1 Visa Package
1 residence visa · 1-year licence
AED 14,850
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 1 visa eligibility
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
MAINLAND · ABU DHABI
Construction & Contracting on Abu Dhabi Mainland
Building, civil works, MEP and specialist contracting for clients across the UAE
5–7 daysSetup time100%OwnershipUp to 3 visasVisas
- 5–7 daysSetup time
- MainlandLicence type
- Flexi | PhysicalOffice / facility
- Up to 3 visasVisa eligibility
- StandardApprovals needed
- From AED 11,000Renewal cost
About Abu Dhabi
Why Abu Dhabi
Choosing Abu Dhabi mainland gives you a licence that landlords, government departments and large corporate customers recognise without a second thought. Abu Dhabi is the capital — government contracts, energy supply chains and the Tajer Abu Dhabi licence, and GoldenKey registers mainland companies there with the economic department week in, week out. Construction & Contracting in Abu Dhabi means building, civil works, MEP and specialist contracting for customers across the UAE, and it is licensed as a commercial activity. On the ground, external approvals for construction & contracting are: municipality contractor classification; civil defence for MEP work.
In practice, abu Dhabi mainland licences are released by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), which currently processes most standard files in around 5 business days. The Tajer Abu Dhabi licence allows over 1,000 activities without a physical office for two years. Abu Dhabi is a sensible home for construction & contracting because building, civil works, MEP and specialist contracting for customers across the UAE is a well-understood activity there and the approvals are routine.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Use the table below to compare packages for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. All prices for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before a single dirham changes hands.
2 Visa Package
2 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 19,800
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 2 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
3 Visa Package
3 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 24,750
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 3 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
Additional visaAED 3,520
Annual renewalAED 11,000
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-27.
Business activities
Explore business activities in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi licenses trading, service, professional and industrial activities. Search every activity we license across the UAE and see where it is available and what it costs.
Required documents
Documents required
In short, for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland the registrar asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
- An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
- Passport photographs on a white background
- External approvals where the activity requires them, for example from the health authority, RERA or the municipality
- The existing visa copy and NOC if a shareholder is on another UAE visaif applicable
For companies
- Certificate of incorporation (attested)
- Memorandum & articles of association
- Board resolution approving the UAE company
- Passport copies of shareholders & directors
- Company profile / business plan
Our process
How Abu Dhabi works with GoldenKey
- 1
Activity and legal form
Day to day, we pick the precise activity codes from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals.
- 2
Trade name and initial approval
GoldenKey reserves your trade name and obtains initial approval from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), including any external approvals your activity needs. If the authority raises a query on construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland at this stage, we handle it the same day.
- 3
Office, MOA and submission
The memorandum of association is signed (online or before the notary), your tenancy is registered and the complete file is submitted to the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
- 4
Licence, Chamber and immigration
The Abu Dhabi mainland licence is released, Chamber membership activated, and we open the establishment and labour files so visa processing can start. Your portal shows the status of this step for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland in real time.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Abu Dhabi. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsHow long does Abu Dhabi mainland company formation take?
With paperwork and a tenancy contract ready, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) usually issues the licence within 5 working days (Monday to Friday). External approvals for regulated activities add time.
Are Abu Dhabi mainland companies subject to corporate tax?
Yes. Mainland companies pay 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 and must register with the FTA, which GoldenKey handles as part of your setup.
Can a Abu Dhabi mainland company trade in other emirates?
Absolutely. A mainland licence is valid across the UAE, and you can open branches in other emirates by registering with their economic departments.
Is construction & contracting allowed in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Construction & Contracting is an available activity in {ent}, and GoldenKey lists the exact sub-activities on your licence. Municipality contractor classification; civil defence for MEP work.
Can I combine construction & contracting with other activities?
In most cases yes. Related activities can share one licence, while unrelated ones may need a general trading licence or a second licence.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Abu Dhabi?
Importantly, call or WhatsApp GoldenKey today and a case manager will walk you through construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland step by step, with no obligation and no pressure.
Good to know
More about Abu Dhabi
Why the UAE
Just as important, the UAE's reputation as a trading hub means international clients and suppliers already trust a UAE licence, which shortens sales cycles for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland. The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland and makes international pricing simple.
Why GoldenKey
After your Abu Dhabi licence is released, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped company owners from more than 60 countries with construction & contracting on Abu Dhabi mainland, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. Put simply, if a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your Abu Dhabi file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the application sit.
