SETUP YOUR AJMAN FREE ZONE (AFZA) COMPANY
Launch your business in Ajman Free Zone with ease! Benefit from fast registration, a flexible payment plan, and access to premium facilities like seaport, warehouses, and flexi desks. Enjoy the cost-effective option for general trading with non-visa packages, the most affordable in the UAE.
AJMAN FREE ZONE (AJMAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANY)
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) was established in 1988, leading to massive industrial development in Ajman by attracting a great number of companies to benefit from the investment privileges, thereby strengthening industry and trade and the financial sector in the UAE.
Ajman Free Zone authority is the controlling body for an Ajman offshore company. Ajman offshore authority was started in 2014. And since then, it became the best choice for IBC.
BENEFITS OF AN OFFSHORE COMPANY
Fast registration – License in one day
Chamber of commerce membership upon company setup
Multiple installments plan: pay for AFZA license in 2, 3 or 6 installments
Sea port and warehouses within Ajman free trade zone
Unlimited usage of flexi desk
General trading activity with non-visa package – the cheapest in the UAE
AFZA company formation process
Ajman company formation can be completed in 1-3 working days after all required documentation has been compiled and submitted.
Step 1: Determine the legal entity of your business and license type
In AFZA, you can choose from different legal entities and license types. Decide on the business activity and prepare a business plan. The legal entities you can form include:
- Free Zone Establishment (FZE) – One shareholder
- Free Zone Company (FZC) – Multiple shareholders
- Branch of a local company
- Branch of a foreign company
Step 2: Prepare the necessary documents
AFZA requires a minimal documentation package:
- Passport copy
- Passport-size photo
- Residential address, phone number, and email
- Company name
- Business activity
You also need to pay all the registration and processing fees at this step.
Step 3: Receive the license and registration documents for the company
After the registration is completed, you will receive your set of corporate documents, which include:
- License
- Chamber of Commerce registration certificate
- Lease agreement
- Memorandum of Association (for companies with multiple partners)
These documents will enable you to apply for a corporate bank account in Dubai. At least one of the company shareholders is required to be a resident of the UAE to be able to open a corporate bank account in the Emirates.
Step 4. Receive an establishment card that contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residency visas.
Step 5. Apply for an entry permit to arrive in the UAE.
Apply for an entry permit. If you apply from inside the UAE, after the entry permit is issued you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.
Step 6. Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residency visa
You can do the medical test in Dubai – there is no need to travel to Ajman.
Step 7. Apply for an Emirates ID.
Step 8. Complete biometrics procedure in one of the Emirates ID centers.
Step 9. Once you have the results of your medical test and biometrics you can submit all the details for a visa approval. Your electronic visa will be sent to you by email. You can also find it in the UAEICP app.
Step 10. Receive your Emirates ID.
After the residence visa is issued, the Government prepares a plastic identity card which is an important document that is required to open a bank account, rent an apartment, pay bills or fines, etc. It also entitles you to many local services and discounts.
Step 11. Open a bank account
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. The approval may take a few weeks. After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.
Ajman Free Zone company formation can be completed within 1 working day, making it one of the quickest and most efficient options for new business setups in the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
General
No. Business registration and licensing procedures are associated with smart services which require Emirates ID.
• Reserve a trade name
• Obtain a preliminary approval
• Obtain an approval from other authorities if the activity deems necessary
• Obtain the Memorandum of Association of the companies
• Provide a certificate of authenticity of the lease contract issued from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency
Yes, except in the case of engineering consultancy.
No
• Filling a registration and license application form and reserving a trade name.
• A copy of the service agent’s passport (with the details of residence/Visa for non-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nationals)
• A copy of the service agent’s identity card and family book
• A copy of the responsible director’s passport and a no objection letter from his current sponsor
• Approval of other governmental agencies concerned with the activity of the company
• The Board of Directors’ decision to open a branch and to appoint a director
• A copy of the Memorandum of Association and the Commercial Register which should be duly certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE embassy of the country in which the company is incorporated.
Conditions of licensing the activity of the business center:
• The total site area of the business center shouldn’t be less than 5000 feet where the area of each office is not less than 250 feet including hallways and facilities. The net area per office shouldn’t be less than 200 square feet.
• Having a lease agreement between the property owner and the business center of a period not less than 4 years.
• A written consent by the property owner authorizing the business center to sublease the property during the period of the lease contract.
• Submitting schemes for the site showing the number and the distribution of offices until the allowed number of establishments that can be registered in the site is determined by the commercial register sector in accordance with the aforementioned information in paragraph (A) of this article.
