Set up a company in Ajman: 100% online, all on one platform
How to set up a company in Ajman in 2026: the Ajman Free Zone packages by number of visas, the steps and timelines, the documents, renewal, opening the bank account and when RAKEZ or a Dubai free zone makes more sense. Dubase handles the formation and then the company’s accounting, tax and renewals.
- Licence
- issued in 1–3 days
- Ownership
- 100% foreign
- Entry package
- lowest of the zones compared
- Licence, year 1
- from AED 5,555
Ajman, RAKEZ or a Dubai free zone: which to choose
Ajman Free Zone
For services, consulting and light trading on the tightest starting budget. We also prepare the file for the bank.
Get your Ajman planRAKEZ instead?
For AED 445 more, RAKEZ includes the visa fees in the package and renews at the same price every year.
See RAK costsNeed Dubai instead?
If your clients or bank expect a Dubai address, paying more makes sense. Dubai free zones start at AED 12,520 in government fees.
See Dubai costs and zonesAjman, Ras Al Khaimah or Dubai: comparison
| Feature | Ajman Free Zone | RAKEZ (RAK) | Dubai free zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Entry price, year 1 | AED 5,555 | AED 6,000 all-in | From AED 12,520 |
| Pricing model | Advertised tiers, reconfirm at quote | One package, visas bundled | Licence + itemised add-ons |
| Residence visas | Advertised tiers by count | Bundled by quota | By package or office |
| Live in Dubai? | Yes, the visa is federal | Yes | Yes |
| How banks see it | More questions | Standard | Better, especially DMCC |
| Best for | Lowest starting budget | Fixed price with visas included | When clients or banks expect a Dubai address |
How to open a company in Ajman, step by step
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Package and activity
Visa tier and licence activity. These two choices set the price and the tax outcome.
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Licence application
KYC, passport copies and application filed directly with Ajman Free Zone. No need to travel or visit a notary: everything is signed remotely.
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Licence issued
Trade licence and corporate documents in hand. Your company legally exists and can sign contracts.
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Residence visa
Entry permit, status change if you are in the UAE, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping, following the standard federal process.
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Bank account
Prepared file and introductions with banks that match your profile. Decision times vary from days to weeks; more in bank account.
Documents required to register a company in Ajman
For a standard Ajman Free Zone setup with individual shareholders, this is the whole list.
Passport copy
Valid for at least 6 months, for every shareholder and director.
Passport photo
Recent, white background; the authority uses it for the visa file.
Contact and address details
Personal address and phone/email for KYC.
Short activity description
What the company sells and to whom; we draft the licence wording.
Corporate documents
Only if a company (not a person) will be a shareholder: incorporation set, attested.
Extra approvals
Only for regulated activities: finance, health, education, legal.
Ajman Free Zone or Ajman Media City: which to choose
Ajman has a general free zone (Ajman Free Zone), a registry for creative businesses (Ajman Media City) and the mainland licence for selling to the local market. The choice depends on the company’s activity.
Ajman Free Zone
AFZ · Ajman port side- Entry package advertised at AED 5,555 (zero visas), 2026
- Visa tiers advertised from ~AED 13,131 (1 visa)
- Licences issued in 1–3 working days
- Operating since 1988
Ajman Media City
AMC Free Zone- Budget registry for media, content and freelancers
- Aggressive package pricing, quoted per case
- Worth checking for solo creators counting every dirham
- We compare it against Shams before you choose
Ajman Mainland
Department of Economic Development- For selling inside the UAE or opening premises in Ajman
- Physical office required; cost depends on activity
- 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021
- Quoted per case; ask us for your configuration
How much does it cost to set up a company in Ajman?
Ajman Free Zone’s advertised 2026 packages by number of visas. The zone revises its prices often, so we confirm the price before payment.
| Ajman Free Zone package | Advertised price, year 1 |
|---|---|
| No visas | AED 5,555 |
| 1 visa | ~AED 13,131 |
| 5 visas | ~AED 29,292 |
Zone-advertised 2026 tiers, AED. Reconfirmed at quote time.
- The zero-visa package at AED 5,555 is the lowest entry price of the zones we compare. Visa tiers are the zone’s advertised bundles; each visa also runs the standard federal steps (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, stamping).
- Licences renew annually at the zone’s published rate. We re-verify every figure with Ajman Free Zone before each engagement and each renewal, because the advertised tiers change.
- Ajman Media City is the emirate’s low-cost registry for creative businesses, quoted per case. Our service fee is quoted separately and itemised.
Ajman company renewal: annual cost from year 2
The licence renews every year at the zone’s published rate and visas renew on the standard federal two-year cycle. Ajman revises its prices often, so we confirm them before every renewal.
Annual licence renewal from year 2 (AED)
| Package | Annual renewal |
|---|---|
| No visas | From AED 5,555 (published rate) |
| 1 visa | ~AED 13,131 (published tier) |
| 5 visas | ~AED 29,292 (published tier) |
Visa renewal every 2 years
| Step | What it is |
|---|---|
| Zone visa fees | Per the zone’s current rate at renewal |
| Medical + Emirates ID | Standard federal steps, per visa holder |
| Visa stamping | Two-year cycle, handled by us end to end |
Each visa holder re-runs the standard federal medical and Emirates ID steps on the two-year cycle; the zone’s own visa fees are confirmed at renewal time. At RAKEZ, by contrast, visa renewals are included in the package price.
