Q: Is it possible to add an industrial activity without adding a product?

Answer: Yes

Q: What should be done in case I cannot attach the documents?

Answer: Make sure to activate Java on the computer device of the applicant or send the attachments via email on IDBbackoffice@ded.abudhabi.ae to be attached to the application.

Q: Is it possible to apply for the industrial license renewal if there is a (technical or legal) modification application already in the system?

Answer: Yes.

Q: Is it possible to apply for a (technical or legal) modification application if there is another (technical or legal) modification application already in the system?

Answer: No.

Q: How to check the status of the application?

Answer: The industrial investor can check the application status through the system or by contacting the Bureau via the available contact info to receive the necessary support.

Q: Do I need to pay the service fees in person?

Answer: No. You can pay the fees using the electronic system.

Q: How to obtain the original industrial license?

Answer: The original license is now electronic and available online through TAMM system or by requesting a copy through email

Q: How can the industrial license be validated?

Answer: The industrial license can be validated by entering its number in the Economic License Enquiry – TAHAQAQ Page on TAMM website

Q: What is the allowed percentage for the industrial license partners?

Answer: Foreign investment is now fully allowed therefore no criteria of percentage shares between partners

Q: How can I obtain the activity code?

Answer: You can do that through the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities on the United Nations Statistics Division website, or by contacting the Bureau via the available contact info.

Q: How to obtain “To Whom It May Concern” certificate from the Bureau?

Answer: By submitting another application – (IO) via the electronic system and attaching an official signed and stamped letter from the factory.

Q: What are the requirements for obtaining the industry pioneers license?

Answer: The industry pioneers license (an individual institution) requires the following: Submitting an application via the website, entering the tradename and the owner’s details, and selecting the industrial activity. The industry pioneers license (companies) requires the following: Reserving the tradename, the Memorandum of Association, entering the partners’ details, and selecting the industrial activity.

Q: How can I change the license from an industry pioneer license to under construction?

Answer: By submitting an application via the email, entering the products and machines data, and attaching the certified lease contract.

Q: How can I change the license from under-construction to production?

Answer: By submitting an application through system, entering the details of the raw materials, and attaching building completion certificate from the Civil Defense or fulfillment of the preventive safety conditions certificate.

Q: Does the Industrial Development Bureau provide industrial consultancy services?

Answer: Yes, the Bureau offers industrial consultancy services which can be requested by booking an appointment with the competent team via email: idbbackoffice@ded.abudhabi.ae

Q: What are the materials that can be exempted in each stage of the industrial license?

Answer: The industry pioneers status: Does not receive any customs exemption The under-construction status: Receives a customs exemption for the machines The production status: Receives a customs exemption for the raw materials and the machines, machines and spare parts.

Q: Are the industrial inputs exempted from all of the state’s ports?

Answer: No. Customs exemption applies only to the materials that enter Abu Dhabi ports.

Q: How to obtain an exemption for the industrial inputs at ports outside the Emirate of Abu Dhabi?

Answer: The shipment must be transferred to Abu Dhabi Ports, or an application for a customs exemption must be submitted through the Ministry of Economy.

Q: Should lease contracts be attested?

Answer: Yes. Attested lease contracts must be attached to the application form.

Q: Is it possible to submit any application in the system while the license is banned?

Answer: The industrial license is banned when a letter is received from the court that bans the same. Therefore, the investor will not be able to submit any application until the system lifts the ban.

Q: How to obtain (Made in the UAE) mark?

Answer: By issuing a Certificate of Origin from the Ministry of Economy and attesting the product in their records using a stamp that bears the (Made in the UAE) mark.

Q: Is it possible to add commercial activities to the industrial license?

Answer: Yes. Only the following activities can be added to the industrial license, Service commercial activities

Q: Are industrial inputs exempted at all of the state’s ports?

Answer: Yes. The customs exemption applies to the materials that enter the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s ports for the industrial licenses in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Other emirates exemption is managed by the Ministry of Economy.

Q: How long is the announcement regarding the administrative amendments requests?

Answer:

Procedure Type	Duration	Announcement
Modification of sale and waiver partners	Not required
Tradename modification	1 day	One paper
Legal form modification	1 day	One paper
Capital reduction	30 days	Two different papers at the same time
Modifying the partner’s nationality	Not required
Amendments to the branches		No announcement is required
License cancellation without liquidation	7 days (for the establishment)	One paper
Modifying the partner’s nationality	Not required
License cancellation (with liquidation)	45 days	Two different papers at the same time
Local branch cancellation	-	Not required
Cancellation of another emirate’s branch	-	Not required
Cancellation of the previous announcement	7 days	One paper

Customs exemption FAQs