One thing to know upfront: since moving to its new website, afz.gov.ae, the administration no longer publishes a price list — exact figures come from the official cost calculator on request. The package benchmarks below are based on 2026 data from licensed registrars, and you should always confirm them with AFZA before paying.
Why Businesses Choose AFZA
AFZA competes on price and versatility: it offers one of the lowest entry costs in the country, with licenses covering trade, manufacturing, and freelancing alike.
Ajman Free Zone Company Setup: Step by Step
The administration markets the process as three steps — pick a format, submit documents, pay and receive the license. In practice there are more stages, and here is what the full route looks like.
- Choose your business activity and license type: trading, service, industrial, e-commerce, or freelancer
- Choose the legal form: FZE (one shareholder), FZC (up to five), or a branch
- Reserve a company name and apply through the AFZ portal
- Sign the incorporation documents and receive approval
- Pay for the package — the exact amount is fixed by the official cost calculator
- License issuance, followed by the Establishment Card, e-channel, and residence visas
A basic license without a visa is issued within 2–5 business days once the full document set is submitted. The visa stage adds one to three weeks: entry permit, status change, medical test, and Emirates ID are processed one after another.
AFZA License Cost: Company Setup Prices (2026)
The official afz.gov.ae website does not publish prices — the cost calculator generates a quote after you apply. The figures below come from 2026 price lists of licensed AFZ registrars and match across several independent sources; treat them as a benchmark, not an offer.
|
Cost item |
Amount, AED |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Freelancer Package (Sole Professional) |
from 6,000 |
No visa; the option with a paid visa is around 9,500 |
|
Explorer package (0 visas) |
9 000 |
Business license, up to 5 activities |
|
Startup package (quota of 1 visa) |
12 000 |
Around 16,000 with the visa paid |
|
Entrepreneur package (quota of 2 visas) |
15 000 |
Around 21,000 with visas paid |
|
Visa fees on top of the package |
3,500–4,000 per visa |
Entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID; e-channel — around 1,100 per year |
|
Industrial license and warehouse |
on request |
Depends on the area and facility type; calculated by the administration |
General trading costs more in packages than classic trading — budget an extra 5,000 AED on top of the base figures. For family sponsorship under smart office formats, the administration may request a deposit, which is worth clarifying before paying for a package.
Taxation in Ajman Free Zone
Ajman Free Zone residents pay the federal Corporate Tax of 9% on profit above 375,000 AED; below that threshold the rate is 0%. VAT is 5% for most transactions, with registration mandatory once annual turnover exceeds 375,000 AED. A company with Qualifying Free Zone Person status applies 0% to qualifying income — primarily exports and deals with other free zones. The status requires genuine presence in the zone and control over your revenue structure, so model it before you register.
Who AFZA Is Right For
- Small and mid-sized trading businesses that want the lowest possible entry cost near Dubai
- Manufacturing and warehousing companies — for land, storage, and logistics through Ajman Port
- Freelancers and consultants who need a license, a residence visa, and minimal overhead
“AFZA is one of the few UAE zones where office, trading, and industrial licenses live under one roof: a business can grow from freelancing to its own warehouse without changing jurisdiction,” notes the lead lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Open Your AFZA Company with Dynasty Business Adviser
We will request an official AFZA quote for you, select the right package and activities, prepare the documents, process visas, and open a corporate bank account in the UAE. Get in touch — we will benchmark AFZA against neighboring zones for your business model.
Get advice
Pricing data is current as of the publication date (July 13, 2026) and verified against open sources, including afz.gov.ae; confirm the rates directly with the zone’s administration before paying.
