Ajman Branch Office Setup

Open a branch of your foreign or UAE company in Ajman, licensed by Ajman DED or Ajman Free Zone and fully owned by the parent. We handle Ministry approval, document attestation and translation, licensing, visas and banking.

Description

An Ajman branch office lets an existing company operate in the UAE under its own name without forming a new company. The branch is not a separate legal entity: it belongs 100% to the parent, and the parent is responsible for its debts and obligations. It can hire staff, sign contracts and invoice clients for the activities on its licence.

You can open a branch on the Ajman mainland, licensed by the Ajman Department of Economic Development (DED), or in a free zone such as Ajman Free Zone. Ajman DED licenses branches of foreign companies, GCC companies, companies based in other emirates and companies in UAE free zones. If your parent company is already licensed elsewhere in the UAE, the process is simpler and uses the parent's UAE licence and commercial register.

For a foreign parent, the branch first needs initial approval from the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. This approval is valid for a limited period, and the branch may not trade until it is licensed. After the Ajman licence is issued, the branch must be registered with the Ministry within one month, and that registration is renewed every year. Since Ministerial Resolution 138 of 2024, foreign branches no longer need a local service agent or a bank guarantee. They must appoint a UAE-licensed auditor and file audited annual accounts.

Most of the time goes into the parent's documents. Certificates, resolutions and powers of attorney issued abroad must be notarised, attested by the UAE embassy in the parent's country and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translated into Arabic. How long this takes depends on the parent's country, so it helps to start early.

A branch is not the right choice for everyone. A representative office is cheaper to run but cannot earn revenue in the UAE. A separate company limits the parent's liability and may suit you better if you want local partners or plan to sell the UAE business later; see Ajman mainland company formation or free zone company setup in Ajman. Some activities may also be restricted for foreign branches, so we check yours first.

The branch needs premises in Ajman with an attested lease; we can arrange office or flexi-desk space in Ajman. The branch manager and staff get residence through an Ajman employment visa. Once licensed, the branch can apply for a bank account; our Ajman corporate bank account opening service helps you prepare the parent and branch documents banks ask for. For tax, a foreign company's UAE branch is treated as a permanent establishment and must be registered for corporate tax.

Your cost depends on the parent's country and attestation route, the number of documents to translate, mainland or free zone, premises, number of visas and audit needs. Contact us on WhatsApp or live chat for a quote based on your company.

What's Included

Review of the parent company, its activities and the best route (branch, subsidiary or representative office; mainland or free zone)
Check whether the branch activity is allowed for a foreign branch and needs external approvals
Ministry of Economy and Tourism initial approval (foreign parents)
Guidance on notarisation and attestation of parent documents abroad, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and certified Arabic translation
Trade name (parent's name as a branch) with Ajman DED or the free zone
ICP security approval for the manager where required
Help finding premises and lease attestation
Branch licence application and collection (with Chamber of Commerce certificate on the mainland)
Ministry registration of the branch within one month of licensing (foreign parents)
Introduction to a UAE-licensed auditor (required for foreign branches)
Immigration establishment card, MOHRE registration and manager's employment visa
Bank account introduction

Requirements / Prerequisites

An existing parent company in good standing (foreign, GCC, another emirate, or a UAE free zone)
A parent board resolution approving the Ajman branch, its activities and the appointed manager
Branch activities that fall within the parent's activities and are licensable for a branch in Ajman
A manager who will run the branch (can be resident or obtain a UAE residence visa)
Premises in Ajman with an attested lease (mainland) or a free zone facility
For foreign parents: Ministry of Economy and Tourism initial approval and a UAE-licensed auditor

Required Documents

Foreign parent (attested by the UAE embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translated into Arabic): certificate of incorporation or official registration certificate showing incorporation date, name, legal form, owners, activity and capital
Foreign parent: memorandum and articles of association
Foreign parent: board resolution approving the branch, its activities and the manager
Foreign parent: power of attorney for the branch manager
Foreign parent: latest audited financial statements
Foreign parent: certificate of good standing / incumbency (often requested)
UAE or free zone parent: copy of the parent's trade licence and commercial register certificate
UAE or free zone parent: annex amending the parent's memorandum to add the branch, and a board or partners' resolution
Manager's passport copy, photo, and Emirates ID/visa copy if UAE resident
Attested lease for the branch premises
Auditor's appointment letter (foreign branches)

Our Process

Review the parent, activities and best structure.
Board resolution and power of attorney signed by the parent.
Notarisation, embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and Arabic translation of parent documents.
Trade name reservation and Ministry of Economy and Tourism initial approval (foreign parents).
ICP security approval and any external approvals for the activity.
Premises and lease attestation.
Branch licence issued by Ajman DED or the free zone.
Registration with the Ministry within one month of the licence (foreign parents) and auditor appointment.
Establishment card, MOHRE registration, manager's employment visa.
Bank account opening and corporate tax registration.

Pricing

Contact via WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a branch, a subsidiary and a representative office?

A branch is part of the parent company and can earn revenue from its licensed activities; the parent is liable for it. A subsidiary is a separate UAE company with its own liability. A representative office can only promote the parent and study the market; it cannot earn revenue in the UAE.

Do I need a local service agent for an Ajman mainland branch?

No. Ministerial Resolution 138 of 2024 removed the local service agent and bank guarantee requirements for foreign company branches.

Can a UAE company from another emirate open a branch in Ajman?

Yes. Ajman DED licenses branches of companies based in other emirates, GCC companies and UAE free zone companies. These use the parent's UAE licence and commercial register instead of foreign attestation.

How long does it take?

The Ajman licence step is quick once everything is ready. The overall time depends mostly on attesting the parent's documents in its home country and the Ministry approval. We give you a timeline once we know the parent's country.

What are the yearly obligations?

Renew the Ajman licence and lease, renew the Ministry registration every year, have the branch's accounts audited by a UAE-licensed auditor, and file corporate tax returns.

Is the branch subject to UAE corporate tax?

Yes. A foreign company's UAE branch is a permanent establishment and is taxed on income linked to it: 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. A branch of a UAE company is covered by the parent's own registration.

What visa does the branch manager get?

An employment residence visa sponsored by the branch, like any other employee. Investor visas are for owners of UAE companies.

Can the branch open a UAE bank account?

Yes. Banks ask for the branch licence, the parent's documents, details of the parent's owners and the manager's ID. Approval is the bank's decision.