Ajman is one of the most prominent Emirates of the UAE. The Emirate is located in the northern part of the UAE, touching shoulders with two other populated and renowned states; Dubai in the East and Sharjah in the South. Sharjah is home to over 400K people constituting local and foreign populations residing in the Emirate. The well-maintained highways and easily accessible air and sea routes make it geostrategic importance more crucial for the entire UAE. This is one of the primary reasons behind Sharjah’s potential to attract various industries and businesses.
The main contributing factor to Ajman’s business ecosystem is AFZ, Located near four major seaports and two international airports. Since its inception, AFZ is attracting a vast majority of foreign investors keen to invest in the UAE’s remarkable free trade zone. This blog post will help you guide how to set up a business in Ajman Freezone. Let’s discuss all the prerequisites and privileges you must know to start your business in AFZ.
How to Setup Business in Ajman Free Zone?
The following steps are mandatory to set up an AFZ. Each step must be followed in the defined hierarchy for smooth and quick company formation in AFZ.
Step 01 – Choose Your Business Activity
You can integrate up to 7 business activities under the same trade license in Ajman Freezone. The legal structure of your freezone company, trade license category, and the approvals from state and federal bodies in the upcoming stages are determined by the number, scale, and nature of your selected business activities.
Finalizing the relevant and permitted business activities to start your business in AFZ is recommended. At this stage, get partnered with an experienced professional business formation service provider that helps you select the right activities by evaluating the nature of your business.
Step 02 – Register Your Tradename
After deciding on your business activity(s), the next stage is to reserve a tradename or business name for your company. Before applying for a tradename reservation, you need to check for the availability of your desired tradename. There are some mandatory aspects that you must consider to avoid rejection with your trade name reservation, for instance:
The tradename you choose must not contradict the religious and moral fabric of the UAE
It doesn’t involve any apparent or hidden linkage with religious or political entities
It must be unique (not already reserved or used by any other business)
It must be free from any words or phrases reserved for government departments or institutions.
It is recommended to choose 3 to 4 different tradenames in reserve to come up with the backup choice in case of rejection for the first one. The process of tradename reservation starts by creating an account on the Ajman Department of Economic Development (DED)’s e-services portal.
Step 03 – Apply For Your Free Zone Trade License
As we have discussed above, the category of your trade license is determined by the nature of the business activities you opt for for your company formation in the Ajman Free Zone. Similarly, additional documents and approvals from concerned authorities may also be required for specialized or critical business activities like healthcare and tourism.
The following trade license categories in Ajman Freezone allow different business activities.
Commercial License
Industrial/Manufacture License
Pioneers Package
Freelancers Package
eCommerce Licence
Offshore License
The Ajman Free Zone Authority is the supervisory authority that regulates and recognizes the business activities in AFZ. The license application is submitted to the AFZA via its e-services portal with all the required documents and approvals. Getting on board with business formation experts that help you complete the necessary documents and take mandatory approvals for your business setup in Ajman Free Zone is recommended.
Step 04 – Open a Free Zone Company Bank Account
The next step is to open a free zone bank account for hassle-free and legal financial activities involved throughout your business cycle in AFZ. The UAE’s banking system is globally famous for its modern infrastructure and secured banking solutions. Opening a freezone bank account in Ajman is simple and requires the applicant’s physical presence in the UAE.
We recommend reading our separate blog about how to open a free zone company bank account to understand the complete process and requirements in detail. You can also partner with business consultancy services in the UAE, which can further help you.
Step 05 – Final Approval
After getting your trade license from Ajman Free Zone Authority, you become eligible to start your business operations in Ajman Freezone. Complete all the required documents and approvals before applying for your trade license and wait for the license issuance to start growing your business in the high-potential and business-friendly ecosystem of the UAE.
The following section will help you acknowledge all the required documents and public approvals necessary to register your business in Ajman Freezone.
Requirements for Company Formation in Ajman Freezone?
Company formation in Ajman Freezone requires the following documents and approvals from concerned authorities.
