Abu dhabi: Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ) has announced the opening of two new representative offices in China, expanding its footprint to include Shanghai and Shenzhen. This development brings the total number of Masdar City offices in China to three within a year, as the free zone aims to strengthen its ties with Chinese companies looking to expand into the Gulf region.
According to Emirates News Agency, the expansion follows the success of Masdar City's first international office, which was established at Suzhou Industrial Park in December 2025, marking the free zone's initial venture outside of the UAE. Since then, more than 15 Chinese companies have registered with Masdar City Free Zone, highlighting the growing demand that the new offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen are strategically positioned to meet.
The opening of these new offices comes after a delegation trip through key Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. These cities are recognized as dynamic hubs within the Yangtze River Delta and the Greater Bay Area, known for their outbound investment in sectors such as clean energy, smart mobility, AI, agri-tech, life sciences, and aerospace, which align with Masdar City's focus areas.
During the delegation's visit, Masdar City engaged in discussions with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shanghai and the China General Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, meetings with the UAE Consulate General in Guangzhou focused on enhancing trade and investment cooperation between China and the UAE.
A significant milestone in MCFZ's China strategy is the signing of a memorandum of understanding with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), a subsidiary of Sinomach. This agreement will facilitate delegations of Chinese companies visiting Abu Dhabi to explore Masdar City and provide support throughout the process of establishing operations there.
Dr. Mohamed Al Breiki, Executive Director of Masdar City, emphasized the importance of the free zone's growing presence in China, stating, "Our presence in China continues to grow, and with it, our understanding of what Chinese companies need to set up and grow in Abu Dhabi. With teams now in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Suzhou, we are removing that barrier and turning relationships with leading Chinese institutions into real investment, technology transfer, and shared growth."
The Suzhou office is operated through a partnership with Suzhou Yingdi Consultants, which manages the day-to-day promotion of the free zone to Chinese businesses and supports their establishment in Abu Dhabi. The newly opened Shanghai and Shenzhen offices are operated in partnership with TXTK and CGCC International, respectively.
Chen Rui, Managing Director of TXTK, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, "Suzhou has already shown us what direct engagement can do. By operating locally on ground in Shanghai and Shenzhen, we're able to support Chinese companies in Mandarin, in their own time zone, from their first enquiry through to business setup."
Masdar City Free Zone offers companies the ability to secure a license in one day and a visa within four days. The free zone's offerings include 100% foreign ownership, zero personal income tax, and lower corporate tax on qualifying income, with dual licensing options across the free zone and the Abu Dhabi mainland. Registration costs start from AED7,000.
Currently, Masdar City Free Zone hosts over 2,500 companies from more than 90 countries, with notable tenants such as the International Renewable Energy Agency, the UAE Space Agency, Siemens Energy, G42, the Advanced Technology Research Council, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
