twofour54 · Tughra

Packages, as published

Official rows come from the authority's own list. A row marked agent comes from a reseller because the authority does not publish that package, and it can contain a margin.

Package	Licence	Visas	Workspace	Setup	Renewal	Kind	Source
Freelancer 12-Month No VisaYear 1 total includes waived licence, establishment card, e-channel, admin fees; no visa or office. Renewal assumes continued waiver for Year 2, then standard licence fee from Year 3.	freelance	n/a	none	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
FZ-LLC Hot Desk with 1 VisaYear 1 total includes waived licence, flexi desk, 1 visa, insurance, establishment card, e-channel. Renewal assumes post-waiver standard licence fee of AED 12,500, desk AED 20,000, establishment card AED 755, insurance AED 1,515.	commercial	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
FZ-LLC Hot Desk with 2 VisasYear 1 total includes waived licence, flexi desk, 2 visas, insurance, establishment card, e-channel. Renewal assumes post-waiver standard licence fee AED 12,500, desk AED 20,000, establishment card AED 755, insurance AED 1,515 × 2.	commercial	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
FZ-LLC Private Office with 3 VisasYear 1 total includes waived licence, private office, 3 visas, insurance, establishment card, e-channel. Renewal assumes post-waiver standard licence fee AED 12,500, office AED 54,264, establishment card AED 755, insurance AED 1,515 × 3.	commercial	n/a	office	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com

Promotions the authority advertises

License and registration fees fully waived for the first two years from date of issue (T&C apply).

Fees, line by line

The figures our sum is built from. Only a proven fee is shown; the rest read not yet confirmed, and a reseller-only figure says so on its line.

Registrationnot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Licencenot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Establishment cardnot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Immigration cardnot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Residence visa, per personnot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Medical and Emirates ID, per personnot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Minimum share capitalnot yet confirmedmust be paid upad.twofour54.com

GM Security Check application feenot yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

General Manager Residency Cost (lowest, 1 year)not yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

PO Box fee (per year)not yet confirmedad.twofour54.com

Health insurance admin feenot yet confirmedtwofour54.com

Employed visa (regular)not yet confirmedtwofour54.com

Employment residence visa permit (1 year, regular)not yet confirmedtwofour54.com

New Emirates ID (1 year)not yet confirmedtwofour54.com

Change of status (regular)not yet confirmedtwofour54.com

Visit Visa Open Filenot yet confirmedtwofour54.com

Co-Lab office (1 activity, 1 visa) – from official calculator, period not statednot yet confirmedemirae.pro

Co-Create office (2 activities, 2 visas) – from official calculator, period not statednot yet confirmedemirae.pro

Workspace

Co-Lab office (1 activity, 1 visa)not yet confirmedtwofour54 · counts for the visa quota · source

Co-Create office (2 activities, 2 visas)not yet confirmedtwofour54 · counts for the visa quota · source

Flexi Desk (Hot Desk) – from agent packagenot yet confirmedtwofour54 · counts for the visa quota · source

Reseller prices seen against the official line

freezonecompare.comnot quotedFZ-LLC Hot Desk with 1 Visasource

What a missing number means

The line stays visible and reads not yet confirmed. A figure the research records but the verification pass has not proven is never shown, and never becomes a zero.

Company and licence types

Company types

Free Zone Limited Liability Company
Individual and/or corporate shareholders; at least two directors, one general manager, one company secretary (same person can hold multiple roles); no minimum share capital.
Branch of a Foreign or Local Company
Parent company must indicate decision to set up branch; a General Manager must be appointed.

