The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) stated that the new economic licences in 2025 were 29 percent higher than in 2024. The renewed licences surged by 20 percent in 2025, and active licences rose by 13.5 percent compared to 2024.
This expansion was backed by the programmes introduced by ADRA, such as updating the list of expired economic licences and increasing the number of economic activities to serve the interests of the entrepreneurs and investors in different sectors, providing more confidence in the business ecosystem of Abu Dhabi.
The new economic licences registered high growth rates in various sectors and regions. Industrial licences rose by 20 percent, tourism by 10 percent, occupational by 122 percent, professional by 28 percent, and commercial by 28 percent, and agricultural, fishery, and livestock activities licences by 12 percent, as compared to 2024.
Geographically, the economic licences were 29 percent higher in Al Ain, 16 percent in Al Dhafra, and 31 percent in Abu Dhabi City.
Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, Director-General of ADRA, stated, “We reaffirm our commitment to doubling our efforts to meet investor needs, continuously improve the business sector, and support the attraction of local and international investments to capitalise on the opportunities offered by our dynamic economy and contribute to achieving Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities.”
He said, “Reflecting the success of our initiatives to ensure full compliance of economic establishments in the emirate with local and federal legislation and international standards, as well as to enhance the competitiveness of Abu Dhabi’s economy, compliance with ‘Real beneficiary’ requirements continued to grow in 2025, with 53,701 declarations registered, an increase of 14 percent compared to 47,261 declarations in 2024.”
Al Mansoori pointed out that ADRA will follow a data-driven strategy and be backed by extensive research and active dialogue with investors and stakeholders, as the implementation of innovative digital resources to provide the most optimal environment to develop business and allow entrepreneurs to take advantage of the diversified and evolving economic potential of the emirate.
He reported that the formation of ADRA was among the plans of Abu Dhabi to speed up the growth and diversification of the economy by offering streamlined procedures, advisory services, improved regulatory procedures, and easy access to the booming economic ecosystem in Abu Dhabi.
Al Mansoori added, “Commercial activity indicators during the past year highlight the sector’s vitality, with total promotional offers increasing by 8 percent and advertisements by 26 percent. Tajer Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Trader), freelancer, and the ‘Mobdea’ licences continued to grow, confirming the importance of the initiatives launched in recent years to facilitate doing business and keep pace with major economic and technological transformations.”
“Mobdea,” a platform that aims to empower Emirati women entrepreneurs to transform their creative interests into business ventures, expanded from 2,503 in 2024 to 3,306 in 2025, and raised 32 percent.
Thus, the freelancer licences surged from 2,065 in 2024 to 3,502 in 2025, indicating a 70 percent rise. New Tajer Abu Dhabi licences soared from 7,187 in 2024 to 8,901 in 2025, up 24 percent.
Tajer Abu Dhabi licence allows entrepreneurs to begin their business in more than 1,200 economic activities without the necessity of having a physical location for the first three years.
