- What
- 100% foreign ownership free-zone setup.
- Who
- Clean tech, AI and innovative companies of any size.
- From abroad
- Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · masdarcity.ae · How we check ↗
In detail
Masdar City Free Zone is a free zone (sustainability & innovation) in the UAE. Abu Dhabi’s sustainability and innovation free zone — home to more than 2,000 companies (site), positioned around clean energy, AI and R&D; 100% foreign ownership; home to the Catalyst CleanTech accelerator and R&D partnership access.
- Amount
- Free zone incentives
- 100% foreign ownership
- package prices not published
- Terms
- No
- Eligibility
- Clean tech, AI and innovative companies of all sizes
- Sectors
- CleanTech, Renewable Energy, AI, Sustainability, R&D
- Benefits
- 100% foreign ownership
- One-stop-shop setup
- Catalyst accelerator on site
- R&D partnerships
- Status
- Active
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Masdar City Free Zone publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“100% Foreign ownership”
“100% exemption for personal taxes”
“more than 1,000 local and international companies of all sizes”
“A home to more than 2,000 companies working across key sectors”
“The Masdar City Free Zone is the most sustainable free zone and business community in the UAE.”
“Home to the first university of AI (MBZUAI), TII, Alesca, and The UAE Genome Project, we're driving progress in artificial intelligence.”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare government programmes in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masdar City Free Zone100% foreign ownership free-zone setup. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Dubai Future FoundationProgramme support and co-creation opportunities. | not published | Not published | Closed |
| twofour54Licence-fee waivers and production-rebate access. | not published | No equity | Active |
| UAE Golden Visa — Entrepreneur5-year renewable residency for entrepreneurs with a qualifying project. | not published | No equity | Active |
| ADGMA RegLab regulatory sandbox; not a funding programme. | not published | No equity | Active |
| ADIOProject-dependent incentive packages. | not published | Equity possible | Active |
| Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority (UAE)National data, AI and digital-government body; not a funder. | not published | Not published | Active |
| CBUAE FinTech SandboxRegulatory permission to test fintech products. | not published | No equity | Active |
| DIFCFinancial free zone with its own regulator, courts and flexible structures; not a funder. | not published | No equity | Active |
| DisruptAD (ADQ)ADQ venture platform managing the AED 535M Ventures Fund (Ghadan 21). | not published | Equity | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does Masdar City Free Zone offer?
100% foreign ownership free-zone setup.
Does Masdar City Free Zone take equity?
No equity — service or permission.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026).
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · masdarcity.ae · Checked October 2026