Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) is strategically located right at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf. The Oman Free Zone site was established in 1998 and has its own identity bestowed by the Ruler of Ajman. AFZA was granted Amiri Decree No. 3 of 1996 and has since been the sole regulatory authority for the emirate’s free zone.
AFZA’s strategic positioning benefits both Western and Eastern markets in business creation. The Port of Ajman handles 1000 vessels annually, and the port is currently known as an important center for maritime activities. AFZA is located half an hour outside Dubai and 10 minutes from Sharjah, which enhances business opportunities in AFZA as access to two international airports and four ports is even more effortless. Like any other free zone in a UAE city, the Ajman Free Zone was established with the main objective of attracting foreign investment to the emirate in order to attract commercial and industrial enterprises, which in turn helps boost the economy. Compared to other free zones in the UAE, the AFZA offers cost-effective benefits to entrepreneurs. Prices in the Ajman Free Zone are as good as other zones, combined with excellent infrastructure that also comes without service fees or hidden costs.
Entrepreneurs landing from a foreign land in AFZA to establish companies are allowed to obtain five types of licenses in the region, which are:
Business owners who opt to conduct trading activities in AFZA are required to obtain a trading license. One trading license can permit up to three business activities to be carried out in a business. The trading business could be anything, like garments trading business.
Online companies or businesses involved with trading through electronic means are required to obtain an e-commerce license in Ajman Free Zone. The e-commerce license will also provide marketing and technical support to the business owners.
Local companies or even international companies that are involved in business activities related to providing professional services are required to obtain professional services licenses in Ajman Free Zone. Professional services could include management consultancy, IT consultancy, marketing, and various other services.
Industrial licenses are issued to the local UAE or international businesses that opt for manufacturing activities in AFZA. given they comply with the manufacturing policies and environmental standards set by the government of Ajman. The authority of the Ajman Free Zone provides the facility of warehouses and smart stores to bring ease into conducting this activity. These facilities are provided to make sure that all the requirements of a manufacturing company business owner can be taken advantage of under one roof.
National Industrial Licenses are issued to those companies in AFZA that match the following criteria:-
Ajman Free Zone facilitates business investors setting up a business in the free zone with world-class infrastructure and equipment, which is a part of their business set up an agreement. Some of these facilities are as follows:
For entrepreneurs and startups, smart offices are well-suited as a creative investment. The smart office packages allow the costs to be kept low and it offers two employment visas to support and facilitate proactive business operations.
The location of executive offices is a strategic one in Ajman Free Zone. The executive office package offers up to five employment visas. As well as, business activities can start right off in an executive office package. The facilities in executive offices are excellent with easy parking and high security.
Ajman Free Zone greatly emphasizes on meeting the invertor’s requirements by providing and designing high-quality warehouses, with all the specifications and facilities. Rented warehouses start from 100 square meters.
Trade zones are more suited to industrial investment as these are areas for investment. prepared upon on-point research according to the needs of the investors.
There are various types of documents required for the formation of any of the above-mentioned business structures in the Ajman Free Zone. The following are important documents required for the formation of a business entity in AFZA.
Ajman Free Zone is known to be the only free zone in the United Arab Emirates that offers the possibility of payment in several installments. The payment to the company can be made in 2, 3, or even 6 installments.
However, in AFZA, certain conditions must be met to pay the company in installments. The first and most important condition is that the payments must be made with postdated checks from a bank in the UAE. Thus, if the installments for a company license for Ajman Free Zone are paid in three steps, the first installment can be paid in cash, while the remaining two installments can be submitted in the form of checks on the day of registration. Foreign investors who do not have a bank account in the UAE can also submit a check from a relative or friend. However, the Ajman Free Zone requires a NOC from a local friend or relative to use their checkbook. In addition, a bank statement from the last 3 months must be submitted as proof of funds.
No, any ex-pat can have 100% ownership in the company set up in Ajman Free Zone.