ADGM Entity Types Explained: Which Structure Is Right for You?

Choosing your entity type quietly shapes everything that follows — your obligations, costs, licence category, and whether you need an office. Getting it right at the start is far easier than unwinding it later. Here is the practical map.

Private company limited by shares

The workhorse for operating businesses — startups, trading and service firms. It has shareholders and directors, conducts real activity, and needs a registered office (a dedicated desk satisfies the minimum). Usually the starting point for a business with customers and staff.

Branch of an existing company

Extends a company you already own elsewhere into ADGM rather than creating a new entity. It operates as part of the parent and needs premises.

Limited liability partnership (LLP)

Favoured by professional services firms — law, accounting, consulting — wanting liability protection in a partnership framework. As an operating firm it needs an office, and because confidentiality matters, usually a private one.

Foundation

Established under ADGM's Foundations Regulations 2017, a foundation is a legal entity with its own personality and no shareholders — blending features of a civil-law foundation and a common-law trust. It's a wealth-structuring and succession vehicle, governed by a council under a charter and by-laws, popular with families. (See family offices in ADGM.)

Fund manager

A regulated entity supervised by the FSRA. Because it's a real, regulated operating firm, it needs genuine premises — typically a private office — even when the funds and SPVs it manages don't.

Special purpose vehicle (SPV)

A passive holding and structuring tool for assets, transactions and ownership chains. By design it can't conduct operational business or hire staff — and it's the principal exception to the office requirement. A Restricted Scope Company variant even allows limited disclosure on the public register.

Which need an office?

• No premises: SPVs and pure holding vehicles.
• A dedicated desk: non-regulated operating companies and tech startups.
• A private office: FSRA-regulated firms, family offices, and most professional firms.

Where a desk or office is needed, Al Reem delivers the same ADGM licence as Al Maryah for AED 1,200 rather than ~AED 3,500 a month.

Deeper: SPVs explained, holding companies, and the office requirement in full.

Talk to MY Coworking

Whichever structure you choose, most need a registered office — we provide one that fits, from a single desk (AED 1,200/month) to a private suite, on Al Reem.

We're on Al Reem Island — 2312 Addax Tower, City of Lights, Abu Dhabi. Email contact@mycoworking.ae to book a tour or get a same-day quote.