Ajman FZ vs AMCFZ
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) (Ajman) or Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMCFZ) (Ajman)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose Ajman FZ for…
- Private office and warehouse options
- Popular with budget traders
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), founded in 1988 beside Ajman Port, is one of the UAE's longest-running free zones and a popular low-cost choice. It suits budget traders, e-commerce sellers, service companies and small manufacturers who want offices, warehouses or factory units for less than Dubai. Licence-only packages are commonly quoted from about AED 5,500, while a first year with one visa usually lands around AED 20,000 to 26,000. Simple licences can be ready within a few working days.
Choose AMCFZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 619 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 2 vs 3 working days)
- Virtual office options
- Popular with freelancers
- Popular with content creators
Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMC) is a low-cost Ajman free zone for media, digital, consulting and small trading businesses. It suits creators, freelancers, agencies and first-time founders who mainly need a legal UAE company and perhaps one or two visas. Published packages have been around AED 4,999 without a visa, about AED 13,000 with one and about AED 18,000 with two. Licences are commonly issued within one to three working days for standard activities.
Ajman FZ vs AMCFZ side by side
| Ajman FZ | AMCFZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ajman | Ajman |
| Packages from | AED 5,768 | AED 5,149 |
| Renewal from | AED 5,768 | AED 5,149 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~2 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Shared office |
| Activity areas | Trading, E-commerce, Consultancy, Industrial, Freelance, Logistics | Media, Freelance, Consultancy, E-commerce, Trading, Tech & IT |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 1988 | 2021 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
Ajman FZ in brief
Ajman Free Zone is often described only as cheap, which undersells it. Opened in 1988, it is among the oldest free zones in the country and sits on the waterfront next to Ajman Port, with a long history of trading houses, small factories and storage businesses. Its campus mixes office towers, warehouse rows and light-industrial units.
Strengths
- Long track record since 1988 and a large trading community.
- Low licence-only entry prices and often modest renewals.
- Warehouses and light-industrial units in the same zone as offices.
- Close to Ajman Port and major highways.
Watch out for
- No full public price list, so quotes vary widely.
- Ajman address may matter to some clients.
- Banks may ask more questions of small trading companies.
AMCFZ in brief
Ajman Media City was launched around 2018 as Ajman's answer to Dubai's media free zones, aimed at producers, publishers, marketers and creative studios. Since 2021 it has sat under the Ajman Free Zones Authority, the same umbrella as Ajman Free Zone and the NuVentures Centre, which shares back-office systems and some services between the three.
Strengths
- Published, simple package prices.
- Among the lowest entry costs in the UAE.
- Broad activity list beyond media.
- Quick licence issuance.
Watch out for
- Limited physical facilities.
- Some media activities need a separate federal permit.
- Ajman address.
Ajman FZ vs AMCFZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, Ajman FZ or AMCFZ?
On our current packages, AMCFZ starts lower at around AED 5,149, against AED 5,768 for Ajman FZ. Compare renewal too: Ajman FZ renews from about AED 5,768 and AMCFZ from about AED 5,149. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, Ajman FZ or AMCFZ?
Ajman FZ allows up to 6 visas, depending on the office you lease. Both zones allow a similar maximum, so the office type decides your real quota.
Which is faster to set up, Ajman FZ or AMCFZ?
AMCFZ is typically quicker at around 2 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a Ajman FZ licence valid for business in the rest of the UAE?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from Ajman FZ to AMCFZ later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
Ajman FZ or AMCFZ? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place