Form an Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) company at one of the UAE's first-generation free zones. 35+ years of regulatory track record, 9,000+ active companies, premium banking acceptance, and packages from AED 11,000.
Industries thriving in Ajman Free Zone
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) was established in 1988 — making it one of the UAE's first-generation free zones alongside JAFZA. Today AFZ hosts 9,000+ companies from 120+ countries across trading, light manufacturing, services, and digital businesses.
AFZ's appeal is straightforward: premium UAE free zone benefits at a sub-AED 12K entry price, with the credibility of a 35-year regulatory history. Setup is fast (4–6 working days), packages bundle 1–6 visas, and Ajman's location — 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport — keeps you connected to the major UAE business centres without Dubai-level overheads.
Active companies
Nationalities served
Year established
Tax holiday
One of the UAE's earliest free zone regulators — proven track record across multiple economic cycles and over three decades.
First-generation regulator, premium banking acceptance, and one of the UAE's lowest free zone entry prices.
Solo Founder packages from AED 11,000 — among the lowest entry prices for an established UAE free zone with banking acceptance.
Established 1988 — one of the UAE's first free zones. Proven regulatory stability and recognised by all major UAE banks.
No local sponsor required — AFZ has always permitted full foreign ownership.
0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income. Personal income remains 0%. 50-year guaranteed tax holiday.
30 minutes to Dubai International Airport. 25 minutes to Sharjah Port. Direct logistics access to the entire UAE.
License issued in 4–6 working days. Visa stamping in 8–12 days. Bank account in 10–14 days post-licensing.
Combine multiple activities under one AFZ license — services, trading, and consulting can be grouped together.
Most packages include 1–6 visas with family sponsorship eligibility for shareholders.
Move capital and profits in and out of the UAE freely — no withholding tax, no currency controls.
AFZ issues licenses in four broad categories — most clients group multiple activities into a single license.
For import-export, e-commerce, and general trading. AFZ's most popular category — used by SMEs, e-commerce sellers, and re-export traders.
For consulting, advisory, IT services, and most digital businesses. The most flexible category for solo founders and SMEs.
For light manufacturing, food processing, and assembly. AFZ industrial plots are among the most affordable in the UAE.
Available via Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMCFZ) — for content creators, broadcasters, and creative agencies.
Our 6-step AFZ process gets your trade license issued in 4–6 working days.
Pick legal form (FZE / FZC) & activities
Reserve a compliant trade name with AFZA
Application, KYC & sector approvals
AFZA issues trade license & establishment card
Investor visa stamping & Emirates ID
Corporate bank account opening
AFZ has streamlined documentation requirements — most service and trading applications submit fully digitally with no physical paperwork until visa biometrics.
Personal presence in the UAE is required only for visa biometrics (1 day) and bank account opening (1–2 days).
Get Document ChecklistEvery business is different — your jurisdiction, visa needs, banking requirements, and timeline shape the final cost. Tell us about your plans and we’ll send a transparent, all-in quote within one business day.
AFZ is straightforward — but the wrong activity selection or weak banking application can stall your setup for months. Fairway has placed 1,500+ AFZ companies and we know which configurations sail through banking and which raise red flags.
Talk to a SpecialistDirect AFZA portal access — license issued in 4–6 working days.
We design activity codes & structure for highest banking approval odds.
Pre-vetted channels: Ajman Bank, RAKBank, ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB.
Renewals, amendments, PRO, and accounting under one engagement.
My consultant in Dubai quoted AED 28K for a free zone license. Fairway suggested AFZ at AED 17K — same banking, same UAE residence visa, same 0% qualifying tax. Saved me 11 grand and the license was issued in five days.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Have a different question? Just WhatsApp us.
AFZ has lower real estate, infrastructure, and administrative costs than Dubai free zones — and passes the savings on. The license itself carries identical benefits to most Dubai free zones (0% qualifying tax, 100% foreign ownership, residence visa eligibility, full profit repatriation). The trade-off is reputational: Dubai addresses sound more premium for some client-facing businesses.
Yes. AFZ has 35+ years of regulatory track record and is recognised by all major UAE banks — Ajman Bank, RAKBank, ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB, ADIB. Some banks (Emirates Islamic, FAB) prefer specific AFZ profiles. Fairway pre-matches your structure to the right banking channel.
Similar pricing tier (AFZ from AED 11K, RAKEZ from AED 11.5K). RAKEZ is larger by company count (15K+ vs 9K+) and offers more sub-zones (5 vs 2). AFZ has a longer regulatory history (1988 vs 2017) and is closer to Dubai (30 min vs 60 min). Both are excellent for SMEs; we choose based on activity, banking preference, and proximity needs.
Service and trading licenses are issued in 4–6 working days. Industrial licenses with sector approvals take 8–12 days. Visa stamping adds 8–12 working days. Full active-business setup (license + visa + bank account) typically completes within 21–28 days.
For service licenses with 0–1 visas, a digital flexi-desk address satisfies regulatory requirements. For larger visa quotas (3+) or trading/industrial activities, AFZ requires a physical office or warehouse — typically 100+ sq ft. Industrial activities require a dedicated industrial plot.
For B2B services and digital products — yes, with VAT registration. For physical goods sold to UAE consumers, you'll typically work through a distributor or open a mainland branch. Fairway designs the right channel mix during setup.
Yes. AFZ investor visas allow you to sponsor spouse, children, and parents — subject to standard UAE family sponsorship requirements (minimum salary AED 4,000 + suitable accommodation). Family visas are typically processed within 4–6 weeks of your own visa being issued.
No. You can hold an AFZ license, hold an AFZ residence visa, and live anywhere in the UAE — Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi. Most AFZ clients live in Dubai and visit Ajman only for occasional administrative matters.
Tell us your setup preferences and our consultants will calculate a transparent, all-in quote within one business day. No spam, no high-pressure sales — just a clear path to your setup.
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