Ajman - Licenses

Situated on the Arabian Gulf coast, Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates in the UAE, with an estimated area of 260 square kilometers. The prime industries in Ajman are manufacturing, real estate, retail, construction, transport, and business services.

In the Emirate, 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital and profits are allowed in Ajman free zone.

- Ajman free zone presents all the opportunities an exclusive economic area is supposed to provide, at a relatively lower cost than other free zones in the UAE. This is because Ajman Free Zone Authority levies no registration fee

- The business registration process in Ajman is straightforward – there are single-window clearances for multiple government services like postal services, licensing, immigration, visa, etc.

- In Ajman, foreign investors can get a 20-year land lease, renewable for another 20 years, thus allowing legitimate tax-exempt operations for 40 years

- A company located in Ajman enjoys 100% legal exemption from all import and export duties

- As a part of the UAE, a respected international trading jurisdiction, an Ajman business is not perceived as an offshore company in a foreign tax haven

• Trading license - these are issued to businesses who want to trade in the free zone with products such as clothes.
• E-commerce license - this is suitable for businesses which are using electronic trading or mainly completing their business online.
• Professional services license - this is for businesses who are offering consultancy services such as marketing, IT or management consultancy.
• Industrial license - this is issued to foreign/UAE companies who want to manufacture in the free zone. They will provide warehouses to facilitate this.
• National industrial license - this is suitable for a company which is registered with a GCC national majority shareholding of 51%.
• General maintenance license - this is for maintenance businesses and gives authority to individuals to make repairs on buildings.

If you were to decide that you wanted to start up a business in Ajman, you would have to follow the below process:

1. Determine what type of legal entity suits your business
2. Fill out an application form
3. Be approved by the municipality
4. Be inspected by the Inspection Unit of Ajman
5. Achieve approval for trade name, business register and other relevant documents
6. Achieve approval from the Ministry of Trade
7. Submit registration fees
8. Obtain a license for your work