Ajman Free Zone is one of the cheapest entry points into the UAE for a UK entrepreneur, with a no-visa licence from around AED 5,565 and a one-visa package from roughly AED 13,131. It sits between Dubai and Sharjah, near Ajman Port, offers more than 3,500 activities with up to ten on a single licence, and gives 100 percent ownership with 0 percent tax on qualifying income. It suits cost-conscious founders, traders, and light industrial operations. The trade-off is an Ajman address rather than a Dubai one.
Key highlights
- A no-visa Ajman licence starts from around AED 5,565, and a one-visa package from roughly AED 13,131, among the lowest in the UAE.
- Each visa after the first adds around AED 4,000, with standard packages covering up to four visas.
- Ajman offers more than 3,500 approved activities, with up to ten combined on a single licence.
- Licence types cover commercial, general trading, service, e-commerce, industrial, and freelancer.
- It gives 100 percent foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, and 0 percent tax on qualifying income.
- Ajman sits between Dubai and Sharjah near Ajman Port, so you operate close to Dubai at a lower cost.
A UK founder wants a UAE trading company, a residence visa, and the lowest credible bill, without being an hour north in Ras Al Khaimah. Ajman Free Zone answers that. It is one of the oldest free zones in the country, it prices at the bottom of the market, and it sits a short drive from Dubai, which keeps it practical for someone who still wants Dubai within reach.
This guide covers how to set up an Ajman free zone company as a UK entrepreneur, what it costs, and where it fits. It is general information rather than advice.
What Ajman Free Zone is
Ajman Free Zone, established in 1988, is one of the longest-running free zones in the UAE. It sits in the emirate of Ajman, between Dubai and Sharjah and close to Ajman Port, which gives it a logistics edge for trading and light industry at a low cost.
Its appeal is simple: price and proximity. It prices below most Dubai zones while sitting far closer to Dubai than the northern alternatives, so a UK entrepreneur gets a cheap licence without being cut off from the Dubai market. Our overview of the UAE free zones places it against the others if you want the full map first.
It is a practical, cost-led zone rather than a prestige address, built for founders who want ownership and a visa without a premium bill.
Why Ajman suits UK entrepreneurs
The case for Ajman rests on three things.
The lowest credible entry cost
Ajman competes directly with the cheapest zones in the country. A no-visa licence starts around AED 5,565, and a one-visa package around AED 13,131, covering the trade licence, registration, establishment card, and the visa process. For a first UAE entity, the saving against a Dubai zone is real.
Breadth of activities
Ajman offers more than 3,500 approved activities, with up to ten combined on a single licence. That breadth suits a founder running several lines, such as trading plus consulting plus e-commerce, under one roof. When the activity mix needs scoping, our UAE business setup service maps it against the licence before you file.
Proximity to Dubai
Ajman sits a short drive from Dubai, far closer than Ras Al Khaimah. A UK entrepreneur keeps the lower cost of a northern emirate while staying within easy reach of Dubai clients, suppliers, and the airport.
Cost, the honest picture
Treat these as indicative, because packages move by visa count and year.
The package prices
The published shape of the pricing:
- No-visa licence: from around AED 5,565.
- One visa: around AED 13,131.
- Two visas: around AED 17,131.
- Three visas: around AED 21,131.
- Each visa after the first: adds around AED 4,000.
What the package covers
The quoted figure generally covers the trade licence, free zone registration, the establishment card where a visa is taken, and the visa process itself. Standard packages run to four visas, with higher counts tied to the facility you take. Because visas drive the total, pricing the setup around how many people you will sponsor, rather than the bare licence, gives the real number to budget.
Licence types and activities
Ajman issues six licence types, which cover most business models:
- Commercial, for trading in specified goods.
- General Trading, for a wide range of goods under one licence.
- Service, for consultancy and professional work.
- E-commerce, for online retail.
- Industrial, for manufacturing, processing, and assembly with a facility.
- Freelancer, for solo professionals.
With more than 3,500 activities and up to ten on a licence, most UK founders find their model fits without compromise. The industrial licence, paired with Ajman’s port access and cheap space, also makes the zone a sensible home for light production.
How to set up, step by step
Setting up is quick and mostly remote, which suits a UK founder working before relocation.
- Choose the licence and activities. Select the licence type and up to ten activities.
- Reserve the trade name. Submit a compliant name for approval.
- Submit the application. Provide passport copies and the application through the Ajman Free Zone portal.
- Receive the licence. A clean application is often completed within a few working days.
- Complete the establishment card and visa. Finish the entry permit, medical, and Emirates ID, which need a short visit to the UAE.
- Open the corporate bank account. Set up banking once the licence and visa are issued.
Since bank onboarding is usually the slow step, our corporate banking support in the UAE runs alongside the licence so the timeline holds.
Visas and office
Ajman ties visa quota to the package and facility. Standard packages cover up to four visas, and higher counts depend on taking an office or warehouse. A residence visa gives you and your team UAE residency, with the usual medical and Emirates ID steps. For founders who want to add staff as they grow, the quota scales with the space you take, so the structure stretches with the business.
Tax and compliance
Ajman does not change the corporate tax rules. A free zone company can reach 0 percent corporate tax on qualifying income as a Qualifying Free Zone Person, with 9 percent on non-qualifying income, subject to a de minimis limit of the lower of 5 percent of revenue or AED 5 million. Qualifying Free Zone Persons must file audited financial statements under Ministerial Decision 84 of 2025, and every company registers on EmaraTax and files a return. When that needs managing, our corporate tax registration service handles it through EmaraTax for UK-owned companies.
