Ajman Mainland License: Who It Suits and How to Get One

What is an Ajman mainland licence, and who is it for?

An Ajman mainland licence lets you carry on one or more economic activities in Ajman (Ajman Government portal). Your company answers to the DED, Ajman Municipality and federal ministries, not a free zone authority.

The real difference is market access. A free zone company selling in the UAE must generally use a licensed mainland distributor or open a mainland branch or company, unless it obtains the required mainland licences or approvals (u.ae); a mainland company sells directly.

So Ajman mainland suits you if most customers are in the UAE or you need a shop, showroom, workshop or warehouse in Ajman. It suits you less if you consult or sell online from abroad.

Which licence type do you need in Ajman?

Your business activity decides which Ajman licence type you need, and shapes the legal form (u.ae). u.ae, citing the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, lists six national types; the Ajman DED's own list could not be opened on 31 October 2026. One Ajman licence can cover several activities (Ajman Government portal).

u.ae lists five legal forms: general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company (LLC), public joint stock company and private joint stock company. An LLC needs a signed, attested Memorandum of Association (MOA), the company's founding contract (u.ae). Ajman charges AED 3,000 to publish an LLC's official instrument with the Ministry of Economy (Ajman Government portal).

Can a foreigner fully own an Ajman mainland company?

Yes, under federal law a foreigner can own all of an Ajman mainland company for most activities. u.ae (updated 27 October 2026) says Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, consolidated in Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, allows up to 100 per cent foreign ownership and removed the requirement for 51 per cent Emirati ownership or a local agent for most activities (u.ae). The Ajman DED's own activity list could not be opened on 31 October 2026.

Restricted activities include security and defence, telecoms, banking, finance and insurance, commercial agencies, Hajj and Umrah organising, and fishing; the Cabinet can add rules for "strategic impact" activities.

The same portal's step-by-step page still lists a local service agent, a UAE agent appointed by an agreement attested by the notary public or the court, for businesses owned completely by non-GCC nationals (u.ae). The two pages differ, so we check with the Ajman DED for your activity and legal form before you commit.

How do you get an Ajman trade licence, step by step?

You get an Ajman trade licence through the seven steps below. The DED's trade name, licence and renewal services and the municipality's lease service start with a login through UAE Pass, the national digital identity (Ajman Government portal: trade name, licence, renewal, lease).

The trade name must show the legal form, such as LLC, suit the activity, avoid religious names and the names of authorities, and be new (u.ae).

How does the office lease work in Ajman without Ejari?

In Ajman, your office lease is attested by Ajman Municipality and Planning Department; u.ae names Ejari as Dubai's system (u.ae). Your landlord, or you as the investor, apply through the municipality's Tasdeeq website (Ajman Government portal), and the tenant approves the request with UAE Pass (Ajman Government portal).

You need an attestation form, the tenant's Emirates ID and an Ajman Sewerage Company certificate, except in Manama and Masfout or in connected buildings (Ajman Government portal). A cleaning company certificate for the area is also listed (Ajman Government portal).

Two official pages differ on the fee: 5% of annual rent (minimum AED 500) on the service catalogue, and 10% (minimum AED 1,000) for non-citizens on a second page (Ajman Government portal). Confirm it before you sign; the DED asks for a valid attested lease at every licence renewal (Ajman Government portal).

The same lease service also lists cleaning fees by activity of AED 600 to 48,000, approval fees of AED 500 to 1,000 for health and environmental activities and initial approvals, and Ajman Sewerage fees for connected units (Ajman Government portal). The sewerage company sets that last fee by activity and unit type.

What government fees does Ajman list for a new licence?

As of 31 October 2026, the Ajman Government portal lists these DED fees (trade name, licence). They are authority fees, not ours; the DED confirms which apply when you pay.

Can you get a UAE residence visa through an Ajman mainland company?

Yes, an Ajman mainland company can sponsor residence visas. u.ae sets out the route: work permits through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE); a company file, establishment card and entry permits through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); then the medical fitness test, and an Emirates ID application through the federal identity authority, ICP (u.ae).

MoHRE inspects your premises and sets your quota by legal status, facility size, projects and business needs. It asks for an AED 3,000 bank guarantee per registered employee, which may be refunded when the employee's service ends and the labour card is cancelled. A work permit is valid for 60 days, within which the fees and guarantee must be paid; the entry permit then runs for two months, covering the medical test and Emirates ID.

Sponsored residence visas run for 1, 2 or 3 years and lapse after more than 180 days in a row abroad, with exceptions including investors holding valid residence visas (u.ae). For owner routes such as the Green visa (u.ae), see our guide to the residence visa through your own company.

How do you renew an Ajman trade licence, and what runs every year?

You renew an Ajman trade licence with the DED for one to three years at a time, logging in with UAE Pass or completing the service at a centre, with a valid attested lease and any external approvals (Ajman Government portal).

As of 31 October 2026, the Ajman Government portal lists fixed DED renewal lines totalling AED 2,810, including the AED 600 licence renewal fee (Ajman Government portal). Ajman Chamber system fees of AED 1,000 to 5,000, the lease attestation and any visa renewals due are extra. The DED renewal page does not say whether these fees change for a two or three year renewal.

No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply.

0% personal income tax. Corporate tax is 9% only on profit above AED 375,000, and registration is included in every package from Standard upward. Corporate tax applies to mainland companies and to free zone companies, with separate conditions for qualifying free zone persons (Ministry of Finance); ask an adviser about tax at home.

When does a free zone suit a founder abroad better?

A free zone suits a founder abroad better when customers are outside the UAE, a flexi-office address is enough and you want one fixed price. Ajman mainland is stronger for UAE sales, premises in Ajman or a local team.

Ajman Free Zone and Ajman Media City, on the u.ae list, are quote only with us too; see our Ajman Free Zone page.

Compare free zones in the UAE, the Dubai mainland licence and the UAE mainland licence, or price a package with the cost calculator.

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