Ajman NuVentures Centre
Free Zone (ANCFZ)
Company Setup
Get a UAE trade licence in 2 hours and residence visas in 24–48 hours. 100% foreign ownership, up to 10 business activities on one licence, and no requirement to visit the UAE to incorporate. Packages start at AED 4,888.
Fixed-price quote in under 10 minutes. Every government fee itemised. No hidden charges.
What Is Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone?
Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ) is a free zone in the Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates, launched in late 2024 to offer expedited company formation. It issues trade licences in as little as two hours and processes residence visas in 24 to 48 hours. ANCFZ permits 100% foreign ownership, requires no minimum paid-up share capital for most activities, offers more than 3,500 business activities, and allows up to 10 activities to be combined on a single licence. Entry packages start at AED 4,888 per year. Incorporation can be completed remotely without travelling to the UAE.
| Full legal name | Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone |
| Abbreviation | ANCFZ (also written ANC Free Zone) |
| Emirate | Ajman, United Arab Emirates |
| Launched | Late 2024 |
| Official website | ancfz.ae |
| Licence issuance | 2 hours (registration in ~15 minutes with complete documents) |
| Visa processing | 24–48 hours |
| Foreign ownership | 100% |
| Minimum share capital | None for most activities |
| Business activities | 3,500+ |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10, mix & match |
| Company structures | FZE, FZC, Branch (UAE or foreign) |
| Entry price | From AED 4,888/year (zero-visa package) |
| Physical office required | No — flexi-desk and virtual options available |
ANCFZ — 7 Things That Actually Matter
Speed is real, but it’s the licence, not the company.
The 2-hour clock covers licence issuance. Full operational readiness — establishment card, visa, Emirates ID, bank account — realistically takes 3 to 6 weeks.
AED 4,888 is a zero-visa licence.
If you need a residence visa, the honest entry point is the 1–10 visa package from AED 10,800, plus per-visa government costs.
Ten activities on one licence is genuinely unusual.
Most UAE free zones cap you at 3 to 5, or charge per additional activity. This is ANCFZ’s strongest structural advantage.
You do not need to visit the UAE to incorporate.
You will need to enter the UAE once for medical testing and Emirates ID biometrics if you take a residence visa.
No minimum paid-up capital for most activities.
Cash does not need to be deposited and blocked.
An ANCFZ licence is a free zone licence.
It does not by itself permit direct trading in the UAE mainland. There are three legitimate routes around this — see the mainland section below.
Ajman is a cost play, not a prestige play.
If your clients are enterprise buyers who will scrutinise your address, a Dubai zone may serve you better. We say so, honestly, in the comparison below.
Who ANCFZ Is Right For
Stating limits is the strongest trust signal we can give you. Here is exactly who this zone serves well — and who it does not.
ANCFZ is a strong fit if you are…
- •A freelancer or solo consultant who needs a UAE residence visa at the lowest credible cost
- •An e-commerce seller on Amazon.ae, Noon, Shopify or your own store, shipping from a third-party fulfilment centre
- •A digital or services business — agency, software, consulting, design, media — with no physical inventory
- •A crypto, blockchain or AI business that wants a licence naming those activities explicitly
- •A holding or IP-owning entity that needs a clean UAE corporate wrapper
- •A trader moving goods between countries, or importing into free zone / bonded storage
- •Anyone testing the UAE market before committing to a Dubai zone
ANCFZ is the wrong choice if you are…
- •Selling directly to UAE mainland customers from your own shop or office
- •Bidding for UAE government or large-enterprise contracts
- •Running a regulated financial services business — banking, insurance, asset management, payments
- •Needing a large physical warehouse or industrial facility
- •Highly sensitive to address prestige with enterprise buyers
- •Expecting a bank account to be automatic
ANCFZ Licence Cost — The Complete Breakdown
Most pages quote the AED 4,888 headline and stop. That figure is a zero-visa licence only. Below is what you actually pay in year one — every item marked "Ask us" is priced on your exact activity and visa count, not estimated.
