Who should set up a business in Ajman?
Ajman suits founders who want a UAE company with low, predictable government fees and who do not need a Dubai address. The Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) charges a flat AED 600 to issue a licence. The emirate sits between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain, and Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is close to Ajman Port and the Dubai and Sharjah international airports.
Ajman works well for:
- Consultants and service firms that need a mainland licence to invoice UAE clients directly.
- Traders and light manufacturers who want warehouses or land near Ajman Port in AFZ.
- Solo founders and freelancers testing the UAE market on a zero-visa free zone package from AED 4,888.
Ajman is a weaker fit if your clients expect a Dubai address or your activity is closed to full foreign ownership, such as banking or insurance. Mainland visa quotas also follow your premises, so a large team needs real office space.
Mainland or free zone: which Ajman route fits?
Choose Ajman mainland if you will sell directly to customers in the UAE. Choose a free zone if most clients are abroad or you want a packaged licence with a desk. The UAE government portal says a free zone company selling into the UAE market must use a licensed mainland distributor or a mainland branch or company.
Ajman has one mainland licensing authority and three main free zones:
- Mainland: the Department of Economic Development, Ajman issues, renews and amends licences online through UAE Pass.
- Free zones: Ajman Free Zone and Ajman Media City Free Zone, both under the Free Zones Authority of Ajman, and Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone.
| Free zone | Starting price | Visas | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) | No package list on afz.gov.ae; Ajman's service catalogue gives AED 5,000 to 78,942 for a new licence | Set by facility and package; none on zero-visa packages | Launched 1988 beside Ajman Port; over 3,500 activities; offices, warehouses and land |
| Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMC) | AED 4,999 a year with no visa | AED 12,999 with one visa; packages up to 10 visas | Co-working space included; up to 10 activities and 10 shareholders |
| Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ) | AED 4,888 with no visa | From AED 10,800 with 1 to 10 visas | Up to 10 activities per licence, chosen from over 3,500 |
Ofin's licence-only AFZ package starts at AED 5,555. AFZ also issues an offshore licence for intellectual property holding companies; see our offshore guide and mainland vs free zone comparison.
How much does business setup in Ajman cost in 2026?
Ajman DED's listed fees for a new licence add up to about AED 4,050 at the minimum Chamber fee, before LLC-only fees, rent and visas. A limited liability company (LLC) adds AED 3,000 for publication with the Ministry of Economy, plus a notarisation fee based on its capital. Rent, lease attestation and visas usually cost more than the licence itself.
Ajman DED fees for a new licence
| Fee on Ajman DED's list | AED |
|---|---|
| Trade name reservation, initial approval and form | 350 |
| Economic licence issuance | 600 |
| Administrative application form | 50 |
| Trade name signboard permit | 350 |
| Commercial Register registration | 200 |
| Unified Economic Activities Register | 200 |
| Advertising signboard specification form | 100 |
| Commercial Register certificate | 200 |
| National Fund for Social Responsibility contribution | 1,500 |
| Ajman Chamber of Commerce membership | 500 to 5,000 |
| LLC only: publication with the Ministry of Economy | 3,000 |
| LLC only: MOA notarisation, set by capital (plus AED 50 per translated page) | 50 to 50,000 |
Office, visas and the rest of year one
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial lease attestation | 5% of annual rent, minimum AED 500 | Ajman Municipality and Planning Department |
| Municipal cleaning fee | AED 600 to 48,000 | Set by activity, charged with lease attestation |
| Office rent | Ofin plans AED 5,000 to 30,000+ a year | Location and size |
| Investor visa | Ofin plans AED 3,000 to 6,000+ per person | Medical test and Emirates ID extra |
| Employee work permit guarantee | AED 3,000 per employee | MOHRE bank guarantee, refundable when the employee leaves |
| Health insurance | Insurer's price | For employee residence permits where the federal rule applies |
For a small consultancy with one owner, one investor visa and a small office, Ofin's first-year planning range is AED 18,000 to 35,000+.
