ADGM or DIFC — which common-law centre

Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre are the two common-law financial free zones in the UAE. Both have their own courts and companies law. Both are understood by international counsel. They are not interchangeable forms.

What Nomux offers in each

• ADGM: Tech Startup licence for an operating company, and an SPV for holding or investment.
• DIFC: a Prescribed Company — a holding vehicle. We do not list a DIFC operating licence on this site yet.
• Other free zones remain a scoped engagement. They do not replace either court system.

The DIFC Prescribed Company, after July 2026

From 24 July 2026 any applicant can form a Prescribed Company. The old GCC-nexus and qualifying-purpose gates are gone. In return, every non-exempt Prescribed Company must appoint a DFSA-licensed corporate service provider. That CSP is the interface with the DIFC Registrar. The registered office is the CSP’s office.

How this differs from an ADGM SPV

• ADGM still asks for a practical connection to ADGM, the UAE, or the wider GCC.
• ADGM has required a service provider for most non-exempt SPVs since 2021.
• DIFC is now more open on who may apply, and stricter on who must sit as CSP.

Choose ADGM when

• You need an operating Tech Startup licence and visas out of Al Maryah Island.
• The holdco will sit above an ADGM operating company we already administer.
• The founders or the office are already in Abu Dhabi.

Choose DIFC when

• The investor, bank, or group counsel is in Dubai and wants a DIFC court.
• The structure is a holdco and an ADGM nexus is the wrong argument.
• A DIFC affiliate already exists and the new vehicle should sit next to it.

What Nomux will not say

We prepare the file, the KYC pack, and the workspace. We do not claim a DFSA or ADGM CSP licence on this site until a licence number is published here. Treasury is not a bank account. Tax is not zero because the letterhead says DIFC.