Business bank account for an Ajman company: requirements and timelines
UAE banks operate nationwide: an Ajman company applies at the same banks as a Dubai one. With the cheapest licences the bank usually asks more questions, so the file needs to be complete. It usually asks for the licence and corporate documents, the shareholders’ passports and residence visas or Emirates IDs, a description of the activity with the expected clients and turnover, and proof of the source of funds.
What we do: we prepare the file, submit it to banks that match your profile and suggest fintech alternatives when a traditional account takes too long.
What we cannot control: the approval. The bank decides, and no provider can guarantee it.
Advantages of setting up a company in Ajman
- 0%
- personal income tax on salary and dividends
- 9%
- corporate tax, only on profit above AED 375,000
- 100%
- foreign ownership, no local sponsor
- 5%
- VAT; registration mandatory above AED 375,000 turnover
Tax is federal: an Ajman company faces exactly the same UAE corporate tax, VAT and 0% personal income tax as a Dubai company, including the QFZP regime for qualifying free zone income. The entry price changes; the taxes are the same.
Services for your Ajman company
Besides the formation, we handle the company’s accounting, tax, licence and visa renewals and compliance, with the same team.
- Company formation
- Residence visas
- Bank account opening
- Accounting & bookkeeping
- Corporate tax registration
- Corporate tax return filing
- VAT registration & returns
- Tax audit support
- Licence & visa renewals
- AML & UBO compliance
- PRO & government services
Ajman company setup terms
Advertised tier
The zone’s published package price by visa count. It is revised often and confirmed before payment.
Entry package
The zero-visa licence at AED 5,555, the lowest entry price of the zones we compare.
Federal residence visa
A UAE residence visa is national, whichever emirate sponsors it: you can live, work and bank in Dubai with an Ajman-sponsored visa.
Entry permit
The document that starts each residence visa: lets the applicant enter the UAE or change status inside the country.
Medical + Emirates ID
Mandatory federal medical test and biometric ID on every visa issue and renewal, at standard federal rates.
Substance
What the bank checks besides the licence: the activity, the money flows and the founder’s profile. It weighs more at low-cost zones.
QFZP
Qualifying Free Zone Person: the regime that keeps qualifying free zone income at 0% corporate tax.
MOA
Memorandum of Association: the constitutional document of the company, issued at incorporation.
Setting up a company in Ajman: frequently asked questions
Is Ajman the cheapest place to open a UAE company?
On entry price, it is the lowest of the zones we compare: AED 5,555, below Sharjah (AED 5,750), RAKEZ (AED 6,000 all-in) and Dubai (from AED 12,520). With visas, RAKEZ’s packages, which include the visa fees, often close the gap. We compare the all-in totals for your number of visas.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Ajman?
Ajman Free Zone advertises the zero-visa package at AED 5,555 for 2026, the lowest entry price of the zones we compare, with visa tiers advertised from about AED 13,131 (1 visa) to about AED 29,292 (5 visas), renewing annually at the zone’s published rate. We confirm the exact figure before payment. Our service fee is quoted separately.
Can I live in Dubai with an Ajman company?
Yes. The residence visa an Ajman zone sponsors is a federal UAE visa: you can live in Dubai, rent, get a driving licence and bank anywhere in the country. Ajman is about half an hour from Dubai along the coast.
How long does it take to open a company in Ajman?
Ajman Free Zone issues licences in 1 to 3 working days. The residence visa process adds 1 to 3 weeks, with the same federal steps as everywhere in the UAE. The bank account runs in parallel and can take from days to several weeks depending on your profile.
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Ajman company?
Yes. Ajman free zone companies have always allowed 100% foreign ownership, with no local sponsor or Emirati partner.
What taxes does an Ajman company pay?
Exactly the same as anywhere in the UAE, because tax is federal: 9% corporate tax only on profit above AED 375,000 (qualifying free zone income can stay at 0% under the QFZP regime), 5% VAT with mandatory registration above AED 375,000 turnover, and 0% personal income tax. Choosing Ajman changes the entry price; the taxes are the same.
Do banks accept companies from the cheapest free zones?
Yes. Banks operate nationwide and an Ajman licence is a valid UAE licence. With low-cost zones the bank usually asks more questions, so the file needs to be complete. We prepare it with you; the bank decides on approval and no provider can guarantee it.
Do I need a physical office in Ajman?
No. The entry package covers the legal address requirement; offices and warehouses are optional upgrades. You do not need to live or work in Ajman to keep the company.
What does it cost to keep an Ajman company alive each year?
The licence renews annually at the zone’s published rate: from AED 5,555 for the zero-visa package, with visa tiers at their advertised rates. Visas renew on the standard federal two-year cycle with the medical and Emirates ID steps per holder. Ajman revises its prices often, so we confirm them before every renewal.
Can I set up an Ajman company without travelling to the UAE?
Yes. The licence and corporate documents are processed fully remotely. You only need to enter the UAE when you activate your residence visa (medical test and biometrics), and some banks require one in-person meeting.
What is Ajman Media City and when does it make sense?
Ajman Media City is the emirate’s low-cost registry for creative businesses, with packages for media, content and freelance activities quoted per case. For solo creators on a tight budget it is worth comparing with Shams in Sharjah; we prepare both quotes.
Can I move my Ajman company to another zone, such as Dubai, later?
Yes. The usual route is a new licence in the target zone with assets and contracts migrated. It is common to start in Ajman for the cost and change zones when clients or the bank ask for it; we plan it with you.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page traces to an official source. Rates change, so we verify them before every engagement.
Ready to set up in Ajman?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. Within 24 hours we send you the recommended structure, the total cost and the timeline in writing.
Request a quote