The UK angle
Two points apply to a founder staying in Britain. You can own and set up the Ajman company from the UK without relocating, with only a short visit for the visa steps. What ownership does not settle is UK tax. If the company is run from the UK, HMRC can treat it as UK tax resident under the central management and control test, and dividends you draw while UK resident are reportable in the UK. Keeping the two sides aligned is where our legal advisory team in the UAE structures the setup so nothing is missed.
Ajman offshore is a separate option
Ajman also runs an offshore regime, and the two are easy to confuse. An Ajman offshore company is a holding and international-trading vehicle only. It cannot sponsor UAE residence visas, and it cannot trade inside the UAE market. For a UK entrepreneur who wants a residence visa and the right to work in the Emirates, the free zone company is the correct route, not the offshore one. The offshore structure fits a narrow purpose, such as holding shares, property, or assets outside active UAE trade, so match the vehicle to what you actually plan to do.
How Ajman compares to other low-cost zones
Ajman sits in a tight group of cheap UAE zones, and the differences are small but real:
- Against RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman is closer to Dubai, while RAKEZ offers stronger industrial land and warehousing.
- Against SHAMS in Sharjah, Ajman carries a wider general activity list, while SHAMS classifies media and creative work more cleanly.
- Against IFZA and Meydan in Dubai, Ajman is cheaper, though those zones carry a Dubai address.
For a cost-led UK entrepreneur who still wants Dubai within reach, Ajman often wins. Working out how to set up an Ajman free zone company is the easy part, and confirming it beats the closest alternative for your model is the part worth getting right. Our guide on why UK founders choose RAKEZ sets out that alternative in full.
Ajman Free Zone at a glance
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| No-visa licence | From around AED 5,565 |
| One-visa package | Around AED 13,131 |
| Each extra visa | Around AED 4,000 |
| Activities | More than 3,500 activities; up to 10 on one licence |
| Licence types | Commercial, general trading, service, e-commerce, industrial and freelancer |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership |
| Visas | Up to 4 on standard packages; more may be available with a facility |
| Corporate tax | 0% on qualifying income; 9% otherwise, subject to applicable UAE tax rules |
| Location | Ajman, between Dubai and Sharjah, near Ajman Port |
Figures are indicative for 2026 and may vary by package and year. Confirm the current quotation in writing before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up an Ajman free zone company?
Choose a licence type and up to ten activities, reserve a trade name, submit the application with passport copies through the Ajman Free Zone portal, and receive the licence in a few working days. You then complete the establishment card, visa, medical, and Emirates ID, which need a short visit to the UAE, and open a bank account.
How much does an Ajman free zone company cost?
A no-visa licence starts from around AED 5,565, and a one-visa package from roughly AED 13,131. Each visa after the first adds around AED 4,000, with standard packages covering up to four visas. Prices are indicative and move by package, so confirm the current figure before filing.
Is Ajman the cheapest UAE free zone?
It is among the cheapest, competing closely with Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah options. Its advantage over those is proximity, since Ajman sits a short drive from Dubai while still pricing near the bottom of the market. The trade-off is an Ajman address rather than a Dubai one.
How many activities can an Ajman licence hold?
Up to ten activities on a single licence, drawn from more than 3,500 approved activities. That breadth suits a UK founder running several lines, such as trading, consulting, and e-commerce, under one company rather than taking separate licences.
Can a UK entrepreneur set up Ajman remotely?
Largely, yes. You can own and apply for the company from the UK, and the application is mostly digital. A short visit to the UAE is needed for the visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics once the licence is issued.
Does an Ajman company pay corporate tax?
It can reach 0 percent on qualifying income as a Qualifying Free Zone Person, with 9 percent on non-qualifying income, subject to the de minimis limit. Qualifying Free Zone Persons file audited accounts, and every company registers on EmaraTax and files a return, even at 0 percent.
Your next step
For a UK entrepreneur, Ajman is the low-cost option that stays close to Dubai. It prices with the cheapest zones, carries a wide activity list, and sits a short drive from the Dubai market. Price the setup around your visa count, pick the licence that matches your model, and the rest is quick.
Gatestone Group works with UK entrepreneurs from offices in London and Dubai, and our team runs a free consultation that prices your Ajman setup and handles the licence, visa, and banking before you commit.
Gatestone Group is a business setup and company formation consultancy working with entrepreneurs, investors, and growing companies across Dubai, the wider UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. This article was prepared and reviewed by the firm’s advisory team using current guidance from the relevant authorities. Last updated 12 October 2026.
This article provides general information about Ajman Free Zone setup for UK entrepreneurs, as of 2026. Free zone packages, fees, visa quotas, and activity lists vary by package and circumstances, and they change without notice, so every figure here is indicative and should be confirmed in writing before filing. Gatestone Group provides business setup and corporate services. We are not a law firm, a registered tax agent, an audit firm, or a licensed financial adviser, and nothing here is legal, tax, or financial advice. The details referenced are based on publicly available information from the relevant authorities, including Ajman Free Zone and the Federal Tax Authority. Rules and prices change, so always verify the current position with the authorities and Gatestone Group before acting. For personalised support with an Ajman setup, contact Gatestone Group to arrange a consultation.