Licence types

General Media
General media activities (48 activities listed)
Gaming & E-Sports
Gaming and e-sports activities (25 activities listed)
Broadcast & Publishing
Broadcast and publishing activities (11 activities listed)

How the authority processes it

Each step names who holds it. Days are the authority's published figure or a gap.

step 1 · days gap
Apply online and submit initial informationApplicant
step 2 · days gap
Get Customer Portal AccessCMA
step 3 · days gap
Submit required documentsApplicant
step 4 · days gap
Pay fees (license fee waived for first 2 years)Applicant
step 5 · days gap
Receive licenseCMA

The authority's portal

NameCMA Customer Portalhttps://www.cma.gov.ae/apply-for-business

Who filespublic

Fully onlineYes

E-signaturenot stated

API or integrationNot mentioned in sources

Partner programmenot stated

Selling to the UAE mainland

Yes, via ADDED Dual Licence (twofour54 secured a DED branch-licence agreement in 2018, enabling mainland trading).

Corporate tax

CMA advertises 0% corporate tax; under UAE CT regime, qualifying free zone persons can benefit from 0% on qualifying income. Exact conditions not detailed in sources.

Documents the authority asks for

Individual shareholder

Completed application form
Business plan
Coloured passport copies of shareholder(s) and appointed Manager/Director
Specimen signature of shareholder(s) and Manager/Director
Certificate of reference from a personal bank of the individual shareholder
NOC from current sponsor (for individuals)
Unit title deed
Letter of Intent
Registry Identification Code Form (RIC) for Manager/Director (Original and notarised)
Passport-size photo of Manager/Director against white background
Share capital information

Corporate shareholder

Completed application form
Business plan
Copy of existing trade licence/registration certificate (if existing company)
Coloured passport copies of shareholder(s) and appointed Manager/Director
Specimen signature of shareholder(s) and Manager/Director
2 years' audited financial reports for corporate entity
Board Resolution appointing Manager/Director (Notarised and attested)
Power of Attorney given to Manager/Director (Notarised and attested)
Memorandum and Articles of Association (Notarised and attested)
Specimen signature of Manager/Director (Notarised and attested)
Passport-size photo of Manager/Director against white background
Share capital information

After the licence

Financial year, audit, corporate tax, VAT, UBO and renewal, as the authority states them.

Financial year

RuleFinancial year is a 12-month period chosen by the company; the first tax period may be a shorter or longer period from incorporation to the chosen year-end (tax.gov.ae CT General Guide).source

First period, maximum monthsnot yet confirmedsource

Can choose the year endYessource

Audit and financial statements

Audited accounts requiredYessource

Who mustall companies licensed in twofour54source

Submission deadlinenot yet confirmedsource

Approved auditor listYessource

Fee or penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

NotesAudited financial statements must be submitted annually to the free zone authority; failure may lead to licence suspension and fines (reyson.ae).source

VAT

Mandatory threshold (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Voluntary threshold (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Designated zonenot yet confirmedsource

NotesThresholds from prifinance.com; twofour54's designated zone status for VAT not confirmed in sources.source

Corporate tax

Registration deadlinewithin 3 months of incorporation (per prifinance.com agent advice; official deadline not specified in provided sources)within 3 months of incorporation (per prifinance.com agent advice; official deadline not specified in provided sources)source

QFZP conditionsDerive Qualifying Income, maintain adequate substance in UAE, satisfy de minimis requirement, not elect to be subject to CT, comply with transfer pricing rules, prepare audited financial statements (tax.gov.ae guides).source

Return deadlinewithin 9 months of the end of the Tax Period (tax.gov.ae)within 9 months of the end of the Tax Period (tax.gov.ae)source

Late registration penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

UBO, ESR and AML

UBO register requiredYessource

Where the UBO register is filedwith the licensing authority (CMA) within 60 days of incorporation (prifinance.com)source

ESR statusESR reporting not required for financial years ending after 31 Dec 2022 (investwithabudhabi.com)source

AML / goAML registrationnot yet confirmedsource

Licence renewal

WhenAnnuallyAnnuallysource

RequirementsPayment of renewal fee (AED 12,500 for up to 5 activities, first renewal waived) (prifinance.com); Current filings (audited financial statements, UBO register)source

