Al Sila
The town
Al Sila is known for its maritime heritage. The drive from Abu Dhabi takes about 3.5 to 4 hours on the E11, and the town is one of the seven main cities of Al Dhafra.1,6
The UAE's rail passenger services aim to connect 11 cities from Al Sila to Fujairah, at speeds of up to 200 km per hour.4
Housing and events
In December 2025 Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed inspected the Al Sila City housing project, with 108 homes, and the Baya Al Sila infrastructure project, with 104 residential plots. In May 2026 he named the housing project Al Shabhana. It costs more than AED 507 million, with homes allocated from July 2026 and completion planned for the first quarter of 2027.2,3
The Al Sila' Marine Festival, held on the town's beach from 9 to 11 December 2021, offered more than AED 3 million in prizes, with a 43-foot dhow race and fishing competitions.5
Setting up
| Item | Who |
|---|---|
| Mainland licences | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Chamber of commerce | Abu Dhabi Chamber |
Source: UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland; UAE Government Portal: National Economic Register, business licensing authorities; UAE Government Portal: Accessing services for mainland companies7,8,9
Al Dhafra follows Abu Dhabi's rules: membership of the Abu Dhabi Chamber is required, licence documents must be in Arabic, and applications can be made at ADDED and TAMM branches.10
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Al Sila?
Al Sila is a coastal town in the far west of Al Dhafra, near the Saudi border and about 350 km from Abu Dhabi city. Mainland businesses there are licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
Sources
- Experience Abu Dhabi: Sila
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Hamdan bin Zayed officially names Al Sila housing project as Al Shabhana (14 May 2026)
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Hamdan bin Zayed inspects Al Sila City housing, Baya Al Sila projects (15 December 2025)
- UAE Government Portal: The UAE Railway Programme
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Al Sila' Marine Festival to kick off on December 9 (5 December 2021)
- UAE Government Portal: Abu Dhabi
- UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland
- UAE Government Portal: National Economic Register, business licensing authorities
- UAE Government Portal: Accessing services for mainland companies
- Investor Abu Dhabi Guide (ADDED), via the UAE Government Portal
Figures checked 23 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.