Tajer Abu Dhabi licence holders get one-year extension to operate without office space

Entrepreneurs operating under the Tajer Abu Dhabi licence will get another year to run their businesses without securing physical premises. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development said the extension applies to Tajer Abu Dhabi licence holders whose existing period to operate without physical premises expires during 2026. The measure is intended to reduce costs associated with setting up and launching a business while giving entrepreneurs greater flexibility during their early stages of operation. Tajer Abu Dhabi was launched in 2017 to allow entrepreneurs to establish and grow businesses across a range of activities. Demand for the licence has continued to rise, with the number of new Tajer Abu Dhabi licences increasing by 24% in 2025 and another 8% during the first half of 2026. The number of economic activities covered by the licence has also expanded considerably, rising from 30 when the programme was launched to more than 1,200 today. ADDED has also extended the validity period for new Rowad industrial licences from two years to three years before the construction phase begins. Industrial licences covering projects under construction will meanwhile remain valid for four years instead of three, giving investors additional time before production starts.