Ofin Global packages for Ajman mainland
| Package | Ofin price | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant or advisor | AED 10,000 to 15,000 | Professional licence for consultancy and skill-based work |
| Service business | AED 12,000 to 20,000 | Agencies, tech firms and other service SMEs |
| Trading company | AED 18,000 to 30,000+ | Commercial licence for import, export, retail and distribution |
The final price depends on your activity, office and number of visas, and the packages are not itemised online. Ofin gives you a full breakdown before you commit.
An advertised Ajman price may leave out rent, lease attestation, visas, medical tests, Emirates ID, the establishment card or health insurance. Ask for each line separately, and ask what year two will cost.
Which licence types and activities can you choose?
Most Ajman mainland companies need one of three licences: commercial for trading goods, professional for services and skills, or industrial for manufacturing. These sit within the six federal licence types: industrial, commercial, professional, tourism, agricultural and crafts.
- Commercial: trading, import, export, retail and distribution, usually with storage or shop space.
- Professional: consultancy, IT, marketing and other skill-based services.
- Industrial: manufacturing and processing, with suitable premises and approvals.
- Bidayat: a three-year home-based licence for women, issued by the Ajman Businesswomen Council with Ajman DED. The council's approval costs AED 1,000 and needs a UAE ID and a home ownership document.
The UAE has more than 2,000 business activities, and one licence can carry more than one. Some need another authority's approval first, such as the Central Bank for financial institutions or MOHRE for manpower supply. Changing activities later costs AED 500 for the licence amendment at Ajman DED, plus AED 50 and AED 100 form and register fees.
In the free zones, AFZ and ANCFZ each list over 3,500 activities. ANCFZ and AMC let you mix commercial and service activities on one licence, up to 10. AFZ's FAQ says one licence holds either service or commercial activities, not both.
Visas and office rules
An Ajman mainland company needs real premises with an attested lease, and its visa quota follows from them. Ajman DED also asks for a valid attested lease at each renewal.
Once the licence is issued, the company opens a MOHRE file and gets an establishment card, which lets it apply for entry permits. MOHRE sets the work permit quota from your legal status, the size of your premises, your projects and business needs.
- Owners and partners usually hold an investor or partner residence visa through the company. Investors and partners who meet ICP's conditions can apply for a five-year Green visa, which needs no sponsor and covers family members.
- Employees need a MOHRE work permit, a medical fitness test and an Emirates ID. A standard work visa is valid for two years.
- Health insurance: since 1 January 2025, employers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai must buy cover before employee residence permits are issued or renewed. The UAE government portal says the rule will extend to private sector workers in Ajman, so check the position before you hire.
In the free zones, the package sets your visas. AMC's AED 12,999 Visionary package includes one residence visa with the establishment card, medical test and Emirates ID; at AFZ the quota follows your facility.
Ownership rules and legal forms
Foreign founders can own 100% of an Ajman mainland company for most activities. Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, later consolidated into Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies, removed the 51% Emirati shareholding rule for most activities.
Full foreign ownership is not allowed for some activities, which include:
- security, defence and military activities
- telecommunications
- banks, exchange, financing and insurance
- commercial agencies, Hajj and Umrah organising, and fishing and pearl catching
Mainland legal forms include the sole establishment (one owner, trading as EST), the LLC and branches of UAE or foreign companies; federal law also provides for partnerships and joint stock companies. The forms open to a foreign owner depend on the activity, so confirm yours with Ajman DED before you reserve the name. An LLC needs a Memorandum of Association (MOA) attested by a UAE notary, and Ajman DED sets the notarisation fee by the capital you state.
Official sources differ on local service agents. The UAE government portal says the 2020 reform removed the local agent requirement for most activities, yet its mainland checklist still lists an attested service agent contract for establishments wholly owned by non-GCC nationals. Ajman DED's published document list for a new licence does not mention one, so ask Ajman DED. Foreign company branches no longer need a UAE national service agent but need the Ministry of Economy and Tourism's initial approval.
At AFZ and ANCFZ you set up a single-owner FZE, a multi-owner FZC or a branch. ANCFZ states there is no minimum paid-up capital for most activities.
