Abu Dhabi Cuts Licensing Fees to Dh1,000, Reshapes Municipal Leadership in 2026 Resolutions

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has issued a series of 2026 resolutions that lower the cost of doing business and appoint new directors general at the Department of Municipalities and Transport. Under the new rules, licensing fees for all economic activities across the emirate are reduced to a flat Dh1,000, while waste producers' tariffs and service providers' fees have been cancelled entirely. Yearly municipal authentication fees are now set at just Dh50, a move that small-business owners in the capital say could encourage more local investment.

New Leadership at the Department of Municipalities and Transport

Among the resolutions are two key appointments: Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi has been named Director General of the Urban Planning & Permits Centre, while Eisa Mubarak Almazrouei takes the helm as Director General of Infrastructure Development within the same department. Both roles fall under the Department of Municipalities and Transport, which oversees urban planning, public works, and transport networks across the emirate. The appointments, published in the Official Gazette of Abu Dhabi, signal the government's ongoing commitment to efficient municipal governance.

Local business owners welcomed the fee cuts. 'Reducing the licensing fee to a single rate removes a barrier for start-ups and small traders,' said an entrepreneur near the city's Al Wahda Mall, who asked not to be named. 'The waste tariff cancellation alone saves us thousands each year.' The fee reduction, detailed in Executive Council resolutions, applies to all sectors, from retail and hospitality to manufacturing and services, according to the government's official policies portal.

Livability Strategy Expansion and Investment Zones

These moves build on a broader push to enhance quality of life. In September 2025, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, approved a AED42 billion expansion of the emirate's Livability Strategy. The expansion aims to upgrade community services and infrastructure, from parks and public transport to healthcare and education. Residents of neighbourhoods such as Al Raha Beach and Yas Island have already seen new community centres and cycle lanes, part of a phased rollout that the Executive Council says will continue through 2028.

Additionally, Executive Council decision 247 of 2023 expanded the boundaries of Investment Area 20 in the emirate, opening up land for commercial and residential development. The area, which includes parts of the Al Gharbia region, is expected to attract private investment in logistics, tourism, and agribusiness. Together, these policies create what officials describe as a more business-friendly environment, though some residents note that implementation timelines remain unclear.

The Executive Council's decisions are published monthly in the Official Gazette of Abu Dhabi, available in both Arabic and English. Residents and business owners can access the resolutions online via the Abu Dhabi government's official website.