The Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA), under the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED) has fueled a wave of women entrepreneurship in the emirate, granting 5,930 new licenses in a year, and raising the total to 21,115 by June 2025.
The issuance has underscored the tangible impact of national initiatives aimed at empowering Emirati women, highlighting their growing influence in driving economic growth and supporting the UAE’s broader diversification agenda.
By creating more opportunities for women across key sectors, these efforts are not only fostering greater gender balance in the workforce but also unlocking new pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
“The rising number of licences issued to Emirati women reflects the strength, resilience, and vitality of our economy as well as the success of ADRA’s strategy to support inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem. We are committed to ensuring a business environment that enables Emirati women to innovate and play a pivotal role in Abu Dhabi’s socio-economic development. Emirati women are a fundamental pillar of our society’s growth. Between July 2024 and June 2025, new licences issued to Emirati women accounted for 18 per cent of all new economic licences in the emirate.”
The Director general said that this growth underscores the rising leadership of Emirati women in shaping the business landscape, with ADRA continuing to strengthen a transparent and supportive licensing system that fosters business growth while ensuring full compliance.
The rise highlights Emirati women’s growing role in business and ADDED’s push for an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem, in line with the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women (2023–2031) launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, to boost women’s leadership across key sectors.
Among the 5,930 new licenses issued to Emirati women between July 2024 and June 2025, 2,768 (46.6 percent of new licenses issued to Emirati women) were issued under the Mobdea license, enabling women to launch businesses across over 50 economic activities without requiring a physical office. This flexibility has made entrepreneurship more accessible, empowering women to turn their skills into thriving ventures.
Image Via: ADMO | Cropped by GBN
1,830 were issued under the Tajer Abu Dhabi )Abu Dhabi Trader( licenses (30 percent), followed by 788 standard economic licenses, 246 freelance licenses as Emirati women are benefiting from the opportunity created by this license for specialized professionals to engage in over 100 economic activities at minimal cost, leveraging their diverse knowledge and expertise to accelerate transition towards knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.
Additionally, 39 agricultural (farm) licenses and 12 industrial (Rowad) licenses were issued for Emirati women entrepreneurs during the same period, reflecting ADRA’s growing presence in priority sectors, and signaling a bold, inclusive vision for the emirate’s future in line with the strategic objectives of Abu Dhabi and UAE.
