Free zone company
Company setup in Ajman Free Zone (AFZ)
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is the free zone of the emirate of Ajman, launched in 1988 on the Arabian Gulf coast beside Ajman Port. It licenses trading, services, e-commerce and industrial companies with 100% foreign ownership, and it leases offices, co-working desks and warehouses. Caliph prepares your application and handles the paperwork with the zone.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Emirate
- Ajman
- Authority
- Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), which issues the licence and leases the premises
- Location
- On the Arabian Gulf coast of Ajman, beside Ajman Port
- Known for
- Port-side trading and light industry since 1988, now also e-commerce and services
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership
- Office options
- Offices, executive offices, business centre desks and pre-built warehouses
Overview
Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates and sits on the Gulf coast just north of Sharjah. Its free zone opened in 1988 next to Ajman Port, which is why importers, exporters and small manufacturers were its first tenants. They are still a large part of the zone today, because the port is close enough for goods to move between the quay and a warehouse inside the zone without a long haul.
The zone has since widened its range. Alongside trading and industrial licences it issues services, e-commerce and freelancer licences, and it runs a business centre with co-working desks and meeting rooms for companies that do not need a private office. Larger firms take unfurnished offices they can fit out themselves, furnished executive offices or pre-built warehouses, and there is staff accommodation on site.
Founders usually weigh Ajman Free Zone against a Dubai zone. Dubai gives you a Dubai address and a wider choice of specialist zones. Ajman gives you port-side space in a smaller emirate that is still a short drive from Sharjah and Dubai. Which one is right depends on your activity, your space needs and where your clients expect to find you. Your Caliph consultant compares the options with you and confirms what applies to you.
Why companies choose Ajman Free Zone
A port on the doorstep
The zone was built beside Ajman Port, so a trading or light industrial company can keep stock close to where it lands and ships.
Space that grows with you
You can start at a business centre desk, move to a private office and later take a warehouse, all inside the same zone.
Licences for small and large firms
The zone issues trading, services, e-commerce, industrial and freelancer licences, so a one-person consultancy and a factory can both find a fit.
Full ownership
You hold 100% of the shares. A free zone company here does not need a local partner.
An offshore option in the same emirate
Ajman Free Zone also registers offshore companies, which helps if you plan a holding company next to the operating one.
What to have ready
- Passport copy of each shareholder and of the manager
- A passport-style photo with a white background
- Your UAE entry stamp or visa page, or your Emirates ID if you already live here
- Two or three trade name options
- A short description of what the company will buy, sell or make
- The type of space you want (desk, office or warehouse) and roughly how much of it
- For a corporate shareholder: its incorporation documents and a board resolution, attested for use in the UAE
Industrial and some trading activities need extra approvals. Your consultant gives you the exact list for your activity before you apply.
How setup in Ajman Free Zone works
Free consultation
You tell us what you trade or make, how much stock you hold and how many visas you need. We check that Ajman Free Zone suits the plan.
Activity, licence type and name
We match your business to the zone's activity list, choose the licence type and submit your trade name options.
Choose the premises
Desk, office or warehouse. The choice affects the licence and the visas, so we settle it before the application goes in.
Application and signing
Caliph prepares the application and the company documents. You sign, and we submit the file to the zone.
Licence and lease issued
The zone issues the licence together with the lease for your space. Your consultant gives you a timeline at the start.
Visas and bank file
We open the establishment card, process residence visas and prepare the documents your bank asks for.
Good to know
- Every workplace in the zone needs its own licence, and you cannot sublet your space without the zone's written permission.
- A free zone company trades inside the zone and abroad. To sell directly to customers on the mainland you normally need a distributor or a mainland licence.
- Warehouse and industrial tenants follow the zone's health, safety and building rules. Any fit-out or alteration needs the zone's permit first.
Questions people ask
Where is Ajman Free Zone?
It is in the emirate of Ajman, on the Arabian Gulf coast beside Ajman Port. Ajman lies just north of Sharjah, so the zone is within driving distance of Sharjah and Dubai and their airports. Your consultant can show you the buildings before you choose a space.
What kinds of business set up in Ajman Free Zone?
Trading companies, importers and exporters, light manufacturers, e-commerce sellers, consultants and freelancers. The zone began as a port-side trading and industrial area and later added services, e-commerce and freelancer licences, so it now takes both warehouse users and desk-based firms.
Is Ajman Free Zone the same as Ajman Media City?
No. They are two different free zones in the same emirate, each with its own licences and rules. Ajman Free Zone is the older, port-side zone with warehouses and industrial space. Ajman Media City Free Zone focuses on media and service companies. Caliph can set up a company in either.
Can I rent a warehouse in Ajman Free Zone?
Yes. The zone leases pre-built warehouses with access to Ajman Port, as well as offices and business centre desks. Sizes and availability change, so your consultant checks what is free when you apply and matches it to your stock and visa needs.
How does Ajman Free Zone compare with a Dubai free zone?
A Dubai zone gives you a Dubai address and more specialist communities. Ajman Free Zone offers port-side offices and warehouses in a smaller emirate close to Sharjah and Dubai. Rules, space and running costs differ from zone to zone, so compare them for your own activity with your consultant.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
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