Ajman Free Zone at a glance
Ajman Free Zone offers one of the lowest licence prices in the UAE — from AED 5,565 zero-visa, or AED 13,141 with your first residence visa. It has trading, service, e-commerce, industrial and freelance licence types and sits about 30 minutes from Dubai.
Who is Ajman Free Zone suitable for?
- Freelancers and solo founders
- Small traders and e-commerce sellers
- Budget-first start-ups
Industries commonly considered
Trading, General Trading, Consultancy, E-commerce. Confirm your exact activity is permitted before applying.
Ajman Free Zone company formation cost
Published fees From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa — government fees as published, reviewed July 2026.
| Item | Government cost |
|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence (government cost) | AED 5,565 |
| With one residence visa (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID) | AED 13,141 |
| With two visas | ≈ AED 17,181 |
| With three visas | ≈ AED 23,242 |
Year-one budget: AED 13,000–25,000 with one to three visas. Renewal: Annual licence and desk renewals; multi-year plans often discounted.
Not included: professional-service fees, extra residence visas, office upgrades, bank minimum balances and external approvals. Estimate your own visa count with the cost calculator.
Licences and company structures at Ajman Free Zone
The authority (Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA)) decides which activities and licence categories are currently available. The table shows the activities most associated with Ajman Free Zone and the licence category you would typically ask about — confirm the exact activity code before applying.
| Activity | Typical licence category (confirm) |
|---|---|
| Trading and general trading | Trading licence |
| Consulting and services | Service / professional licence |
| E-commerce | E-commerce licence |
| Light industrial | Industrial licence |
Company structures
Typically a free zone establishment (FZE) for one shareholder, a free zone company (FZ-LLC) for two or more shareholders, or a branch of an existing company. Names and rules differ by zone — confirm the options with the authority.
Requirements and documents
- Passport copies and passport photos for shareholders, directors and managers
- Proof of residential address and, for some applicants, a bank reference
- A completed application and a business plan or activity description where requested
- Attested incorporation documents if a shareholder is a company
- Approvals from other authorities for regulated activities (health, education, finance, food, media)
Requirements vary by activity, nationality and structure. Always use Ajman Free Zone’s current checklist. Full guide: how UAE company formation works.
How to set up a company in Ajman Free Zone
- Choose the activity and confirm eligibilityCheck your activity against Ajman Free Zone’s permitted list and any external approval it needs.
- Reserve the trade nameSubmit name options; approval commonly takes a few working days.
- Submit documents and pay feesGovernment fees are paid to the authority; service fees are separate.
- Sign incorporation documentsSign the Memorandum/Articles digitally or in person, as the zone allows.
- Receive the licenceTiming at Ajman Free Zone: about one week, subject to the authority.
- Establishment card, visas and Emirates IDEach visa holder completes entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID.
- Bank account and tax registrationApply for a corporate account and register for corporate tax (and VAT if required).
Office requirements and visas
Office requirements at Ajman Free Zone depend on the licence type and how many visas you need. Packages commonly bundle a flexi-desk or shared desk for smaller set-ups, while larger teams and trading activity usually need a dedicated office — confirm the current options.
Visa information
Four different things are often blurred together: the company licence, the establishment/immigration card, the investor/partner residence visa and employee residence visas. At Ajman Free Zone: One visa AED 13,141 all-in; two visas ≈ AED 17,181; three ≈ AED 23,242. A visa is never guaranteed and requires the applicant to complete medical testing and biometrics in the UAE. See the visa guide.
Banking, tax and compliance
Banking
Banking is decided by each bank, not by the free zone, and approval is never guaranteed. Our editorial view is that banks are generally moderate in their familiarity with Ajman Free Zone entities, but they assess shareholders, activity, source of funds and documents case by case. Documents commonly requested include the licence, incorporation documents, passports and proof of address, a business plan or contracts, and source-of-funds evidence. Read the corporate banking guide.
Tax
UAE corporate tax applies to free zone companies too: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it, unless the entity is a Qualifying Free Zone Person, which can access 0% on qualifying income if strict conditions are met and 9% on the rest. Every free zone entity must register for corporate tax. Whether Ajman Free Zone income qualifies depends on your activity, customers and substance. Our tax guide explains the tests.
Compliance
Ongoing duties typically include annual licence renewal, keeping accounting records, corporate tax registration and filing, VAT if registered, economic-substance or beneficial-owner filings where applicable, and any activity-specific reporting. Confirm current duties with the authority and a licensed adviser.
