Ajman Free Zone Business Setup in UAE
 

Ajman Free Zone Company Formation Made Simple

Looking for the cheapest way to start a legitimate company in the UAE?

Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is one of the UAE's oldest and most affordable free zones. If you want a real UAE trade licence, a UAE residence visa, and a corporate bank account without paying Dubai prices, Ajman Free Zone deserves a serious look.

Zounder helps you set up your Ajman Free Zone company with a fully guided process — from licence to visa to bank account.

Ajman Free Zone Company Formation • Ajman Free Zone Business Licence • Ajman Free Zone Visa • Ajman Free Zone Bank Account • Ajman Free Zone Company Setup

Start your Ajman Free Zone company formation today.

What Is Ajman Free Zone?

Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is a government-established free zone in Ajman, one of the UAE's seven emirates. Located beside Ajman Port on the Arabian Gulf coast, the free zone was established in 1988 — making it one of the oldest continuously operating free zones in the country.

Today, Ajman Free Zone is home to over 10,000 companies from more than 160 nationalities . Its positioning as a cost-leader means it attracts primarily SMEs, traders, e-commerce sellers, freelancers, and light manufacturers who want UAE compliance and a UAE visa without the overhead.

Ajman Free Zone is about 25 minutes from Dubai and 10 minutes from Sharjah, with easy access via Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road . The zone has access to 4 seaports and 2 international airports .

Ajman Free Zone offers:

• 100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor required

• 0% personal income tax

• Access to 0% corporate tax rate subject to Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) conditions

• Full profit and capital repatriation

• Licences from AED 5,565 per year

• Remote company formation — no need to travel to the UAE for initial setup

Why Choose Ajman Free Zone?

• Lowest-cost UAE licence — Ajman Free Zone licences start from AED 5,565 in government fees, making it one of the two or three cheapest free zones in the entire UAE 

• All-inclusive pricing — the package price covers the trade licence, free zone registration, establishment card where a visa is taken, and the full visa process including entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping 

• 100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor or UAE national partner required

• Remote incorporation — complete initial setup from anywhere in the world without travelling to the UAE

• Fast setup — company registration can be completed in 2–3 business days

• 0% personal income tax and full profit repatriation

• Flexible visa options — from 0 to 6 visas depending on your package

• Wide activity range — 1,500+ business activities supported 

• Strategic location — 25 minutes from Dubai, close to Ajman Port and Sharjah/Dubai airports

• E-commerce and freelancer friendly — dedicated licence categories for digital businesses

Ajman Free Zone Licence Cost 2026 — Full Breakdown

Ajman Free Zone licence cost depends on your visa package, activity type, and office option. Here are the current published rates:

Licence Packages

• Zero-visa licence: AED 5,565 

• Licence + 1 residence visa: AED 13,141 

• Licence + 2 residence visas: AED 17,181 

• Licence + 3 residence visas: AED 23,242 

What Each Visa Actually Adds

• First residence visa: + AED 7,576 (includes the establishment card) 

• Second residence visa: + AED 4,040 

• Third residence visa: + AED 6,061 

What's Included in the Package Price

• Trade licence issued by Ajman Free Zone Authority

• Company registration and incorporation documents

• Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas

• Residence visa processing on the visa-inclusive packages

• Flexi-desk facility bundled into the standard packages 

Additional Costs to Budget For

• Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately

• Physical office or warehouse beyond the bundled flexi-desk

• Health insurance (mandatory for visa holders)

• Corporate bank account opening and minimum balances

• Accounting and compliance support: from AED 8,000/year

Realistic Year 1 Total for a Solo Founder: AED 13,141 (all-inclusive with visa) or AED 5,565 for zero-visa

Minimum Share Capital: No minimum for most business activities 

Key Insight: That AED 5,565 entry point is the lowest mainstream free-zone cost in the UAE. Ajman is around AED 6,900 less than a comparable Meydan or IFZA licence in Dubai .

Get your personalised Ajman Free Zone licence cost quote from Zounder.

Ajman Free Zone Company Setup Process — Step by Step

Zounder makes Ajman Free Zone company setup simple, for founders in the UAE and internationally:

1. Choose your business activity and legal structure — select from Commercial, Service, Industrial, E-commerce, or Freelancer Permit 

2. Select your company structure — Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for single shareholder, Free Zone Company (FZC) for two or more shareholders, or Branch Office 

3. Submit three trade name options — the UAE registry favours names that are distinct and professional

4. Submit documents — passport copies, passport-size photographs, proof of address, and KYC forms

5. Obtain initial approval — AFZA reviews and verifies your documents

6. Sign lease agreement — for flexi-desk, smart office, or warehouse space

7. Pay licence fee — from AED 5,565 for zero-visa; from AED 13,141 for the visa package

8. Receive trade licence — issued within 2–3 business days 

9. Apply for investor/employee visas — establishment card, entry permit, medical test, biometrics, and Emirates ID

10. Open a UAE bank account — guided corporate account application

Timeline: 2–3 business days for the licence; 2–3 weeks for full setup with visa 

Documents Required: Passport copy (valid for at least 6 months), passport-sized photograph, completed application form, business plan or activity description, proof of address, bank reference letter (for some activities), NOC from current sponsor (if UAE resident) 

Ajman Free Zone Visa — UAE Residence Visa Support

An Ajman Free Zone visa gives you the right to live and work in the UAE. Zounder helps with:

• Shareholder/partner visa — self-sponsored through your Ajman Free Zone company

• Employee visa — for staff hired under your Ajman Free Zone entity

• Family dependant visa — spouse and children

• Emirates ID — mandatory for all UAE residents

• Medical fitness test — required for visa stamping

• Visa quota guidance — from 0 to 6 visas depending on your package

Ajman Free Zone visa cost: The licence with one visa costs AED 13,141 all-inclusive. The first visa adds AED 7,576 (including establishment card), the second adds AED 4,040, and the third adds AED 6,061 .

Processing time: 2–3 weeks when documents are complete on day one.

Visa eligibility, quota, and costs depend on your licence package and current UAE rules.

Ajman Free Zone Bank Account — Corporate Banking Support

Opening a UAE corporate bank account is essential for receiving payments, paying suppliers, and building credibility.

Zounder supports your Ajman Free Zone bank account application with:

• Bank selection guidance — Ruya Bank, National Bank of Fujairah (NBF), Mashreq, Emirates NBD, and more

• Document preparation — passports, trade licence, MOA, lease agreement

• KYC and compliance support

• Coordination with the bank

• Remote application support where the bank allows

Ajman Free Zone has made bank account opening genuinely simpler. Through a collaboration with Ruya Bank, the free zone offers fast-tracked, simplified, and Shari'a-compliant business banking services with digital account opening, no minimum balance, no hidden costs, and a low monthly fee of just AED 79 .

Ajman Free Zone also has an MoU with National Bank of Fujairah (NBF), which is recommended as a preferred banking partner to companies registered within the free zone. NBF supports these businesses by facilitating and expediting bank account openings .

Bank approval is always subject to the bank's own KYC, compliance, and business profile checks.

Ajman Free Zone Company Setup from India — Complete Guide

Setting up an Ajman Free Zone company from India is fully possible with a guided process. Ajman Free Zone is especially popular among Indian SMEs and startups looking for a budget-friendly UAE presence. Nearly 45% of companies in Ajman's ANCFZ free zone are owned by Indians .

Documents Required for Indian Founders:

• Passport copy (6+ months validity)

• Passport-size photograph

• Address proof (Aadhaar, bank statement, or utility bill)

• Business activity details

• Name options (3–5 alternatives)

• KYC and application forms

India-Specific Considerations:

• FEMA / ODI compliance — Indian residents investing abroad must file Form ODI through their bank

• DTAA benefits — India–UAE tax treaty reduces withholding taxes

• POEM risk — if management stays in India, the company could be treated as Indian tax resident

• Document attestation — corporate shareholder documents must be attested by Indian Notary, MEA, and UAE Embassy

Zounder helps Indian founders manage time zones, documentation, and UAE formalities smoothly.

Ajman Free Zone Licence Types — Complete Guide

Ajman Free Zone offers multiple licence categories to suit different business needs:

Commercial Licence — for trading, import/export, wholesale and retail trading, general trading, and e-commerce activities. Available as 1 activity, 2 activities, 3 activities, or General Trading .

Service Licence — for management consultancy, software development, IT services, legal and accounting advisory .

Professional Licence — for professionals providing consultancy, management, or IT services.

Industrial Licence — for manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and production activities. The free zone provides warehouses and smart-store services for manufacturing companies .

E-Commerce Licence — for online businesses, dropshipping, and digital retail .

Freelancer Licence — a lighter, cheaper route for individual professionals working solo. Ajman Free Zone offers the most cost-effective freelancer licence in all the Emirates, covering 40 categories, with eligibility for one residence visa and family sponsorship .

National Industry Licence — for industrial companies registered in GCC countries with 51% or more GCC ownership, where at least 40% of the manufacturing process takes place within the free zone .

Branch Registration — for companies already registered outside the UAE .

Business Activities in Ajman Free Zone

Ajman Free Zone supports over 1,500 business activities across multiple sectors, including trading, services, e-commerce, and light industrial activities .

Key sectors include:

• General Trading

• Textiles and Garments

• Construction Materials

• Food and Beverages

• Furniture

• Automotive Parts

• Cosmetics and Electronics

• Packaging

• E-Commerce and Dropshipping

• Professional Services and Consultancy

Ajman Free Zone's strongest investment activity comes from trading, logistics, e-commerce fulfillment, packaging, automotive parts, food and beverage processing, digital media, and professional services .

You can add up to 3 activities in a single licence issued by the authority .

Ajman Free Zone Corporate Tax — What You Need to Know

Ajman Free Zone companies can access the 0% corporate tax rate on Qualifying Income by meeting Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) conditions.

Current UAE Corporate Tax Rates:

• Taxable income up to AED 375,000: 0%

• Taxable income above AED 375,000: 9%

Key Tax Points:

• 0% personal income tax

• 0% corporate tax on Qualifying Income subject to QFZP conditions

• 100% profit repatriation

• No customs duties on re-exports

• Small Business Relief available until December 2026 for businesses with revenue under AED 3 million, effectively reducing the rate to 0%

What Counts as Qualifying Income for the 0% Rate:

• Services provided to clients outside the UAE

• Services provided to clients based in other UAE Free Zones

• Certain regulated activities within the same Free Zone

• Passive income from Free Zone entities, such as dividends or capital gains

When the Standard 9% Rate Applies:

• Income from clients in mainland UAE

• Activities not recognized under the Qualifying Income rules

• Work that does not match your licensed activities

• Structures that do not meet Free Zone substance requirements

Always consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.

Ajman Free Zone vs RAKEZ vs IFZA — UAE Free Zone Comparison

Year 1 cost (1 visa): Ajman AED 13,141 vs RAKEZ AED 12,010 vs IFZA AED 17,700

Zero-visa licence: Ajman AED 5,565 vs RAKEZ AED 6,010 vs IFZA AED 12,900

Location: Ajman Free Zone (25 min from Dubai) vs RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah (45 min from Dubai) vs IFZA Dubai Silicon Oasis

Best for: Ajman budget setups, freelancers, e-commerce, trading vs RAKEZ manufacturing, trading, warehousing vs IFZA consultants, e-commerce, services

Setup time: Ajman 2–3 business days vs RAKEZ 3–7 working days vs IFZA 3–7 working days

Visa quota: Ajman 0–6 depending on package vs RAKEZ package-based vs IFZA up to 6

Warehouse availability: Ajman extensive (from AED 15,000/year) vs RAKEZ extensive industrial land vs IFZA none

The honest take: Ajman Free Zone is the cheapest zero-visa option in the UAE at AED 5,565. RAKEZ becomes competitive on one-visa packages at AED 12,010. IFZA is the default for Dubai-based consultants and digital businesses. Ajman is best for traders, e-commerce sellers, and businesses that want warehouse facilities at budget rates.

Important Ajman Free Zone Restriction — Read This Before You Choose

An Ajman Free Zone company cannot invoice UAE mainland businesses directly without a distributor or a mainland branch. It may trade its products outside the free zone and within the UAE only through an agent, representative, distributor, or its parent company holding a relevant licence .

This is not a dealbreaker for most internationally focused businesses. But if you need daily in-person presence in Dubai or you're targeting highly institutional local clients, a Dubai-based free zone may serve you better.

If your business is mainly international, GCC-wide, or online, this restriction rarely matters in practice.

Renewal, not just setup: Ajman is cheap to enter and stays cheap to renew, which is a large part of why it is worth considering. Some zones with low entry pricing recover it at renewal — always compare year two .

Ready to Start Your Ajman Free Zone Company?

Zounder makes Ajman Free Zone company formation in UAE simple for founders in the UAE and around the world.

Get expert help with:

• Ajman Free Zone Company Formation

• Ajman Free Zone Licence Cost & Packages

• Ajman Free Zone Visa & Emirates ID

• Ajman Free Zone Bank Account Opening

• Ajman Free Zone Company Setup from India

Talk to Zounder today for a tailored Ajman Free Zone setup quote.

Ajman Free Zone licence cost starts from AED 5,565 in government fees for a zero-visa licence, or AED 13,141 including one residence visa with entry permit, medical and Emirates ID . The package price covers the trade licence, free zone registration, establishment card, and the full visa process .