Late penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Banking

Banks commonly usednot yet confirmedsource

Typical account opening daysnot yet confirmedsource

Minimum balance (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Pain pointsnot yet confirmedsource

Accounting records

RequiredYessource

Retention yearsnot yet confirmedsource

Standardnot yet confirmedsource

Visas and labour

Requirement 1Employment visas processed through twofour54 free zone authoritysource

Requirement 2Employment contracts and end-of-service benefits governed by zone regulationssource

Requirement 3Wage Protection System (WPS) may apply as per zone rules (investwithabudhabi.com)source

Annual obligations

Licence renewalAnnualAnnuallysource

Submit audited financial statementsAnnualAnnually (before licence renewal)source

File Corporate Tax return and pay taxAnnualWithin 9 months of financial year endsource

Update UBO and shareholder registersAnnualWithin 60 days of changessource

VAT return filing (if registered)AnnualQuarterly or as per tax periodsource

Maintain accounting recordsAnnualOngoingsource

Closing the company

Processnot yet confirmedsource

Cost (AED)not yet confirmedsource

How we file it

Internal view of the authority's channels and screens. It is what a filing integration has to work against, not a promise that the filing is live. integration source

Application channels

CMA online application portalhttps://www.cma.gov.ae/apply-for-businesswho can use: Any applicant for a business licence (FZ-LLC or branch)login: Account created by CMA after initial application submission; login credentials provided by CMAYou cannot create an account directly. After submitting the initial application, CMA creates the account and provides login details. cma.gov.aesource

twofour54 business setup enquiry formhttps://www.twofour54.com/en/business-setup/business-form/who can use: Prospective businesses seeking information or initial contactlogin: None; public formThis is a contact/enquiry form, not a direct application submission. The official application is through the CMA portal. twofour54.comsource

Agent or partner programme

Existsno

Namenot named

Feesnot yet confirmed

Commission or discountnot stated

How to applynot stated

Contactnot stated

Requirementsnot stated

Screens inside the portal

step 1
ApplicationApplicantinputs: Company name, Business activity, Shareholder details, Director details (minimum two individual directors required)
step 2
Portal AccessCMA (creates account and provides login)
step 3
Submit DocumentsApplicantuploads: Passport copies of shareholders and directors, UBO declarations, Proof of office space in the Creative Zone (mandatory per CMA FAQ), Share capital deposit confirmation (deposited into company bank account), Business plan, Specimen signatures (notarised), Board resolution appointing manager/director (notarised and attested), Memorandum and Articles of Association (notarised and attested), Passport-size photo of manager/director, Registry Identification Code Form (RIC) for manager/director (original and notarised)
step 4
PaymentApplicantinputs: Payment method selection (online card or wire transfer)
step 5
LicensingCMA (issues licence within 14 working days)

Formats, signatures, payment

Document formatsNot specified; likely PDF for uploads

Signatures and identityPhysical signatures on notarised documents are required (specimen signatures, board resolutions, MoA). No e-signature facility mentioned. uaesupremecouncil.org

PaymentOnline payment via credit/debit card through the secure portal, or wire transfer for larger/corporate transactions. cma.gov.ae

Status trackingLog in to the customer portal, go to Service Requests > Pending Actions to view status and details. cma.gov.ae

API or bulk filingNo API or bulk submission facility found. All applications are processed through the manual portal workflow.

After the licence, onlineLicence renewal; Licence amendment; Licence cancellation

Automation risks

Account creation is performed manually by CMA, not self-service
Requirement for notarised and attested physical documents
Share capital deposit confirmation must be obtained from a bank
Proof of office space in the Creative Zone is mandatory
Manual review of documents by the authority

Open integration gaps

Exact official fee schedule not found; only agent-published figures (DXBStart) available, marked as agent. Official fees are waived for first 2 years per CMA, but underlying amounts not confirmed on official site.
Document format requirements (e.g., PDF, size limits) not specified.
E-signature or digital signing options not mentioned.
API or bulk submission capabilities not documented.
No official agent/partner program information found.
Freelance licence process differs and is not covered in this company-formation research.

