paperwork has changed. In September 2022 AD Ports Group brought Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi and ZonesCorp together as KEZAD Group, short for Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. The group runs 12 economic zones across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The free zone beside Khalifa Port is what founders usually mean when they ask for a KIZAD licence.
KEZAD offers two routes on the same estate. The free zone allows full foreign ownership and suits re-exporters, wholesale distributors, warehousing businesses and factories that sell outside the GCC. The domestic economic zone is a mainland option for companies that sell mainly inside the UAE and the wider Gulf. Choosing between them is the first decision, and it depends on where your customers are.
This is a zone built around production and cargo. KEZAD names automotive, food processing, life science, logistics, metals, polymers and speciality chemicals as its focus sectors. If you only need a desk and a licence for a consulting business, an office-based zone may fit better. Rules differ by activity and facility, and your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you before you apply.
Why companies choose KIZAD
A port on the doorstep
The zone sits next to Khalifa Port, so containers and bulk cargo travel a short distance between the ship and your warehouse.
Land for a factory, as well as desks
KEZAD leases serviced land plots and build-to-suit facilities, which is why heavy and mid-size industry sets up here.
Free zone or mainland on one estate
You can pick the free zone or the domestic economic zone, depending on whether your sales are abroad or inside the UAE and the GCC.
A route into the local market
KEZAD says free zone companies can add a licence from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, or sell through distributors and local agents.
Space that grows in stages
Start in a shared workstation or a pre-built warehouse unit, then move to a larger unit or your own plot as volumes rise.
What to have ready for a KIZAD application
- Passport copies for every shareholder and the proposed manager
- A short description of what you will make, store or trade
- Two or three company name options
- For a corporate shareholder, its incorporation documents and a resolution to open the new company
- Your space requirement: workstation, office, warehouse or land, with rough area and power needs
- For industrial projects, an outline of the process, the raw materials and the output
KEZAD sets the final document list for your licence type and legal form. Your consultant gives it to you before anything is submitted.
How setup in KIZAD works
Choose free zone or mainland
We look at where you sell and decide with you between the KEZAD free zone and the domestic economic zone.
Match the licence to the activity
KEZAD issues industrial, trading and service licences. Your consultant maps your business to the right one and to the legal form, a new company or a branch.
Select the facility
You choose a workstation, an office, a warehouse unit or a land plot. For land and industrial projects the technical details are discussed first.
Submit the application
Caliph prepares the forms and supporting documents and files them with KEZAD.
Sign the lease and receive the licence
Once the application is approved you sign the lease and the company documents, and the licence is issued.
Visas and operations
We process residence visas for you and your team and help with customs registration if you import or export.
Good to know
- KIZAD and KEZAD are not two competing zones. KIZAD is the older name, and KEZAD Group is the organisation that runs the zone today.
- Industrial activities can need approvals from other Abu Dhabi or federal bodies as well as the zone. Your consultant lists these at the start.
- A free zone licence here does not by itself allow direct sales to mainland customers. Ask about the second licence or the domestic economic zone if the UAE market matters to you.
Questions people ask
Is KIZAD the same as KEZAD?
KIZAD stands for Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. In 2022 AD Ports Group combined it with ZonesCorp to form KEZAD Group, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. The zone next to Khalifa Port is the same place, and licences are now handled by KEZAD Group. Many people and search results still use the old name.
Where is KIZAD located?
It is in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, next to Khalifa Port and between Abu Dhabi city and Dubai. KEZAD Group also runs zones elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, so check which site a facility belongs to before you sign a lease.
What kind of business suits KIZAD?
Manufacturers, logistics operators, distributors and re-exporters. KEZAD names automotive, food processing, life science, logistics, metals, polymers and speciality chemicals as focus sectors. Small firms can also start in its shared workstations and offices, but the zone is designed mainly for companies that need space.
Can a KIZAD free zone company sell in the UAE market?
Not directly on the free zone licence alone. KEZAD says free zone companies can sell locally through distributors or local agents, or by adding a licence from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. If most of your sales are in the UAE, the domestic economic zone may be the better start.
How does KIZAD compare with a Dubai free zone such as JAFZA?
Both sit beside a major port and serve trade and industry. KIZAD is regulated in Abu Dhabi and uses Khalifa Port. A Dubai zone makes more sense when your staff, suppliers and customers are already in Dubai. Caliph compares both against your cargo routes and the space you need.
Can I lease land and build my own facility in KIZAD?
Yes. KEZAD offers serviced land plots and build-to-suit facilities as well as pre-built warehouses and light industrial units. Your building plans need the zone's approval, and the lease terms depend on the plot and the project.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
- VisitHapag-Lloyd Building, Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai. P.O. Box 8070
Open in Google Maps