Who should set up in Ajman Free Zone?
Ajman Free Zone suits traders, small manufacturers, service firms and freelancers who want a low-cost UAE licence near a seaport. AFZ was established in 1988 next to Ajman Port, within reach of the Dubai and Sharjah airports. It is a public-sector free zone run by the Free Zones Authority of Ajman (FZA).
AFZ is a good fit if you:
- Trade goods and need a warehouse near the port. Ready warehouses start at 100 sq m.
- Run a consultancy, agency or IT service that mainly bills clients outside the UAE.
- Work alone and want a freelancer licence that can sponsor your own residence visa.
- Manufacture, repack or assemble goods and want land on a lease of 20 years or more to build your own facility.
It may not be the right choice if:
- Most of your customers are on the UAE mainland. AFZ's FAQ says goods are distributed in the UAE through authorised distributors, which adds a layer of cost. Compare an Ajman mainland licence or read mainland vs free zone.
- You need a Dubai address for clients, tenders or banking. Compare a Dubai free zone such as Meydan Free Zone or IFZA.
Ajman has more than one free zone, such as the newer Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone, so check the zone named on every quote. This page covers only AFZ, whose official website is afz.gov.ae.
How much does Ajman Free Zone company setup cost in 2026?
Ofin's licence-only package for Ajman Free Zone starts at AED 5,555, with no visa. A residence visa needs a visa-eligible package, and the first visa then adds at least AED 6,450 in AFZ fees. AFZ publishes no setup package prices; its online cost calculator emails an estimate instead. The fees below are the starting prices in AFZ's own service catalogue, checked on 22 October 2026.
| Item | AED | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Ofin Global licence-only package | from 5,555 | Company registration and licence, no visa (Ofin's price) |
| Immigration security approval | from 600 | Security clearance for a shareholder, manager or employee, if required |
| Establishment card (new) | from 750 | The company's immigration file, needed before any visa |
| E-Channel registration (new) | from 2,300 | Online immigration account for visa transactions |
| Work entry permit | from 1,000 | Per person sponsored |
| Change of status | from 800 | Only if the person is already inside the UAE |
| Residence visa (new) | from 2,400 | Electronic residence visa, per person |
| Bank account opening letter | from 100 | AFZ letter addressed to your bank |
| Package upgrade, if you start on a zero-visa package | from 4,878.75 | Moves the company to a package with visa quota |
| Licence renewal, each year | from 4,878.75 | Licence, lease and registry records |
The licence-only price does not include:
- Visas, the establishment card or E-Channel. AFZ says the establishment card and E-Channel are not available on an ineligible zero-visa package, so a licence-only company upgrades its package first.
- Medical screening, Emirates ID and health insurance, which AFZ says may apply before a visa is completed.
- A dedicated office or warehouse lease, or approvals from other authorities for regulated activities.
- Bookkeeping, audit, VAT and corporate tax filings.
On a visa-eligible package, the establishment card, E-Channel, entry permit and residence visa fees for one visa add up to AED 6,450, before medical screening and health insurance. Each further visa adds at least AED 3,400, plus AED 800 if the person changes status inside the UAE. AFZ's FAQ says instalment plans of up to six months may be available on the rent, depending on the package.
These are AFZ's listed starting fees, not a quote, and VAT is added where it applies. The final figure depends on your package, activities, facility and linked services, so ask for an itemised quote before you pay.
Which licence types and business activities does AFZ offer?
AFZ's licence page lists three licence types, the Business License, the Industrial License and the Sole Professional License, and AFZ says it offers more than 3,500 business activities.
- Business License: storing, importing, exporting and distributing products, according to AFZ. It works with a business centre, office, executive office, warehouse or land.
- Industrial License: importing raw materials, manufacturing listed goods and exporting the products. It pairs with warehouses, land or onsite accommodation.
- Sole Professional License: for freelancers in one of the 40 categories AFZ offers, working from co-working space in the Freelancer and Pioneers Hub.
AFZ's menus and FAQ still use older names such as Commercial, Services, E-commerce and Pioneers, and the FAQ says one licence holds either service or commercial activities, not both.
