Setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV) in Abu Dhabi Global Market(ADGM)

Abu Dhabi Global Market is abroad based international financial centre for local, regional and international institutions. ADGM provides a broad range of services covering insurance, wealth management, banking, asset management and capital market activities.

ADGM has 3 independent authorities i.e. the Registration Authority (RA), the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and the ADGM Courts which ensure that business-friendly environment operates in line with international best practice that are recognised by major financial centres across the world.

Benefits & Incentives offered by ADGM:

100% Foreign Ownership

100% Tax(Import & Export) Exemption

100% repatriation of Capital & Profits

No office required based on an agent being appointed

No restrictions on the number of shareholders

Independent ADGM courts

What is Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV)?

SPVs are corporate vehicles, typically private companies, established for the purpose of isolating financial and legal risk by ring-fencing assets and liabilities. SPVs can be established as subsidiaries, project or joint venture vehicles to ensure that only those assets related to a transaction are exposed to the liabilities associated with that transaction. As the key feature of an SPV is its separate legal personality, claims by the SPV’s creditors cannot attach to the assets of the SPV’s shareholders or any of its sister companies.

Location:	Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi, (U.A.E.)
Uses of SPV:	Securitisation, Real Estate Investment, Financing, Asset Transfer, Risk Transfer    Risk Sharing, Raising Capital & Intellectual Property
License available:	Commercial License
Type of Entity:	Private Company Limited : Standard Private Limited Company & Passive Private Limited Restricted Scope Company (RSC): subsidiary of a group which publicly files consolidated accounts, A Single Family Office & A subsidiary of a company formed by Emiri decree
Shareholder	Individual or Corporate entity
Share capital:	No minimum share capital
Director:	Individuals & Corporate (Minimum one individual mandatory)
Audit:	Annual audit report to be filed in case of more than 35 employees or turnover above USD 13.5 million in limited company
Annual Account	Limited Company’s annual accounts to be filed
Annual Return:	Yes
Estimated time:	2-3 weeks to obtain trade license of the company

Some of the basic documents required to set up SPV in ADGM are:

• Application forms
• Passport, visa & emirates ID copy of sharehoder(s)/director(s)/manager
• NOC from current sponsor for shareholder(s)/director(s)/manager (applicable if holding UAE residence visa) 
• CV of shareholder(s)/director(s)/manager
• Copy of lease agreement or signed consent letter for provision of Registered office 
• Specimen signature form & passport size photo for shareholder(s)/director(s)/manager
• Business Plan
• NOC from external departments (if any)

ADGM licensing fee for SPV is US$ 1,600/- in addition to the cost of rentals & agent fees.

How can GBS help? 

Global Business Services (GBS) is a professional organization that offers advisory, commercial, accounting, company formation & administration services in tax efficient jurisdictions around the world. The team at GBS has since inception, developed an excellent understanding of corporate requirements. 

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For more information on setting up an ADGM SPV, do get in touch with us on +971 50 899 2852 or email us at info@gbsei.com

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