• An annual fee of 25,000 twenty five thousand AED is calculated for every site allocated for the business center activities.
Having educational qualifications, experience, and obtaining external approvals.
Professional activities are the activities that depend on mental and physical effort to be practiced. They include agriculture, fishing, education, health, social work, and community, social and personal services.
Issuing of a Business License
• Reserving a trade name
• Obtaining a preliminary approval
• Obtaining an approval of other authorities if the activity deems necessary
• Obtaining a Memorandum of Association of the companies
• Obtaining a service agent contract for occupational licenses
• Lease contract issued from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
• Reserve a trade name
• Obtain a preliminary approval
• Obtain an approval from other authorities if the activity deems necessary
• Obtain the Memorandum of Association of the companies
• Provide a certificate of authenticity of the lease contract issued from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
Yes, except in the case of engineering consultancy.
no
• Filling a registration and license application form and reserving a trade name.
• A copy of the responsible director’s passport and a no objection letter from his current sponsor
• Approval of other governmental agencies concerned with the activity of the company
• The Board of Directors’ decision to open a branch and to appoint a director and a copy of the Memorandum of Association and the Commercial Register
• The Ministry of Economy approval for the commercial and industrial companies where the rate of nationals is less than 51%
• The total site area of the business center shouldn’t be less than 5000 feet where the area of each office is not less than 250 feet including hallways and facilities. The net area per office shouldn’t be less than 200 square feet.
• Having a lease agreement between the property owner and the business center of a period not less than 4 years.
• A written consent by the property owner authorizing the business center to sublease the property during the period of the lease contract.
• Submitting schemes for the site showing the number and the distribution of offices until the allowed number of establishments that can be registered in the site is determined by the commercial register sector in accordance with the aforementioned information in paragraph (A) of this article.
• An annual fee of 25,000 twenty five thousand AED is calculated for every site allocated for the business center activities.
Having educational qualifications, experience, and obtaining external approvals.
The same usual conditions in addition to paying 500 AED. Yes. No
Yes
Paying 50 million and having a legal form as a limited liability company.
Commercial activities are the activities that require a capital to be practiced. They include wholesale and retail trade, construction, transportation, stockpiling, communication, financial intermediation, real estate, and leasing.
Industrial activities are the activities that require a capital to be practiced. They include manufacturing, mining, quarrying, electricity, gas, and water.
Professional activities are the activities that depend on mental and physical effort to be practiced. They include agriculture, fishing, education, health, social work, and community, social and personal services.
No, but the owner can.
Yes
You can apply for a trade name online or go through an authorized document cearing office or approved lawirm. Please note that to access online services, you need a user account.
It includes the trade of all kinds of goods and products that are mentioned in full details in the trade category of the activity classification guidebook except for those that require an external approval from concerned authorities.
To be qualified, and to have an experience in the required consultation field. The requirements of the consultations that require an external approval are determined by concerned authorities.
Manage Business License
• Providing a letter from the company or the institution requesting to stop the licensing temporarily
• Providing a letter from the Ministry of Labor indicating the absence of sponsored people on the license
• Providing a report from the inspection division in Dubai DED.
Providing a certificate of authenticity of the lease contract issued from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency and an appendix of the Memorandum of Association when modifying the status of partners.
Providing a certificate of authenticity of the lease contract issued from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency and an appendix of the Memorandum of Association when modifying the status of partners.
Cancel Business License
If the partnership has ended more than 2 years ago.
• The license expiration date should have ended for more than 2 years.
• The national partner shall acknowledge his liability towards the company.
• Providing supporting documents that strengthens the dissolution request such as the escape of a partner
• Providing a letter from the Ministry of Labor indicating the absence of sponsored people on the license
• For sole proprietorships, a no objection letter from the Ministry of Labor is required in addition to a residence cancellation proof for non-Gulf nationals.
• For civil works companies, a no objection letter from the Ministry of Labor is required in addition to dissolution of partnership contract from the notary public.
• For commercial companies, a no objection letter from the Ministry of Labor is required in addition to a residence cancellation proof for non-Gulf nationals, the minutes of Annual General Meeting to liquidate the company and appoint a liquidator, a letter from the liquidator of accepting the liquidation, and announcing the liquidation in the newspaper.
AFZA licenses and cost
Ajman Free Zone offers a wide range of licenses suitable for various types of activities, whether it’s trading, services, consulting, or industrial production.