AFZ's online activity list showed about 1,640 entries on 22 October 2026, grouped as Services, Commercial, Industrial, E-Commerce and Freelancer, with ISIC codes on most. Search it before you apply, and note these points:
- Trading activities cover specific products, so list every product family you plan to sell.
- Some activities need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from another authority before the licence is issued or renewed.
- Real estate activity requires a business proposal, according to AFZ's FAQ.
- Designated non-financial businesses, such as real estate brokers, dealers in precious metals and stones, auditors, legal consultants and company service providers, must register on goAML and appoint a compliance officer.
AFZ's site also describes an offshore licence, including for intellectual property holding companies. It is a separate product from the free zone licence covered here.
How many visas do you get, and which office should you choose?
Your visa quota in AFZ depends on the facility and package you choose, not on the licence alone. AFZ's facility pages state these figures:
| Facility | Visa eligibility stated by AFZ | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer and Pioneers Hub | Up to two residence visas, plus family sponsorship | Solo founders and graduates |
| Business Centre | Investor, partner, manager and employee visas, quota set by package | Start-ups in shared co-working space |
| Offices | Two residence visas | Small teams that need a lease and signboard |
| Executive Offices | Two residence visas | Teams that want a larger or unfurnished office |
| Warehouses | At least 14 residence visas | Trading, storage and light industry, from 100 sq m |
A few points before you choose:
- AFZ's pages differ for freelancers. The Sole Professional License page mentions one residence visa, while the hub page and FAQ mention two. The FAQ also says a Pioneer licence gets one visa, for the owner only. Confirm the quota in writing before you pay.
- You can ask for extra visa quota, from AED 350. AFZ inspects the facility first, and the service is not available on virtual facilities or packages.
- Investor and employee visas follow the same path: entry permit, change of status if already in the UAE, medical screening, Emirates ID and the residence visa. AFZ states 8 hours as the delivery time for its entry permit, change of status and residence visa services, but approval rests with the federal immigration authority (ICP).
- The medical test is done in the UAE. AFZ's FAQ names a health centre in Ajman.
- Some job titles need an attested education certificate. An Indian certificate is attested by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), then by the UAE Embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
- You can sponsor your spouse and children. AFZ's FAQ asks for an AFZ salary certificate, a certified lease, attested marriage and birth certificates and health insurance, and quotes a minimum salary of AED 4,500 for employees.
Ownership, share capital and legal forms
You can own 100% of an AFZ company and choose from four legal forms.
| Legal form | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Freezone Establishment (FZE) | A single owner, individual or corporate |
| Freezone Company (FZC) | Two or more partners |
| Branch of a Local Company | A company already licensed elsewhere in the UAE |
| Branch of a Foreign Company | A company registered outside the UAE. Sales in the UAE go through a registered agent or distributor |
Other rules from AFZ's own pages:
- Shareholders do not have to live in the UAE, but AFZ's FAQ says the general manager must be a UAE resident.
- You can appoint up to four directors or managers, depending on the package.
- Corporate shareholders are allowed, with attested corporate documents.
- Freelancer and Pioneer licences allow one shareholder only.
- AFZ does not publish a fixed minimum share capital on its website. The capital is written into your Memorandum or Articles of Association. A later increase costs from AED 1,500 and needs a signed resolution and a recent bank statement.
Renewal and ongoing compliance
An AFZ licence is renewed every year, and AFZ lists licence renewal from AED 4,878.75. The final fee depends on your package, activities, facility and any outstanding amounts. AFZ's FAQ gives a one-month grace period after expiry.
Each year, plan for:
- Licence and lease renewal.
- Establishment card renewal (from AED 750) and E-Channel renewal (from AED 1,200), if you hold visas.
- Residence visa renewals, from AED 2,400 per person.
- Salaries paid through the Wages Protection System, with payroll uploaded on the AFZ portal by the 15th of each month.
- An up-to-date register of ultimate beneficial owners (UBO). AFZ's FAQ says any change must be reported within 15 days.
Corporate tax
Every AFZ company must register for UAE corporate tax and file a return within nine months of its financial year end. A company incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 must apply to register within three months of incorporation, and late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty. The standard rates are 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. A Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) pays 0% on qualifying income if it:
- keeps adequate substance in the UAE;
- earns qualifying income;
- has not elected to pay the standard rates;
- meets the transfer pricing rules; and
- prepares audited financial statements.