Licence renewal
Annual licence and desk renewals; multi-year plans often discounted. Renewal dates are set by your licence; late renewal can bring fines and complicate visas and banking. Check the authority’s renewal fee schedule before budgeting a second year.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Among the cheapest full free zone licences in the UAE
- Trading, service, e-commerce, industrial and freelance licence options
- Multi-year discounts (about 10% for two years and 15% for three, as advertised)
- Close to Ajman Port and roughly 30 minutes from Dubai and Sharjah airports
- 100% foreign ownership and full profit repatriation
Limitations to weigh
- The licence does not say Dubai, which matters to some clients and banks
- Free zone companies cannot freely trade onshore in the UAE without an additional licence
Ajman Free Zone vs mainland
A Ajman Free Zone licence is designed for its zone and does not automatically let you sell directly to mainland UAE customers. If most of your revenue comes from UAE customers, or you want government work, compare a mainland licence; if you mainly serve international clients or operate online, a free zone can be simpler. Neither is universally better — the decision framework walks through it.
Similar free zones
| Ajman Free Zone | ANCFZ | RAKEZ | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ajman | Ajman | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah |
| Best for | Multi-sector, trading & industrial | Start-ups, consultants & digital freelancers | Multi-sector, industrial & SME | Media, consulting & digital services |
| Licence cost | From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa | Zero-visa licence advertised from about AED 4,888 (confirm live figure) | From about AED 6,010 (zero-visa) · about AED 12,010 with one visa | From about AED 5,750–6,900 (zero-visa) · about AED 14,300 with one visa |
| Setup time | About one week | A few working days | 2–5 working days | A few working days |
| Banking ease (editorial) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| Fee data | Published fees | Indicative band | Published fees | Published fees |
Ajman NuVentures Free Zone · RAKEZ · Sharjah Media City (Shams) · UAQ Free Trade Zone · Compare any zones
Ajman Free Zone company formation: FAQs
What is Ajman Free Zone company formation?
Ajman Free Zone company formation means registering a company under Ajman Free Zone's rules in Ajman. Ajman Free Zone offers one of the lowest licence prices in the UAE — from AED 5,565 zero-visa, or AED 13,141 with your first residence visa. Activities, fees and eligibility are set by the authority (Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA)) and vary by licence.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Ajman Free Zone?
From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa. These are government fees as published (reviewed July 2026); professional fees, extra visas, office upgrades and bank minimums are additional.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Ajman Free Zone company?
UAE free zones generally allow up to 100% foreign ownership and repatriation of profits. Some regulated activities carry conditions, so confirm eligibility for your exact licence with Ajman Free Zone's authority.
What licences are available in Ajman Free Zone?
Licence categories offered depend on the zone's current rules. For Ajman Free Zone the activities most associated with it include trading and general trading, consulting and services, e-commerce; these typically map to: E-commerce licence; Industrial licence; Service / professional licence. Confirm the current licence list and activity codes with the authority.
Can I get a UAE residence visa through Ajman Free Zone?
A free zone can usually sponsor investor/partner and employee residence visas, subject to package or office-based quotas and the applicant's eligibility. The trade licence and the visa are separate steps, and approval is never guaranteed. Visa allocation at Ajman Free Zone: One visa AED 13,141 all-in; two visas ≈ AED 17,181; three ≈ AED 23,242.
What documents are required for Ajman Free Zone company formation?
Commonly requested: passport copies and photos for shareholders and directors, proof of address, a completed application, and a business plan for some activities. Corporate shareholders provide attested incorporation documents; regulated activities need additional approvals. Confirm the current checklist with the authority.
Does Ajman Free Zone require an office?
Office requirements at Ajman Free Zone depend on the licence type and how many visas you need. Confirm the current requirement for your licence type and number of visas.
Can a Ajman Free Zone company do business in mainland UAE?
Not freely. Free zone companies generally cannot trade directly with mainland customers without a distributor, a dual-licence arrangement where the zone offers one, or a separate mainland licence or branch. If most customers are onshore, compare a mainland licence.
What are the benefits of Ajman Free Zone?
Among the cheapest full free zone licences in the UAE; Trading, service, e-commerce, industrial and freelance licence options; Multi-year discounts (about 10% for two years and 15% for three, as advertised). Weigh these against the limitations listed on this page.
How do I start a company in Ajman Free Zone?
Choose your activity and check it against Ajman Free Zone's permitted list; reserve a trade name; submit documents and pay the fees; sign the incorporation documents; receive the licence; then arrange the establishment card, visas, bank account and tax registration. Timelines: about one week, subject to the authority.
How much is an Ajman Free Zone licence?
A zero-visa licence costs about AED 5,565 in government fees, and about AED 13,141 with one residence visa including entry permit, medical and Emirates ID. Professional-service fees are separate.
Is Ajman Free Zone good for freelancers?
Yes — a freelance licence is one of the cheapest ways to get a UAE company and residence visa, though you should check bank and client expectations for an Ajman address.
Sources and verification
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official website | afz.ae |
| Licensing / operating authority | Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) |
| Fee data status | Published fees — From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa — government fees as published, reviewed July 2026 |
| Last reviewed | September 2026 (fees: July 2026) |
| Government sources to check | UAE Government portal · Federal Tax Authority · ICP (residency) |
Fees and eligibility change. Confirm the zone’s current licence list, activity codes and fee schedule with the authority before paying; ZoneWise is not the authority and does not guarantee outcomes.
Get a written quote for Ajman Free Zone
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.