A sole establishment in Abu Dhabi gives a single individual full ownership of the business, licensed through ADDED, without the multi-shareholder structure an LLC requires — the same core structure used across the UAE, adapted to the capital's own registration process.
How it differs from an LLC
The owner bears full personal liability for the business's debts and obligations, unlike an LLC's limited-liability shield — a trade-off for the structure's relative simplicity and typically faster formation process. This makes it best suited to professional or consultancy activities with lower liability exposure.
Professional vs commercial categories
As in other emirates, Abu Dhabi distinguishes between professional sole establishments (consultancy, medical, legal and similar service activities) and commercial sole establishments (trading activities), with somewhat different registration requirements for each — confirm which category applies to your specific activity.
Costs and timeline
A sole establishment is generally faster and simpler to form than an LLC, without the MoA drafting an LLC's shareholder structure requires. Model your specific case with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator.