Set Up Your Company in Ajman Free Zone.
From AED 5,565.

Ajman Free Zone, officially the Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA), was established in 1988, making it one of the oldest and longest-standing free zone authorities in the UAE. It hosts more than 9,000 registered businesses across trading, manufacturing, e-commerce, and professional services, and is widely regarded as one of the most cost-efficient entry points for company formation in the country.

AFZA licence fees typically start from around AED 5,750 to 6,000 per year for professional, freelancer, or Pioneer-style licences, and from around AED 8,000 for trading licences. All-in costs including visas and office solutions generally range from AED 5,500 up to AED 25,000 or more depending on activity, visa count, and office space selection. Costs may be subject to 5% VAT. KDHA PRIVE provides a fixed written quote with all costs itemised before any payment is made.

No. AFZA does not require a mandatory physical office for most licence categories — a flexi-desk or shared workspace arrangement is generally sufficient to meet the registered address requirement, which keeps both setup and renewal costs lower than free zones with mandatory dedicated office requirements. Businesses needing warehouse or industrial space for manufacturing activities can arrange this separately.

Yes. The complete AFZA company registration process can generally be completed remotely, with documents submitted digitally or by courier and no requirement to visit the UAE for the licence application itself. Physical presence is typically only required for residence visa steps involving Emirates ID biometrics, and for opening a bank account with most UAE banks.

Standard AFZA licence issuance typically takes 3 to 5 working days from complete document submission. Visa processing, establishment card issuance, and bank account opening are handled separately and generally add further time depending on the bank and visa category chosen.

AFZA generally allows registration as a company with one or multiple equity shareholders, with no obligatory minimum capital requirement and liability limited to the capital disbursed. It also allows for a branch structure, where a mainland UAE company or an overseas entity can establish a branch presence within the free zone rather than incorporating a wholly new entity.

Yes. AFZA permits 100% foreign ownership across all licence categories, with no local UAE partner or sponsor required. Company owners retain full profit repatriation rights and pay no personal income tax on their UAE-sourced income.

AFZA supports a wide range of activities including general trading, import-export, e-commerce, industrial and manufacturing, professional consulting, media and digital services, and dedicated freelance licences for solo consultants and creatives. Businesses can often combine multiple activities under a single licence, subject to approval, offering useful operational flexibility.

Yes. AFZA licence holders can apply for UAE investor, owner, and employee residence visas, along with visas for eligible family members. Visa quotas are flexible depending on the licence type and company structure selected, so businesses planning to hire should confirm their visa allocation at the package selection stage.

A change-activity request can be filed through the AFZA portal for activities within the same category. However, switching across categories — for example, from trading to service, or service to industrial — often requires a feasibility study, a fresh establishment card, and a realignment of office and visa quota. Because of this, it’s important to select the correct licence type and category at the outset; KDHA PRIVE advises on this before you apply to avoid costly changes later.

The UAE applies a 9% corporate tax on taxable profits above AED 375,000. AFZA companies meeting the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria can benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income — generally from international trade, other free zone businesses, and qualifying activities. VAT at 5% applies once the mandatory registration threshold is reached, and AFZA’s own licence fees may themselves be subject to VAT. KDHA PRIVE manages corporate tax registration, VAT registration, and ongoing compliance for AFZA clients.

For a standard AFZA registration, the required documents typically include a valid passport copy for each shareholder and director, a recent passport-sized photograph, and a completed AFZA application form. UAE residents should provide a copy of their UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. For corporate shareholders, additional documents such as a Certificate of Incorporation and board resolution are required. KDHA PRIVE confirms the exact checklist for your specific structure before you begin.

AFZA and ANCFZ are two separate authorities operating within the emirate of Ajman. AFZA, established in 1988, is the original, long-standing authority with a broad activity list, no mandatory office requirement, and a strong track record across trading and industrial sectors. ANCFZ, launched in late 2024, is a newer, fully digital-first authority built around a unified licence covering up to 10 activities, unlimited shareholders, and a particular focus on technology, AI, and blockchain businesses, with published licence issuance in as little as 2 hours. Founders prioritising an established track record and lower office overheads often lean toward AFZA; tech-focused founders wanting the fastest possible digital setup often lean toward ANCFZ. KDHA PRIVE advises on which authority best fits your specific business.

Yes. AFZA’s e-commerce licence cost generally aligns with its standard trading or service licence categories, making it an affordable option for online retail, marketplace selling, and dropshipping businesses. Combined with the lack of a mandatory physical office requirement, this keeps overheads low for founders running primarily online operations.