Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre (IFC) of Abu Dhabi announces the launch of the new commercial license for ADGM Tech Start-ups for entrepreneurs.
The start-up license is sector-agnostic and enables entrepreneurs to obtain an ADGM operational license, taking advantage of the same globally recognized international operating standards that current ADGM funds, multinationals, SMEs, advisers, and other registered entities benefit from.
A unique regional platform based on Common Law, ADGM is favoured by financiers and other stakeholders across multiple capital-raising, structuring and investment activities, giving start-ups the optimal base and ideal environment for capitalization and growth.
The new Tech Start-up License is highly flexible; where start-ups can receive a full operational license, the option to apply for four residential visas and meet the requirement for a registered address through a range of options, at a nominal cost of $700 only.
Nurtured through their financing lifecycle, from seed to IPO, start-up ventures can begin their journey in this highly cost-effective way, underpinned by the reputable legal framework, robust regulatory regimes for finance, flexibility in structuring options, and access to a growing community of funds, banks, family offices and advisers found at ADGM.
In addition to the new start-up license and as part of its commitment to support the region’s fast-growing start-ups, ADGM is also addressing the growing demand for business-building skills by introducing the Professional Services Support Programme.
The first of its kind in the UAE, the programme is a partnership with leading local and international advisers, aiming to help entrepreneurs from all sectors build up business skills and enhance the investability and scalability of their ventures, covering areas such as legal, compliance, Finance, accounting, and VAT. This programme complements and adds to the support available from the many sector-specific incubators and accelerators in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, to which ADGM-registered start-ups have access.
Commenting on the launch of the ADGM Tech Start-up License, Dhaher Bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of the ADGM Registration Authority said,
“The Tech Start-up License and the Professional Services Support Programme provide tangible solutions to address set-up costs, access to funding and business support. They are only two of the many ADGM initiatives designed to help this important sector.
Together with the many excellent support initiatives from Abu Dhabi government and the greater entrepreneurship ecosystem, they will serve to make Abu Dhabi an even more attractive base for new businesses and ultimately promote economic diversification, foster growth and stimulate the region’s innovation environment.”
Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner of Plug and Play, one of the world’s largest innovation platforms and incubators, added,
“Plug and Play sees ADGM as the ideal platform to host startups from across our international locations that are looking to expand in the GCC, and larger Middle-East region. With the new license and Professional Services Support Programme, startups will be able to leverage ADGM’s top-tier ecosystem of investors, advisors and corporate partners and operate their businesses at scale.”
Both of the new initiatives are in line with the strategic objectives set by ADGM to contribute to boosting the success of start-ups by aligning more broadly with the National Innovation Strategy and Priority Sectors. The latter aims to support economic diversification and encourage innovation with a view to generating new growth opportunities as part of the wider Abu Dhabi 2030 Economic Vision.
