Senior Manager Freezone Registration & Licensing

Lead and oversee all registration and licensing functions of ADAFZ to ensure efficient, transparent, and customer-centric service delivery. The role is responsible for establishment, registration, and licensing activities for Free Zone companies, including developing procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and positioning ADAFZ as a premier one-stop business hub aligned with Abu Dhabi Airports’ strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Align registration and licensing operations with ADAFZ’s 5-year business plan and Abu Dhabi Airports’ strategic objectives, KPIs, and scorecard metrics.
• Formulate annual departmental plans, targets, and performance indicators for continuous improvement. Regulatory & Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate with Abu Dhabi Regulatory Authority (ADRA) and other government entities including:
• Department of Economic Development
• Federal Tax Authority
• Ministry of Economy
• Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
• Ensure harmonized regulatory and licensing processes across the three airports.
• Liaise with ADRA and Department of Economic Development to align trade license categories and definitions with ADRA systems. Licensing & Registration Operations

• Develop ADAFZ formation, trade license, and shareholder affairs prerequisites.
• Manage end-to-end company registration, amendment, renewal, and deregistration processes.
• Supervise issuance and maintenance of:
• Trade licenses
• Light industrial licenses
• Incorporation certificates
• Share registers
• Related legal documentation
• Ensure licensed entities operate within approved activities and facility conditions. Compliance & Legal Oversight

• Oversee shareholder and Ultimate Beneficiary Owner (UBO) documentation.
• Ensure compliance with:
• AML/CFT regulations
• Economic Substance Regulation (ESR)
• Other relevant regulatory frameworks
• Review and approve legal instruments including:
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Board Resolutions
• Powers of Attorney
• Ensure compliance with ADAFZ regulations and UAE laws. Process Improvement & Technology

• Conduct benchmarking with other free zones to ensure competitiveness in services, tariffs, service delivery timelines, and pricing.
• Implement benchmarking initiatives to maintain competitive pricing of ADAFZ products and services.
• Lead automation initiatives and CRM platform enhancements to improve workflows and customer experience.
• Identify technology needs to drive automation within the department. Records, Reporting & Quality

• Maintain robust records and document management systems ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Manage customer complaints and implement service recovery plans.
• Ensure adherence to departmental policies and procedures.
• Provide input into periodic audits of policies and procedures.
• Contribute to periodic management reports and recommend corrective actions for quality or compliance issues. Change Management & Performance

• Support execution of change management initiatives.
• Provide input toward departmental budget preparation.
• Achieve departmental objectives and support team performance goals. Professional Development

• Identify and pursue professional development opportunities.
• Participate in performance appraisals and implement development feedback. Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Promote a safety-first culture within the team.
• Conduct internal safety checks and support audit readiness.
• Identify and report HSE risks, incidents, and unsafe conditions.
• Implement corrective actions based on audit findings.
• Comply with organizational HSE policies and attend mandatory HSE training. Requirements and Skills

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience

• Minimum 8 years of experience in Business Development.
• Minimum 5 years in a similar leadership role. Key Skills & Competencies

• Customer-oriented approach
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong leadership capabilities
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Organizational and time-management skills
• Tech-savvy with an understanding of automation and CRM systems