Register a company in Ajman Free Zone

Mostly. AFZ says its set-up is fully digital: you apply through its portal and the licence comes as a soft copy. It does not say whether incorporation ever needs a visit, so we confirm that for your case. The visa medical is a different matter: AFZ accepts it only from Al Hamidiya Health Center in Ajman, and later amendments such as a new manager need your signature verified in person at AFZ.

Our registration work starts from $2,900; with a UAE bank account set up, from $5,400. Zone fees come on top: the zone publishes no price list, so we quote its fees for your case. The package prices on AFZ's 2020 blog are not a current price list. Renewal is priced inside the renewal request on the AFZ portal, and AFZ's FAQ puts the E-channel renewal at AED 1,100 a year.

AFZ's own site and FAQ give no figure and no paid-up rule. The Ajman government portal says an FZE owner must have the equivalent of USD 50,000 (AED 185,000) in capital, and gives no figure for an FZC. Before you sign, we confirm with AFZ what applies to your form and whether any proof is asked for.

No. Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. The free zone 0% applies only to the qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person: adequate substance, audited accounts, transfer pricing compliance and non-qualifying revenue within 5% of the total or AED 5,000,000, whichever is lower. Income from dealings with individuals generally does not qualify, and mainland branch income is taxed at 9%. An old AFZ FAQ answer still mentions 'tax holidays'; it was written before the law.

AFZ publishes no day count for a full set-up. Its blog post on the one-click licence says licences can be issued within minutes; we read that as the best case. The later steps have published times: visa stamping takes up to 4 days, or 2 on the urgent service, and the FTA processes a corporate tax registration in 20 business days. We confirm timing in your quote.

Yes. AFZ issues a bank letter with the licence and has partnered with Mashreq Bank to assist its companies. The bank still runs its own KYC: source of funds, contracts, a business plan and a meeting in person or by video where it allows. Our Company + Bank Account package handles that preparation; the bank sets the timeline.

It depends on the package: AFZ allocates a different number of visas to each. Extra quota depends on the location and needs Immigration's approval; a Pioneers licence gives one visa, for the owner only. For a Freelancer licence AFZ's pages disagree - the FAQ says two visas, the licence page and cost calculator say one - so we confirm the number before you pay. To sponsor family, an employee needs a salary of at least AED 4,500.

Not directly. Federal guidance says a free zone company works through a licensed mainland distributor or sets up a mainland branch or company, and AFZ tells foreign-company branches that mainland sales go only through a UAE registered agent or distributor. Mainland branch income is taxed at 9%, and goods moved into the mainland become subject to customs duty, generally 5% of the CIF value.

Yes, the general manager. AFZ's FAQ says shareholders do not have to live in the UAE, but the general manager has to be a UAE resident. That can be you, on a residence visa from the company's package, or someone already resident. The company can have up to four directors or managers, depending on the package, and a manager can be removed only when a new one is added.

Renew the licence through the AFZ portal before it expires - there is one month of grace, and we found no licence term on AFZ's pages, so we confirm it - and renew the E-channel 5 days before expiry. Keep a valid lease and the two registers, of shareholders and of beneficial owners. File the corporate tax return within nine months of the year-end; a QFZP also needs audited accounts. AFZ inspections can ask for last year's financial report or six months of bank statements.