Business Setup in Ajman
Free Zone (AFZA)

Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) is one of the UAE’s longest-established free zones, set up in 1988 next to Ajman Port. It allows 100% foreign ownership across commercial, professional, industrial, e-commerce, and freelance license categories, and is recognised as a Designated Zone for VAT purposes.

AFZA is the original, broader free zone authority, well suited to trading, industrial, and warehousing businesses that benefit from port access. Ajman NuVentures Centre is a newer, more startup-oriented zone under the same emirate, built around simplified packages for freelancers and early-stage founders. We work with both, and can advise which fits your activity and budget better.

Cost depends on your license type, visa quota, and facility choice — a flexi-desk freelance setup costs meaningfully less than a trading license with a warehouse and multiple visas. Rather than quote a generic figure that may not reflect current authority fees, we’ll confirm an accurate, itemised cost for your specific setup on a free consultation.

Straightforward applications with complete documentation are often issued within days once submitted. The trade license itself is usually the fastest part of the process — visa processing and, in particular, bank account opening typically take longer.

It can work, but it isn’t AFZA’s core strength. For software, SaaS, and broader tech activities, free zones like IFZA or DMCC generally offer a more established ecosystem and peer network. We’ll tell you honestly if another zone suits your activity better before you commit.

Visa quota depends on your facility type — a flexi-desk typically supports a small number of visas, while an executive office or warehouse allows significantly more. We size this against your actual hiring plan before you choose a package, so you’re not paying for capacity you don’t need.

Free zone companies can qualify for a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income under the UAE’s Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime, but income above AED 375,000 that doesn’t meet the qualifying criteria is taxed at the standard 9% rate, and registration with the Federal Tax Authority is mandatory regardless. Missing the registration deadline carries a real penalty, so this is worth getting right from day one — our team can walk you through what applies to your business.

Yes. Your company’s free zone registration and your personal place of residence are separate — many owners register with AFZA for the cost and activity fit, while living and banking elsewhere in the UAE.

Plan for two to six weeks. UAE banks tend to review new free zone companies — particularly outside the largest zones — more carefully than mainland companies, so we prepare your banking file early and can point you toward UAE digital banking options to stay operational in the meantime.