Registering a Branch Office

• Doing Business in Masdar City
• Regional Market Opportunities
• Special Economic Zone
  • Business Benefits
  • One-Stop Shop
• Setting up in Masdar City
  • Registering a Branch Office
  • Registering a Limited Liability Company with Corporate Shareholders
  • Registering a Limited Liability Company with Individual Shareholders
  • Registration Form
  • Check Application Status
• Registered Entities

The registration process generally takes five working days to complete. What follows is an outline of the steps; however, please contact the One-Stop Shop for more information regarding a full documents checklist and other important notes regarding this process.

Completion of the following steps will ensure your application is expeditiously processed, although in certain instances, Masdar City may reserve the right to ask for additional documentation / authentication as deemed necessary.

Handover of Legal Documents

The Business Development Associate handling your account will meet with you to guide you through the submission of legal documents required for registering your branch office. Together you will review the documents against the checklist so as to ensure they are complete.

Review of Legal Documents

Your legal documents will be reviewed by our Registration team so as to ensure that the necessary information pertaining to the parent company and the proposed branch office are in order. This review process takes up to three working days. It is at this stage that your file is either accepted or returned for additional information.

Issuance of Branch Office Licence & Lease Agreement

Once your legal file has been accepted by the Registration team, your Branch office licence will be issued within two working days. The Business Development Associate handling your account will contact you to fix an appointment to sign your lease and collect a copy of your licence.

Please note that at this stage in the process you will need to make a down payment towards:

• Leased Office premises (equal to 50% of the annual rent)
• Registration Fee (one-time fee)
• Annual Licence Fee (subject to the number of segments and activities listed on the licence)
• Rental Deposit (equal to two months rent)

Collection of Licence

With a copy of your licence you will be able to open a corporate account with a local bank. Once the account is opened you will need to issue post-dated cheques to cover the remainder of your first-year lease. Upon the receipt of your cheques Masdar City will release all legal documents.