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  1. Home
  2. ›Free zones
  3. ›Abu Dhabi
  4. ›ICAD

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ICAD rules at a glance

Licensing authority
Federal/Emirate Authority
Sector regulator
ZonesCorp (Industrial City of Abu Dhabi)
Legal system
UAE Civil Law
Can qualify for 0% Corporate Tax (QFZP)
Yes
Audited accounts required
Yes
Foreign ownership
Up to 100%
Licence renewal
anniversary

Comparing zones?

Estimate your setup cost across every free zone

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Other free zones in Abu Dhabi

  • Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ)
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
  • Al Ain International Airport Free Zone (AAIAFZ)
  • Hub71
  • Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD)
  • Masdar City (MCFZ)
  • twofour54 Abu Dhabi

Want help setting up in ICAD?

Leave your details and an adviser will call you back about setting up in Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ZonesCorp). There's no charge to ask.

Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ZonesCorp) (ICAD)Free zone tax status and compliance

Abu Dhabi

Federal/Emirate Authority

The Verdict

The Industrial Powerhouse; Specialized in 'Mass-Balance' Forensic Audits.

I. Statutory Basis

As a Qualifying Free Zone Person, this jurisdiction requires strict adherence toCore Income-Generating Activities.ZonesCorp jurisdiction. The 0% QFZP rate hinges on Article 18 criteria for 'High-Value Manufacturing.' Compliance requires a rigorous verification of localized Core Income-Generating Activities (CIGA) and physical asset anchoring.

Compliance Roadmap

01

Mass-Balance Forensic Audit: Implementing a quarterly reconciliation between raw material 'Bills of Entry' and finished 'Exit Certificates'

02

Utility-to-Output Mapping: Utilizing industrial electricity and water consumption data as secondary proof of localized production volume

03

By-Product Revenue Characterization: Forensically separating 0% 'Primary Product' income from 9% 'Mainland Industrial Waste' sales

Audit Hotspots

Applying the 0% rate to mainland-sourced industrial waste or scrap sales (Taxable at 9%)

Mismatched fixed asset registries during physical FTA site inspections

Failing to document 'Maintenance and Repair' services rendered to mainland oilfield sites as Non-Qualifying Income

Jurisdictional Connectivity

Check your ICAD setup

Scout scores Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ZonesCorp) against your activity, ownership and visa needs, with full setup costs, and compares it with every other free zone and mainland.

See costs and setup options
Global Parent

15%

ICAD

0%

Live Node
Dubai Mainland

9%

Forensic Brief

Qualifying Income requires physical CIGA within the zone boundaries. Article 18 mapping is mandatory to maintain 0% status.