What we still do not know about twofour54

The research names its own holes. They stay on the page until a source fills them.

Prices

Establishment card fee discrepancy: official ad.twofour54.com page lists AED 754.55, while a twofour54.com article lists AED 854.55. The lower official figure is used.
ICA E-Channel fee discrepancy: official page says AED 2,080, article says AED 2,180. Official figure used.
GM pre-approval fee: article says AED 500, official page says AED 525 (GM Security Check). Official figure used.
Visa cost per person is not a single official figure; it comprises multiple components (employed visa, residence permit, Emirates ID, medical). Medical examination cost not found in sources.
Health insurance plan cost is variable and not provided; only admin fee of AED 200 is listed.
Share capital minimum: CMA states share capital must be deposited but no minimum amount is published. Agent source (sijil.ae) claims no minimum and notional capital not deposited, contradicting official CMA statement. Official requirement of deposit is reported.
Office requirement: official CMA site states an office is mandatory for the business licence. The freelancer package from freezonecompare.com has no office, which may apply to a different permit type.
Co-Lab and Co-Create office prices from emirae.pro are cited as from the official cost calculator, but the period (monthly/yearly) is not stated. Assumed per year.
Official equivalent for agent package excludes health insurance plan cost, so true official total would be higher.
Renewal costs after the two-year waiver period are based on the standard licence fee of AED 12,500 per year as stated on the official page, but post-waiver workspace and other charges may vary.

Structure and process

Exact license and registration fees (beyond the 2-year waiver) not provided.
Detailed step durations within the 14-day timeline not specified.
Specific physical visit requirements for company formation (only freelancer ID check explicitly mentioned).
E-signature availability not mentioned.
Agent/partner program details and how to become an agent not found.
Payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, etc.) not specified.
Renewal fees and annual compliance obligations not detailed.
Qualifying free zone person conditions under UAE CT not elaborated.
Mixing rules for activities across license categories not explicitly stated.

Compliance

financial_year.first_period_max_months: not specified in sources
accounting_records.standard: not explicitly stated (likely IFRS but unconfirmed)
audit.submission_deadline: not found
audit.fee_or_penalty_aed: no specific amount provided
corporate_tax.late_registration_penalty_aed: not found in sources
vat.designated_zone: twofour54's VAT designated zone status not confirmed
esr_ubo_aml.aml_goaml_registration: not mentioned for twofour54
annual_obligations[*].penalty_aed: no penalty amounts found
licence_renewal.late_penalty_aed: not found
banking: no information on banks, account opening, minimum balance, or pain points
deregistration.process and cost_aed: not found

Sources

Everything above was read from these pages. The read date is on each line.

twofour54 Abu Dhabihttps://ad.twofour54.com/ume/TEMPLATES/intro-bd-lead/en/index.htmlread 2026-10-20

Abu Dhabi Free Zone License Cost (2026): Every Zone Comparedhttps://emirae.pro/guides/abu-dhabi-free-zone-license-cost/read 2026-10-20

twofour54 Costs & Review 2026 – From AED 3,539https://freezonecompare.com/free-zones/twofour54/read 2026-10-20

Free Zone Personshttps://tax.gov.ae/Datafolder/Files/Guides/CT/Free%20Zone%20Persons%20-%2020%2005%202024%20final%20for%20GCD.pdfread 2026-10-20

Creative Media Authority Abu Dhabi | Driving the Creative Industry - Business Programhttps://www.cma.gov.ae/business-packageread 2026-10-20

All you need to know to understand what a free zone ishttps://www.twofour54.com/en/news-and-updates/highlights/all-you-need-to-know-to-understand-what-a-free-zone-is/read 2026-10-20