The five ANCFZ packages compared
| Package | From (AED) | Visas | Activities | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay As You Go | 1,222 | Ask us | Ask us | Testing the water; pay per service. Instalments via Tabby available. |
| Zero Visa | 4,888 | 0 | Up to 10 | Holding companies, second entities, anyone who already has UAE residency. |
| 1–10 Visa All Inclusive | 10,800 | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | The realistic starting point for anyone needing residency. |
| Executive Office | Ask us | Ask us | Up to 10 | Businesses needing a physical office and a higher visa allocation. |
| Retail Package | Ask us | Ask us | Up to 10 | Retail and customer-facing operations. |
True first-year cost — itemised
Worked example: one shareholder, one residence visa, commercial licence, flexi-desk.
| Licence + registration (1-visa package) | ANCFZ | from 10,800 |
| Establishment card | ANCFZ / Immigration | Ask us |
| e-Channel registration + refundable guarantee | Immigration | Ask us |
| Entry permit (residence visa) | Immigration | Ask us |
| Visa medical fitness test | DHA / MOHAP | Ask us |
| Emirates ID (2-year) | ICP | Ask us |
| Visa stamping | Immigration | Ask us |
| Health insurance (mandatory) | Private insurer | Ask us |
Renewal (year 2+) covers the licence, establishment card and lease renewal, plus visa renewal every two years. We don’t publish an estimated renewal figure here — nobody in this market can honestly do so without knowing your package. Ask us for yours.
Costs people forget
- •Late renewal penalties — accrue monthly and compound
- •Visa cancellation costs when an employee leaves
- •Amendment fees — changing activity, shareholder, trade name or share structure
- •Attestation and legalisation for corporate shareholder documents from outside the UAE
- •De-registration / liquidation costs at exit
- •Bank minimum balance — not a fee, but capital you can’t use, often AED 25,000–100,000 depending on the bank
ANCFZ Licence Types and Business Activities
ANCFZ offers more than 3,500 business activities and allows you to combine up to 10 on a single licence — mix and match, across categories. Most UAE free zones cap this at three to five, or charge for each addition.
| Licence type | Covers | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying, selling, importing, exporting, distributing specified goods | Traders, distributors, product businesses |
| General Trading | Trading in a broad, unrestricted range of goods under one licence | Multi-category traders, import/export |
| Service / Professional | Consulting, marketing, IT, design, management services | Agencies, consultants, freelancers |
| E-commerce | Online retail, marketplace selling, dropshipping | Amazon.ae, Noon, Shopify sellers |
| Freelance / Individual | A single professional operating in their own name | Solo consultants, creatives, developers |
High-demand activity clusters at ANCFZ
ANCFZ explicitly markets emerging-technology activities that older zones often force under generic categories.
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Blockchain and cryptocurrency
Advisory, software, non-custodial services
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Artificial intelligence
AI development, machine learning services, data science
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Gaming, esports and metaverse
Game development, virtual worlds, esports platforms
-
Media, content and digital marketing
Production, publishing, advertising, creative services
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E-commerce and marketplace trading
Online retail, marketplace selling, dropshipping
-
IT, software development and SaaS
Custom software, platforms and technology services
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Management, HR and business consultancy
Strategy, HR outsourcing, business advisory
-
General trading and commodity trading
Broad, unrestricted trading across goods categories
Activities that need third-party approval
Some activities require clearance from a UAE authority before the licence is issued, which breaks the 2-hour promise. Expect additional time and cost for anything touching: financial services and payments, insurance, healthcare and medical devices, pharmaceuticals, education and training, legal services, food handling, tobacco, telecoms, security services, recruitment, and custodial or exchange-based crypto activity.
Tell us your intended activity at the enquiry stage and we’ll tell you whether it triggers an external approval before you pay anything.
FZE vs FZC vs Branch — Which Structure Should You Choose?
One owner → FZE. Two or more owners → FZC. An existing company that wants a UAE presence without a new legal entity → Branch.
| Structure | Shareholders | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| FZE (Free Zone Establishment) | 1 — individual or corporate | Solo founders, freelancers, holding entities |
| FZC (Free Zone Company) | 2 or more | Partnerships, co-founded startups, JVs |
| Branch | None — extension of parent | Foreign companies extending into the UAE |
Share splits and shareholder classes are far cheaper to set correctly on day one than to amend later. If a co-founder or investor is joining within 12 months, structure for it now.
ANCFZ Visas — Quotas, Types and Timeline
Your visa quota is set by your package, not negotiated case by case. Each visa carries its own government costs on top of the package price — budget per person, not per company.
Visa types available
| Type | Who it's for | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Investor / Partner | Shareholders of the ANCFZ company | Typically 2 years |
| Employment | Staff employed by the company | Typically 2 years |
| Family / Dependent | Spouse, children, parents of a visa holder | Tied to sponsor |
Honest timeline
| Licence issued | Same day (2 hours with complete documents) |
| Establishment card | Typically 3–10 working days |
| Entry permit | 24–48 hours after establishment card |
| Medical + Emirates ID biometrics | 1–3 working days |
| Visa stamping | Typically 3–7 working days |
| Licence to Emirates ID in hand | Typically 3–5 weeks, realistically |
The 24–48 hour figure applies to entry permit issuance, not the end-to-end process. We publish the realistic number because you’ll plan flights and client commitments around it.
