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Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), run by the Free Zones Authority of Ajman under Amiri Decree No. 2 of 2014, publishes the documents it asks for each company form, together with rules on age, residency and premises. This page brings those requirements together from afz.gov.ae and the Ajman government portal, read on 4 October 2026. Where AFZ’s own pages are older or say nothing, we say so.
Company forms and their documents
| Form | Who it suits | Documents AFZ lists |
|---|---|---|
| FZE | One shareholder | Passport copy valid at least 6 months, colour photo, visa copy or UID, no-objection letter from sponsor if resident in the UAE |
| FZC | Two or more partners | The same documents for each partner |
| Branch of a UAE company | A UAE company opening in AFZ | Manager’s passport, photo and visa; parent trade licence, memorandum of association and board resolution |
| Branch of a foreign company | A company abroad | The same parent documents; 100% foreign owned, local sales only through a UAE registered agent or distributor |
If a company is the shareholder
AFZ asks for the certificate of incorporation, a certificate of good standing, the parent company’s constitution and a resolution. The resolution must be notarised by a notary public and attested by the UAE embassy in the parent company’s country. Individual shareholders, by contrast, can have their resolution and specimen signature witnessed by AFZ staff over a video call, so they do not need to fly in for that step. Every shareholder and manager also goes through an immigration security approval, from AED 600.
Age, residency and directors
- Age: shareholders must be above 18.
- Residency: shareholders do not need to live in the UAE, but the general manager has to be a UAE resident.
- Directors: up to four directors or managers, depending on the package.
- Freelancer and Pioneer licences: one shareholder only. AFZ’s Pioneers licence is aimed at people aged 20 to 30.
These rules come from AFZ’s FAQ page, which carries no date and quotes 2018 and 2019 rules in other answers, so confirm them when you apply.
Licence types
AFZ’s licence page currently shows Business, Industrial and Sole Professional licences. Its FAQ lists more: industrial or manufacturing, commercial, services, Pioneers, freelancer, e-commerce and offshore. A licence covers either service activities or commercial activities, not both; see the Ajman Free Zone activity list.
Premises, capital and business plan
- Premises: AFZ’s licensing guidelines say the licensee must have a valid lease and a valid licence, so a facility is part of every application.
- Share capital: AFZ publishes no minimum on its own site; it asks for a bank statement only when capital is increased. The Ajman government portal (ajman.ae, page updated 12 August 2026) states that an FZE owner needs capital equivalent to USD 50,000, AED 185,000. The two sources differ, so get the figure in writing from AFZ.
- Feasibility study: the same government page asks for one for industrial, service and electronic activities, and lists a trade name approval fee of AED 100.
How the application runs
- Choose the company form, licence type, activities and facility.
- Submit the application with the documents above and pay the fees.
- Receive the licence, a bank letter and the registration kit; the visa process starts after that.
AFZ publishes no total processing time. Its bank account service starts at AED 1,000 and AFZ says it does not guarantee approval. Licence renewal starts at AED 4,878.75 depending on package, activities and facility. Visa costs are on our Ajman Free Zone visa cost page and the licence fees on Ajman Free Zone licence cost.
What AFZ does not publish
- A price for a new licence or package; its calculator emails an estimate after you leave contact details.
- A minimum share capital on its own site.
- How long issuing a licence takes.
- A current public page for the offshore licence.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for an Ajman Free Zone FZE?
A passport valid for at least six months, a colour photo, a UAE visa copy or UID if you have one, and a no objection letter from your sponsor if you live in the UAE.
What if a company is the shareholder?
Its certificate of incorporation, certificate of good standing, constitution and a board resolution, notarised and attested by the UAE embassy in its home country.
Do I need to live in the UAE?
Shareholders do not, but AFZ says the general manager has to be a UAE resident. Shareholders must be above 18.
Is an office mandatory in Ajman Free Zone?
Yes. AFZ licensing guidelines say the licensee must have a valid lease and a valid licence.
What is the minimum share capital in Ajman Free Zone?
AFZ publishes none on its own site. The Ajman government portal states AED 185,000 for an FZE, so confirm the current figure with AFZ in writing.
Can I sign without visiting Ajman?
For individual shareholders, AFZ staff can witness the resolution and specimen signature over a video call. Corporate resolutions must be notarised and attested.
Want a provider to check your documents before you file with Ajman Free Zone? Compare free zone formation providers or describe your case and collect quotes.
Official references used for context in this article.
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