Renewal and ongoing compliance
Ajman DED licences renew for one to three years at a time. The renewal fees on its list total AED 2,810: AED 600 for the licence, AED 1,500 for the social responsibility contribution and AED 710 in form, signboard, register and certificate fees. Ajman Chamber fees of AED 1,000 to 5,000 come on top, and you need a valid attested lease and any external approvals your activity requires.
Tax and other duties start in year one:
- Corporate tax registration: a company must apply to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) within three months of incorporation. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty.
- Corporate tax rates: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. Returns are due within nine months of the year end.
- Small Business Relief: businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million can elect it for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026.
- Sole establishments: the owner, not the business, is the taxpayer. Corporate tax applies once business turnover passes AED 1 million in a calendar year, and the owner registers by 31 March of the following year.
- Free zone companies: a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income but must still register and file.
- VAT: registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 in 12 months, and optional above AED 187,500.
- Beneficial owners: under Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023, a company keeps a register of anyone owning or controlling 25% or more, files it with its licensing authority within 60 days and records changes within 15 days.
- Records: corporate tax starts from the profit in your financial statements, so keep books from day one.
If you close the company later, Ajman DED lists AED 2,000 to cancel the licence plus AED 500 for the newspaper notice. See our corporate tax and VAT registration guides.
Ajman compared with Dubai and Sharjah
Ajman's clearest difference is how the licence fee is set: Ajman DED charges a flat AED 600 to issue a licence, while Sharjah charges non-UAE partners 13% of annual rent. Dubai's draw is its address and its choice of free zones.
| Factor | Ajman | Dubai | Sharjah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland authority | Department of Economic Development, Ajman | Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Licence fee basis | AED 600 issuance fee plus listed register and Chamber fees | Varies by licence type and activities | 13% of annual rent for non-UAE partners, minimum AED 1,300 |
| Lease | Attested in Ajman at 5% of annual rent, minimum AED 500 | Registered with Ejari | Certified lease; none in year one of an Instant License |
| Fast option | Online issue through UAE Pass; Ajman's stated time is 10 minutes once ready | Instant licence, one of 8 licence types | Instant License; SEDD's payment voucher is AED 6,000 or AED 8,500 |
| Free zones | AFZ, AMC and ANCFZ | Many, including IFZA, Meydan and DMCC | SPC, Shams and others |
Choose Dubai when a Dubai address matters most, Sharjah for a lease-free first year, and Ajman for low fixed licence fees and port access. See business setup in Dubai and business setup in Sharjah.
Setting up in Ajman from India
Indian founders can own an Ajman company outright, but Indian residents must invest through their bank under India's overseas investment rules. Plan these points early:
- Attest your documents. Indian documents need Ministry of External Affairs attestation first. One digital application through the UAE Consulate General in Mumbai then covers the consulate and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A parent company's MOA and articles are attested separately, and laminated documents are refused.
- Choose a limited liability structure. RBI's Overseas Investment Directions require the foreign entity to have limited liability, such as a limited liability company. An LLC, FZE or FZC fits; a sole establishment's owner has unlimited liability, so check with your bank before using one.
- Report the investment. File Form FC with your designated authorised dealer (AD) bank before the first remittance. Resident individuals may invest only in an operating business outside financial services, within the Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit of USD 250,000 per financial year, and cannot lend to the company.
- File every year. An Annual Performance Report goes to your AD bank, certified by a chartered accountant where no statutory audit applies.
- Check your tax residency. If you plan to move, take advice on Indian tax residency and the India-UAE tax treaty first.
For the full journey, read business setup in Dubai from India, our attestation guide and the corporate bank account guide.
How Ofin helps
Ofin's UAE desk, trading as Ofin Global, sets up Ajman mainland and free zone companies and stays with you for visas, banking and tax. It handles:
- activity, licence type and legal form
- trade name, Ajman DED approvals and the licence application
- office guidance and lease attestation
- investor and employee visas, the establishment card and Emirates ID
- corporate bank account support
- VAT and corporate tax registration, accounting and PRO services
- the India side: attestation and FEMA overseas investment advice
Ofin Legal has a 4.9★ Google rating and has served 5,000+ clients since 2019. Call or WhatsApp the UAE desk on +971 50 523 5779 for an itemised Ajman quote.
