Abu Dhabi extends office-free period for entrepreneurs — The National

In Abu Dhabi, UAE, authorities have extended by one year the period during which entrepreneurs can operate without an office under the Tajer licensing programme. The decision is intended to reduce one of the biggest initial costs for small businesses and is part of measures to attract investment and develop the emirate’s non-oil economy.

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development said Tajer licence holders will have more time to establish and grow businesses before incurring expenses for commercial premises. The National reports.

Demand for the programme is growing

The number of new Tajer Abu Dhabi licences in the first half of the year rose by 8% after increasing by nearly a quarter last year. The list of activities covered by the programme has expanded from 30 when it was launched in 2017 to more than 1,200.

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Other business support measures include exempting business entities from unpaid fines accrued due to the late renewal or cancellation of economic licences. According to the department, 7,823 commercial and industrial enterprises have benefited from this initiative.

Changes for industrial projects

The department has also extended the validity period of Rowad industrial licences, which are intended to give investors more flexibility during the establishment and construction stages of enterprises. The licence period before construction begins was increased from two to three years, while for projects at the construction stage it was extended from three to four years before production begins.

Hamad Al Mazrouei, the department’s deputy head, said the changes to Tajer Abu Dhabi and Rowad licences were developed following discussions with the private sector and research by specialist teams. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of new economic licences issued in the UAE capital rose by 21% year on year.