Ajman Free Zone in 2026: Licence Packages, Costs, Setup Steps and Visas

Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) is one of the oldest and most affordable places in the UAE to set up a company. Launched in 1988 and now run by the Free Zones Authority of Ajman, it hosts more than 9,000 companies from over 165 countries. This guide is for freelancers, e-commerce sellers, traders and small manufacturers who want a UAE licence and residence visa without Dubai prices. You'll get AFZ's own published package prices, licence types, the setup steps, visa rules, tax position, honest pros and cons against Dubai, and a quick comparison with Hamriyah and Meydan.

Quick answer

Ajman Free Zone licenses FZE and FZC companies and branches for commercial, service, industrial, e-commerce and freelance activities, with 100% foreign ownership. AFZ's own cost calculator lists one-year packages from AED 5,555 with no visa to AED 13,131 with one visa (checked 7 October 2026). You apply through an AFZ sales adviser, pay, receive your licence, bank letter and registration kit, then process visas.

• Over 3,500 licensable activities; freelance and Pioneers (ages 20–30) packages

• Office package with one visa: AED 21,750; general trading adds AED 2,000

• Instalments of up to 6 months available on some packages

• Register for corporate tax within 3 months; 0% only on qualifying income

What Ajman Free Zone is and who it suits

AFZ sits beside Ajman Port and Ajman Creek in the emirate just north of Sharjah. Besides its main zone it runs business communities across Ajman — Ajman Boulevard, Al Zorah, China Mall and the car market — so you aren't limited to one campus.

It suits you if you:

• want the lowest realistic cost for a UAE company and visa;
• run an online business, consultancy or freelance practice where clients rarely visit;
• import and export through Ajman Port or need affordable warehouses;
• are aged 20–30 and qualify for the Pioneers Package with a co-working desk and one residence visa.

It suits you less if your clients expect a Dubai address, if you need to meet them daily in Dubai, or if you'll run a high-value regional office — compare DAFZA or a Dubai mainland licence in our UAE trade licence guide.

Ajman Free Zone licence types

AFZ issues licences under four headings and offers more than 3,500 activities. Trading activities are tied to specific product groups, so list everything you plan to sell.

• Commercial (business) licence — import, export, store and distribute the goods named on your licence.
• Services licence — consultancy and professional services in any industry.
• Industrial licence — import raw materials, manufacture listed goods and export them; usually paired with a warehouse or land.
• E-commerce licence — selling goods or services online. AFZ's FAQ notes that importing and exporting physical goods needs a licence with import-export activity.
• Sole professional (freelancer) licence — for individuals in one of AFZ's 40 freelance categories, with a co-working desk and one residence visa.
• Pioneers Package — for founders aged 20 to 30: co-working space, one residence visa and family sponsorship eligibility.

AFZ also lists an offshore option for holding structures that don't need an office or visas.

Legal forms

AFZ notes that a branch of a foreign company sells in the UAE only through a UAE-registered agent or distributor.

Ajman Free Zone packages and costs in 2026

AFZ publishes prices through its online cost calculator. We ran it on 7 October 2026 for one shareholder and a one-year licence; these are the packages and prices it returned:

AFZ calculator packages — 1 shareholder, 1 year (7 Oct 2026)

Package	Visas	Office	Price
Kickstarter	0	No	AED 5,555
Starter	1	No	AED 13,131
Dual	2	No	AED 17,171
Trinity	3	No	AED 21,212
Quad	4	No	AED 24,242
Hexa	6	No	AED 36,898
OaaS Office 1	1	Physical office	AED 21,750
OaaS Office 2	2	Physical office	AED 24,750
OaaS Office 3	3	Physical office	AED 29,750

Kickstarter

Visas

0

Office

No

Price

AED 5,555

Starter

Visas

1

Office

No

Price

AED 13,131

Dual

Visas

2

Office

No

Price

AED 17,171

Trinity

Visas

3

Office

No

Price

AED 21,212

Quad

Visas

4

Office

No

Price

AED 24,242

Hexa

Visas

6

Office

No

Price

AED 36,898

OaaS Office 1

Visas

1

Office

Physical office

Price

AED 21,750

OaaS Office 2

Visas

2

Office

Physical office

Price

AED 24,750

OaaS Office 3

Visas

3

Office

Physical office

Price

AED 29,750

A few things to know before you budget:

• General trading adds AED 2,000 to the package price in the calculator.
• The calculator gives the package price; ask AFZ for the written inclusions — which visa costs, Emirates ID, medicals and insurance are covered, and what renewal costs.
• AFZ's FAQ says instalment plans of up to six months are available depending on the package.
• Package prices are promotional and AFZ changes them; that's why we date them and re-check every 90 days.

