What the free zones told us in writing

What do the three one visa packages include?

12,010 AED covers the licence and one residence visa, without basic health insurance. 14,010 AED adds basic health insurance and help opening the bank account, and 16,570 AED also covers the visa typing and medical application, 20 percent off dependant visas, a company stamp and a digital business card.

Are the establishment card, name reservation and incorporation fees charged on top?

No. They are included in the three one visa packages, 12,010, 14,010 and 16,570 AED, with no additional charge.

How much does a warehouse or industrial land cost?

There is no fixed rate. The zone quotes warehouses and industrial land case by case, on the size, the location, the type of facility or land and the needs of the business.

What does the cheapest licence cost?

12,545 AED a year with no visa quota: the trade licence at 12,000 AED, a co-working office for 5 hours a year at 525 AED including VAT, and the 20 AED knowledge and innovation fee. With a quota of one visa it is 16,845 AED, and the residence visa itself is billed on top, from 3,000 AED.

What does the renewal cost?

Exactly what the first year costs, at every visa quota, from 12,545 AED with no visa quota to 84,070 AED with a quota of six. A late renewal costs 1,000 AED per month of delay.

Can I sponsor my spouse or children through the zone?

No. The zone does not issue dependant visas: a spouse or a child has to be sponsored through an outside service provider, at a cost the zone does not set.

What does it cost to close the company?

Licence cancellation costs 2,500 AED. A company with visas also pays 780 AED per visa cancellation and 350 AED to cancel its establishment card.

Do I have to travel to the UAE to set up the company?

No. The whole incorporation can be completed without the shareholder travelling to the UAE.

Can the company also trade on the UAE mainland?

An Ajman Free Zone company can open a branch on the UAE mainland, subject to the mainland requirements and approvals that apply.

What does the renewal cost?

The same every year: 6,875 AED for the standard licence. A zero visa licence also renews every year at the price it was bought at.

How many shareholders are included?

Up to 7 shareholders are included at no extra cost. SPC accepts up to 100, and each shareholder beyond the seventh costs 1,000 AED.

What does closing the company or renewing late cost?

Licence cancellation costs 2,100 AED. A late renewal costs 200 AED per month, after a one month grace period.

Why do 5,750 AED, 6,875 AED and 10,900 AED all appear on the site?

SPC sells three licence types, standard, publishing and e-publishing, and the price varies with the activities selected. Pay as you go applies to every licence type. A company licensed only with SPC pays the same amount at every renewal.

How many activities does one licence carry?

Up to 5 business activities, or 5 groups of activities.

How much does each extra visa cost on the package?

Each additional visa quota adds 2,100 AED to the one-year package, and the package with 6 visas costs 18,750 AED. The residence visa itself is not included in the package price.

What is the minimum share capital?

150,000 AED.

What does a dependant visa cost?

It is charged at the immigration authority's fees in force on the day of application, not at a free zone rate.

How many shareholders can a company have?

Between 1 and 49.

How much does the trade name reservation cost?

1,035 AED for the trade name reservation and initial approval, non refundable.

What happens if the audited accounts are filed late?

There is no fine, but an automatic portal sanction: the company cannot submit any service request through the member portal until the statements are filed and accepted.

What does the renewal cost?

The licence renews at the same amount as year one, as long as nothing changes on the licence.

What does cancelling the licence cost?

2,200 AED.

How many shareholders are allowed, and can a company be a shareholder?

Up to 50 shareholders, at no extra cost, and a corporate shareholder is accepted at no extra cost.

What is the cheapest package, and what does it renew at?

The Starter package costs 12,520 AED a year with the licence and a shared desk, but no visa quota and no company card, VAT and the 20 AED knowledge and innovation fee included. It renews at 12,520 AED a year.

What does a package with visas cost?

Scale up costs 17,570 AED a year with a free allocation of 4 visas (each visa is then paid separately), and renews at 17,100 AED. Standard costs 22,300 AED a year with an allocation of 6 visas and renews at 16,700 AED.

Is there a multi-year package?

The Beyond package runs three years with an allocation of 6 visas and a shared desk, for 50,700 AED, and renews at 50,700 AED for each further three years.

What does the renewal cost?

The same every year, because the packages are fixed-price: Seed renews at 13,200 AED and Startup at 15,400 AED, as in year one.

How much does an extra visa cost?

4,400 AED per visa, on any package, entry permit, medical, biometrics and visa stamping included.

What does it cost to close the company?

Voluntary winding up 2,000 AED, additional business licence termination 2,000 AED and strike-off confirmation letter 200 AED, plus 750 AED to cancel the establishment card and 650 AED per residence visa if applicable.

Can I transfer my company here from another free zone?

No. Creative City only takes new company set-ups, so a company registered elsewhere closes there and opens anew here.