The visa process, step by step
Establishment card issued — the company’s immigration file is opened
e-Channel registration — the immigration portal account, plus a refundable guarantee deposit
Entry permit issued — 24–48 hours at ANCFZ
Status change if already in the UAE on a visit or tourist visa
Medical fitness test — blood test and chest X-ray, in person at an approved centre
Emirates ID biometrics — fingerprints and photograph at an ICP centre, in person
Visa stamping — residence permit issued and linked to your Emirates ID
Opening a Corporate Bank Account With an ANCFZ Licence
Yes, you can open a UAE corporate bank account with an ANCFZ licence. But bank onboarding is the slowest and least predictable part of UAE company formation, and any consultant who promises you an account is either misinformed or misleading you. Banks make an independent risk decision — nobody can guarantee it.
What actually determines approval
- •Your activity — consulting, IT and services onboard more easily than general trading, crypto or anything cash-intensive
- •Your nationality and residency — certain jurisdictions trigger enhanced due diligence
- •Whether you hold a UAE residence visa — a resident shareholder materially improves your odds
- •Substance — a real website, contracts, invoices, and a coherent business story matter more than founders expect
- •The free zone itself — newer zones carry less bank familiarity than DMCC, DIFC or JAFZA
Documents banks will ask for
Trade licence, MOA/AOA, certificate of incorporation, share certificate, establishment card, Emirates ID and passport for every shareholder and signatory, proof of residential address, six months of personal bank statements, a business plan or activity description, and evidence of trade — contracts, invoices, supplier agreements or a live website.
How we improve your odds
We pre-screen your profile against each bank’s current appetite before you apply, prepare your KYC pack to their format, and tell you honestly if we think an application will fail.
Corporate Tax, VAT and Ongoing Compliance
Free zone does not mean tax-free. Here is the current position.
Does an ANCFZ company pay 9% corporate tax?
Possibly not — but you must register and file regardless. The UAE levies corporate tax at 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000. A free zone company may qualify for a 0% rate on qualifying income if it meets the conditions of a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP): maintaining adequate substance in the UAE, earning qualifying income, meeting transfer-pricing requirements, and staying within the de minimis threshold for non-qualifying revenue. QFZP status is tested annually and is not automatic or permanent.
VAT
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary above AED 187,500. A free zone licence does not exempt you. Confirm current thresholds with the Federal Tax Authority (tax.gov.ae).
What you must do every year
| Corporate Tax registration | Once, on incorporation |
| Corporate Tax return | Annual — including at 0% |
| Maintain accounting records | Ongoing |
| Audited financial statements | Confirm ANCFZ’s specific requirement with us |
| Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register | On incorporation + on change |
| Economic Substance Regulations notification | Annual, if conducting a Relevant Activity |
| AML/CFT registration (goAML) | Once, if a DNFBP |
| VAT return | Quarterly or monthly, once registered |
| Licence + establishment card renewal | Annual |
Missing these carries administrative penalties that routinely exceed the cost of the licence itself. Wise Cat handles Corporate Tax registration, VAT and bookkeeping — so compliance doesn’t become next year’s emergency.
Can an ANCFZ Company Trade in Dubai or the UAE Mainland?
Not directly — but there are three legitimate routes, and one common misconception.
What an ANCFZ licence permits without any additional structure
- Trading with businesses and customers outside the UAE, anywhere in the world
- Trading with businesses in other UAE free zones
- Providing services to mainland clients where the work is performed from within the free zone
- Importing goods into the UAE for re-export, or for storage in a free zone or bonded facility
What it does not permit: opening a shop, office or branch in the mainland and selling directly to UAE mainland customers from it.
Your three routes to the mainland
| Route | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland distributor / agent | A licensed mainland company imports and distributes your goods | Product businesses testing UAE demand |
| Mainland branch of your free zone company | Register a branch with the relevant Department of Economic Development | Businesses committed to the UAE market |
| Separate mainland licence | Incorporate a mainland entity alongside the ANCFZ company | Businesses where mainland is the primary market |
The misconception: many buyers assume a free zone licence blocks them from all UAE business. It does not. It blocks direct mainland retail and direct mainland establishment. If your customers are overseas, in other free zones, or you’re delivering services rather than selling goods over a counter, a free zone licence may be all you ever need.