Worked example: a freelance designer versus a two-person trader

Priya, a UX designer billing clients in Europe, needs one visa and no office. The Starter package at AED 13,131 covers her licence; she budgets separately for any visa-stage costs AFZ says aren't included and for health insurance.

Omar and Sami import auto parts through Ajman Port and want two visas and a real office. OaaS Office 2 is AED 24,750; add AED 2,000 if they choose general trading rather than named product groups. If they later need storage, a warehouse lease replaces the office package.

Compare both against a Dubai package in our startup cost calculator.

How to set up a company in Ajman Free Zone

AFZ describes setup as three steps, with visas after the licence:

Ajman Free Zone setup (2026)

1. 1

   Choose your business type

   With an AFZ sales adviser, pick the legal form (FZE, FZC or branch), the licence type and activities, and the facility — co-working desk, office, warehouse or land.

   AFZ — start your business
2. 2

   Submit the application with documents

   Send passport copies, photos, visa or UID and employer NOC if you're UAE-resident; branches add the parent licence, MOA and board resolution.

   Tip: Choose all activities now — changing activities later needs an amendment and establishment-card update.

3. 3

   Pay

   Pay online, in cash, by cheque or bank transfer. Ask whether your package qualifies for instalments.

4. 4

   Receive licence, bank letter and registration kit

   Once formalities are complete, AFZ issues the licence with a bank letter and registration kit.

5. 5

   Establishment card and visas

   Apply for the establishment card, then entry permits (or in-country status change), medicals, Emirates ID and residence visas via the AFZ customer portal.

6. 6

   Register for corporate tax

   Register on the FTA's EmaraTax portal within three months of incorporation.

Verify any AFZ licence — yours or a supplier's — with AFZ's online Verify Business License service.

Visas with an Ajman Free Zone licence

Each package carries a visa allocation, from none (Kickstarter) up to six in the published ladder. Visa processing follows the federal sequence: entry permit or change of status (AFZ's FAQ confirms visitors can change status inside the country under ICP rules), medical fitness test, Emirates ID and the residence visa. Visa renewals carry an insurance fee.

Family sponsorship. AFZ's FAQ sets a minimum salary of AED 4,500 for employees who want to sponsor family, along with an attested tenancy contract and proof of residence. Investors sponsoring family may need to place a guarantee — check the current rule on the AFZ portal for your package.

Pros and cons of Ajman versus Dubai free zones

Ajman vs Hamriyah vs Meydan at a glance

Three popular alternatives (2026)

	Ajman Free Zone	Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)	Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)
Best for	Low-cost setups, freelancers, e-commerce, port trade	Industry, oil and gas, maritime, logistics	Service businesses wanting a Dubai address
Published pricing	Calculator: AED 5,555 – AED 36,898	Packages listed by size and visas; prices on enquiry	Standard licence AED 12,500
Legal forms	FZE, FZC, branches	FZE, FZC, branch or subsidiary	See Meydan's site
Space	Co-working, offices, warehouses, land	Offices from 10 sq m, warehouses 200–600 sq m, land from 2,500 sq m	Flexi-desk included in package
Visas	0–6 in calculator packages	1 (start-up) up to 12 (40 sq m office)	Investor visa extra
VAT Designated Zone (2017 list)	Yes	Yes	Not listed

Best for

Ajman Free Zone

Low-cost setups, freelancers, e-commerce, port trade

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

Industry, oil and gas, maritime, logistics

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

Service businesses wanting a Dubai address

Published pricing

Ajman Free Zone

Calculator: AED 5,555 – AED 36,898

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

Packages listed by size and visas; prices on enquiry

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

Standard licence AED 12,500

Legal forms

Ajman Free Zone

FZE, FZC, branches

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

FZE, FZC, branch or subsidiary

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

See Meydan's site

Space

Ajman Free Zone

Co-working, offices, warehouses, land

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

Offices from 10 sq m, warehouses 200–600 sq m, land from 2,500 sq m

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

Flexi-desk included in package

Visas

Ajman Free Zone

0–6 in calculator packages

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

1 (start-up) up to 12 (40 sq m office)

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

Investor visa extra

VAT Designated Zone (2017 list)

Ajman Free Zone

Yes

Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah)

Yes

Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)

Not listed

Hamriyah Free Zone, established in 1995 in Sharjah, is the heavy-industry choice: 30 million sq m of industrial land on 25-year renewable leases, pre-built warehouses and a deep-water port. Its office packages tie visa quotas to size — from four visas on a 10 sq m Smart Business office up to 12 on a 40 sq m Supreme office.

Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai service-business zone with transparent published pricing and a flexi-desk in the licence. It suits consultancies that want Dubai on their letterhead and don't need goods to move through a Designated Zone.