Initiate a business registration application with the AFZ Authority
Provide your business’s memorandum of association
Getting Business License
Submitting an application for an establishment card to the Ministry of Labor (issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The documents required with the application include the following:
Original Emirates ID
Passport of UAE sponsor/shareholder (in case of shared partnership in Mainland – Shared partnership is not Obligatory after 2020)
Old Immigration card
A valid Trade License
Copy of Passport with valid visa page of all partners for Free Zone Company
Your employees must be registered with the Ministry of Labor, with the documents required as under:
Business setup costs in AFZ may vary depending on the scale and industry of your business and the number of employee visas you will apply for. The cost of getting a trade license is AED 5,000.
What are the benefits of Starting a Business in the Ajman Freezone?
AFZ has no discrimination for local vs. foreign investors. You can leverage the following perks and privileges by setting up your business in Ajman free trade zone.
0% personal and corporate tax
Infrastructure dedicated to supporting 16 different industries
0% customs duties on import/export
100% business ownership for foreign investors
Availability of furnished and non-furnished office spaces
Well-equipped inventories
Straightforward visa processing with the multiple visa categories
Freedom to trade in major currencies, including USD, Euro, etc
Quick and easy roadmap to company formation
Best Businesses to Start in AFZ
Businesses can choose from multiple business activities permitted to integrate under a single trade license in. The following businesses are highly profitable in Ajman Free Trade Zone:
Consultancy business
General trading
eCommerce business
Trading of jewelry (Gold and Diamond)
Real estate business
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Cargo or Freight Services
Healthcare facility
Business Activities Allowed in Ajman Freezone
AFZ is intended to meet various industries’ growing and evolving needs. The prime objective of AFZ is to unleash the hidden potential of the region by unlocking new opportunities and attracting global talent. To help support the UAE’s vision to make it a hub for diverse business and cultural activities, Ajman Freezone entertains business activities belonging to the following industries and niches.
Developed in 1988, Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is known for triggering a chain reaction of booming industrial and corporate activities in the UAE by attracting many foreign investors and entrepreneurs. The facilities and perks available for local and foreign investors in AFZ are the main factors behind the popularity of this free zone.
The AFZ caters to the diverse needs of multiple industries and business activities by encouraging foreign investors and ensuring a business-friendly ecosystem. The quick access to modern highways, international airports, and state-of-the-art seaports connect the Ajman Free Zone with the rest of the UAE and the world.
Do I Need to Have a Local Sponsor to Start My Business in Ajman Free Zone?
Ajman Free Zone is a trade-free zone that allows overseas investors 100 percent business ownership. You can set up a foreign business in Ajman Free Zone without local sponsors or shareholders. Even after the recent amendment in UAE’s corporate law framework, the mainland business hubs offer 100 percent foreign ownership except for some selective business activities.
How Many Days Would It Take To Get My License for My Business in Ajman Free Zone?
You can expect 15 to 20 days to get your hands on your trade license in Ajman Free Zone. After initiating your application with AFZ authority, it will take 1 day for business registration, 10 days for the issuance of an Establishment card, and around 5 to 10 days for Emirates ID and visa issuance. Once all these steps are fulfilled, your trade license will be released in 2-3 days.
Can I Transfer My Company From Ajman Free Zone to Another in the UAE?
You are restricted from transferring your business setup from Ajman Free Zone to any other trade-free zone or mainland hub. Another alternative is opening a branch office in any Free Zone or Mainland jurisdictions to expand your market exposure. Otherwise, you need to cancel your trade license in Ajman Free Zone and begin a business registration process from scratch with the DED (for mainland) of your desired destination Emirates, or the concerned authority of the new free zone.
How Airzone can help you setup a business in Ajman Free Zone?
Registering a company in AFZ is straightforward but overwhelming if you lack an understanding of UAE’s corporate laws and required approvals at each stage. Without any professional guidance, the chances of mistakes and rejections are higher.
This is where Airzone can help you by providing you with a dedicated corridor to find and partner with highly professional and experienced business formation service providers. The business formation experts in our portfolio are experienced and equipped to entertain all your requirements. You can get help and professional support in various stages of company formation:
Residence or work visa issuance for your employees
Connect with Airzone now and collaborate with our experienced and budget-friendly professional services that help create a business setup in Dubai and the UAE. Our trusted business formation experts allow services to assist in Free Zone or Mainland company formation in Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, etc.
Before choosing your desired free zone hub, check out the list of free zones in the UAE to compare the available alternatives and make a more informed decision to set up your business in the UAE.
Business Setup Costs Ajman Freezone
Calculate Company Formation Costs for Ajman Free Zone