Duties note: goods moving from a free zone into the UAE mainland attract 5% customs duty at the point of entry. Factor this into landed-cost calculations.
How to Set Up a Company in ANCFZ — Step by Step
The licence can be issued in as little as two hours once your file is complete and approved — here is the honest sequence to full operational readiness.
Choose your business activities
Select up to 10 activities from the 3,500+ available. We check whether any of your chosen activities triggers a third-party approval before you commit.
Day 1, ~30 minutesChoose your structure
FZE, FZC or Branch, depending on shareholder count and whether you’re extending an existing company.
Day 1Reserve your trade name
Submit three options in order of preference. Names referencing a country or using terms like "Global" or "International" may carry conditions.
Day 1, same daySubmit documents
Fully digital. Corporate shareholders additionally submit attested constitutional documents and a board resolution — this step most often extends the timeline.
Day 1Pay and receive your licence
On approval and cleared payment, the trade licence is issued in as little as two hours, alongside your incorporation documents.
Day 1 — 2 hoursEstablishment card
Opens your company’s immigration file. Required before any visa application.
Week 1–2Visas
Entry permit in 24–48 hours, then medical, Emirates ID biometrics and stamping.
Weeks 2–5Corporate bank account
Start this as early as possible. It is the longest pole in the tent.
Weeks 2–10, in parallelRegister for tax
Corporate Tax registration is mandatory. VAT registration if you cross the threshold.
First 90 daysDocuments checklist
Every individual shareholder and director
- •Passport copy, valid 6+ months
- •Passport-size photograph, white background
- •Proof of residential address (last 3 months)
- •UAE entry stamp or visa page, if currently in the UAE
- •Emirates ID and NOC, if currently on another UAE residence visa
Additional, for corporate shareholders
- •Certificate of incorporation — attested and legalised
- •Memorandum and Articles of Association — attested and legalised
- •Board resolution approving the ANCFZ incorporation
- •Certificate of incumbency or good standing
- •Passport copies for all UBOs
- •Power of attorney, if signing by representative
Additional, for a branch
- •Parent company licence and constitutional documents, attested
- •Board resolution establishing the branch and appointing a manager
- •Audited financial statements of the parent — confirm requirement with us
ANCFZ vs Other UAE Free Zones — Honest Comparison
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) and Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ) are two different free zones in the same emirate. AFZ is the older, larger zone with substantial industrial and warehousing infrastructure. ANCFZ launched in late 2024 with a digital-first, speed-led model. If you’ve been quoted a price, confirm which zone it refers to.
| ANCFZ | AFZ · Ajman Media City · IFZA · Meydan · SHAMS · RAKEZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry licence from | AED 4,888 | Ask us |
| Licence speed | 2 hours | Varies |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10 | Varies — usually 3–5 |
| Total activities offered | 3,500+ | Varies |
| Remote setup | Yes | Varies |
| Office mandatory | No | Varies |
| Warehousing / industrial | Limited | Strong at AFZ & RAKEZ |
| Address prestige | Moderate | High at IFZA & Meydan (Dubai) |
| Bank familiarity | Newer zone | Stronger at established zones |
Lowest cost with a residence visa → ANCFZ or SHAMS.
Most activities on one licence → ANCFZ. Ten mix-and-match is the widest allowance in this set.
Fastest licence → ANCFZ. Two hours is the fastest published turnaround among these zones.
Warehousing or light industrial → Ajman Free Zone or RAKEZ.
Dubai address for enterprise credibility → IFZA or Meydan.
Smoothest banking → an established Dubai zone. Newer zones carry more onboarding friction.
Why Set Up Your ANCFZ Company With Wise Cat
Fixed-price quotes, itemised
You see every government fee, every zone fee and our fee separately, before you commit. If a cost appears later that we did not quote, we absorb it.
We say when ANCFZ is the wrong answer
If your business needs a mainland licence, a warehouse or a Dubai address, we’ll tell you — even if it means a smaller job or none at all.
Realistic timelines, not marketing timelines
We quote licence-to-Emirates-ID, not licence-only.
Banking handled properly
We pre-screen you against each bank’s current appetite rather than firing off applications and hoping.
Compliance beyond incorporation
Corporate Tax registration and filing, VAT, UBO, ESR and bookkeeping. The licence is the beginning, not the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your ANCFZ Company Setup
Tell us what your business does and where your customers are. We’ll tell you whether ANCFZ is the right zone, what it will cost in full, and how long it will actually take — before you pay anything.
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