Corporate tax and VAT for AFZ companies

All AFZ companies must register for corporate tax within three months of incorporation, or pay a AED 10,000 penalty. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income — for example manufacturing, logistics, or distributing goods from a Designated Zone to resellers — and 9% on other taxable income. To qualify, it needs real substance in the zone, audited accounts, arm's-length pricing and non-qualifying revenue within 5% of revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower.

Many AFZ businesses — freelancers and service firms billing UAE mainland clients or individuals — will earn non-qualifying income. If they fail the conditions, standard rates apply: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, and Small Business Relief may then be available. Our DAFZA guide walks through the de minimis test with numbers; model your own with the corporate tax calculator.

VAT: Ajman Free Zone is a Designated Zone, which can take certain movements of goods within or between designated zones outside the scope of VAT. Services are taxed as usual. Register once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000, and price at 5% using our UAE VAT calculator.

Mistakes to avoid

• Picking Kickstarter and needing a visa later. Upgrading mid-year costs more than choosing the right package first.
• Choosing e-commerce for physical imports. AFZ says you'll need a licence with import-export activity.
• Assuming 0% tax. Retail and mainland service income is usually non-qualifying.
• Forgetting the exit cost. AFZ lists a AED 2,500 licence cancellation fee — plan for it if this is a trial venture.

Official links

• AFZ — cost calculatorCurrent package prices
• AFZ — start your business
• AFZ — licence types
• AFZ — verify a business licence
• AFZ — FAQs
• Hamriyah Free Zone — set up a business
• FTA — Corporate Tax registration

What to do next

Decide how many visas you need in year one and whether you need a real office or warehouse, then run AFZ's calculator and ask for written inclusions. Compare the result with a Dubai option such as DAFZA using our startup cost calculator, and register for corporate tax as soon as your licence is issued.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Ajman Free Zone licence cost in 2026?

AFZ's own online cost calculator returned these one-year package prices on 7 October 2026 for a single shareholder: Kickstarter (no visa, no office) AED 5,555, Starter with one visa AED 13,131, and an office package with one visa AED 21,750. General trading adds AED 2,000. Prices are promotional and change, so run the calculator yourself before budgeting.

Where is Ajman Free Zone located?

Ajman Free Zone sits in Ajman city, beside Ajman Port and Ajman Creek, in the emirate north of Sharjah. It is within driving distance of Dubai and Sharjah international airports. AFZ also runs business communities elsewhere in Ajman, including Ajman Boulevard, Al Zorah, China Mall and the car market.

Can an Ajman Free Zone company work in Dubai?

An Ajman Free Zone company can serve clients anywhere in the world, including UAE businesses that buy from it. To trade directly on the UAE mainland — such as running a shop or contracting locally — it generally needs a mainland licence or branch from the relevant emirate's economic department, or a local distributor or agent.

How do I check an Ajman Free Zone trade licence online?

Use the Verify Business License service on the AFZ website at afz.gov.ae/license-verification. Enter the licence number to confirm the company name, status and expiry date. Ask suppliers for their licence number before you pay a deposit.

Do Ajman Free Zone companies pay corporate tax?

They must register for UAE corporate tax within three months of incorporation. A company that meets every qualifying free zone person condition pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income. If it fails a condition, it is taxed at the standard rates — 0% up to AED 375,000, then 9% — for 5 tax periods.

Is Ajman Free Zone cheaper than Dubai free zones?

Usually, yes, at the entry level. AFZ's calculator lists a no-visa package at AED 5,555, while Meydan Free Zone in Dubai publishes AED 12,500 for its standard licence. The trade-off is a Dubai versus Ajman address, distance to Dubai clients, and the visa and office options you'll need as you grow.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Ajman Free Zone — cost calculator — Ajman Free Zone (Free Zones Authority of Ajman) · accessed 7 October 2026
2. 2.Ajman Free Zone — setting up simplified — Ajman Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
3. 3.Ajman Free Zone — licence types — Ajman Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
4. 4.Ajman Free Zone — types of business — Ajman Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
5. 5.Ajman Free Zone — profile — Ajman Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
6. 6.Ajman Free Zone — FAQs — Ajman Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
7. 7.Hamriyah Free Zone — set up a business — Hamriyah Free Zone Authority · accessed 7 October 2026
8. 8.Hamriyah Free Zone — why HFZA — Hamriyah Free Zone Authority · accessed 7 October 2026
9. 9.Meydan Free Zone — licence packages — Meydan Free Zone · accessed 7 October 2026
10. 10.Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 on Designated Zones — UAE Cabinet (copy hosted by Grant Thornton UAE) · accessed 7 October 2026
11. 11.Corporate Tax Guide — Free Zone Persons (CTGFZP1) — Federal Tax Authority · accessed 7 October 2026