Non-qualifying revenue must also stay within a de minimis limit set by the Minister of Finance. A company that breaks a condition loses QFZP status for that tax period and the next four. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 now sets the list of qualifying activities, so check your activity against it before assuming 0%.
Small Business Relief treats a resident person with revenue of AED 3,000,000 or less as having no taxable income. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extends it to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, but a QFZP cannot claim it.
VAT
You must register for VAT once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000, and you may register voluntarily above AED 187,500. Ajman Free Zone appears on the UAE's list of VAT Designated Zones under Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017. That status affects goods only where the specific area meets the fencing and customs conditions, so confirm your facility with AFZ. Services supplied to or within a Designated Zone follow the normal UAE VAT rules.
Ajman Free Zone compared with other free zones
AFZ is strongest for trading and light industry near a port. Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah zones compete on entry price, and Dubai zones cost more but give a Dubai address.
| Ajman Free Zone | SPC Free Zone | RAKEZ | Meydan Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ajman | Sharjah | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai |
| Starting price on official site (22 Oct 2026) | Not published, quote by calculator | From AED 5,750 (Publishing or E-commerce), AED 6,875 (Standard) | From AED 6,000 | From AED 12,500 |
| Activities (authority's figure) | 3,500+ | 2,000+ | 3,000+ across all RAKEZ licences | 2,500+ |
| Main strength | Warehouses and land beside Ajman Port | Five activity groups per licence at no extra cost | Industrial zones and manufacturing | Dubai address and digital setup |
Read our guides to SPC Free Zone, RAKEZ and Meydan Free Zone, or compare all UAE free zones.
Setting up an AFZ company from India
Indian residents can own an AFZ company outright, but the money must go out under India's overseas investment rules, through your Indian bank. Our India to UAE setup guide covers the full journey. The main points:
- ODI filing: A resident individual who invests in a foreign company makes Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) under the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022. You file Form FC with your designated authorised dealer (AD) bank.
- LRS limit: Resident individuals may remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March) under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Investment by individuals is generally counted within this limit.
- Equity, not loans: A resident individual cannot fund the UAE company by way of debt under these rules.
- Reporting: Give your AD bank evidence of the investment, such as the share certificate, within six months. File an Annual Performance Report each year, certified by a chartered accountant where no statutory audit applies.
- Indian company as shareholder: An Indian company can also invest as ODI through its AD bank. AFZ needs its incorporation certificate and Memorandum and Articles notarised and attested by the UAE Embassy, after attestation by India's MEA.
- Tax residency: If you stay resident and ordinarily resident in India, India taxes your worldwide income. Spending 182 days or more in India in a tax year makes you resident. A foreign company whose place of effective management is in India is treated as an Indian tax resident, so key decisions should be taken in the UAE.
- UAE bank account: AFZ issues a bank letter (from AED 100) and, from AED 1,000, can submit an application to its partner bank. The bank runs its own checks and decides. See our corporate bank account guide.
How Ofin helps with Ajman Free Zone setup
Ofin's UAE desk handles your AFZ company from activity choice to visas, and covers the Indian filings in the same engagement. Ofin Legal was founded in Mumbai in 2019, has a 4.9★ Google rating and has served 5,000+ clients. Its UAE desk trades as Ofin Global.
For an AFZ company, Ofin:
- Matches your activities to AFZ's list, flags outside approvals and recommends the legal form and facility for your visa needs.
- Prepares and checks documents, including attestation of Indian corporate papers, and files the application.
- Processes the establishment card, investor and employee visas and Emirates ID.
- Supports your corporate bank account application.
- Registers the company for corporate tax and VAT, keeps the accounts and handles renewal and PRO work.
- Advises on FEMA overseas investment filings and India-UAE tax residency.
Ofin usually plans for 2 to 4 weeks from a complete set of documents to the licence and first residence visa. AFZ and immigration approvals can change that.
For an itemised AFZ quote, call or WhatsApp Ofin's UAE desk on +971 50 523 5779.
