E-commerce License Ajman: Ajman Free Zone E-commerce Licence
An e-commerce licence in Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) lets you run an online business from a UAE company you fully own. We help you pick the right activity, set up the company and visa, and plan for banking, payments and tax.
Description
An e-commerce licence in Ajman is issued by Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) for businesses that sell online: your own website or app, social media shops, and online marketplaces. AFZ's rules are clear on one point: selling online through a third party to customers outside the free zone needs an e-commerce licence. A freelancer package is not enough.
You can own the company 100%, as a single owner (FZE) or with partners (FZC). The licence comes with access to AFZ's coworking space at the E-Commerce Hub, and the company can apply for residence visas. Most founders start with an Ajman Free Zone investor visa for themselves and later sponsor their family.
**Choosing the right activity matters more than anything else.** AFZ does not allow service and commercial activities on the same licence. Selling products online and offering digital services such as marketing are separate licences. If you plan to import stock into the UAE, AFZ's guidance suggests you may need a licence with import and export activity. In that case, an Ajman Free Zone general trading license may suit you better. If you work alone and sell your own skills rather than products, compare the Ajman Free Zone freelancer license. We check your business model against AFZ's activity list before you apply.
**E-commerce licences elsewhere in the UAE.** Every e-commerce licence in the UAE is issued by an emirate's economic department or a free zone, each with its own rules. If Ajman isn't a fit, we also handle the Sharjah e-commerce license and the Dubai e-commerce license.
**Selling on marketplaces and taking payments.** Marketplaces and payment gateways run their own checks. For example, Noon asks for a trade licence that includes a sales, trading, manufacturing or distribution activity, with at least 30 days of validity left. Gateways review your website, products and business model. If you don't have a store yet, our e-commerce website development team can build one. We help you prepare, but approval is the marketplace's or gateway's decision. You'll also need a corporate bank account. Bank account opening usually takes longer than the licence itself.
**Tax.** Every free zone company must register for corporate tax. The 0% free zone rate only applies to "qualifying income". Selling to individual consumers is generally not qualifying income. Many online stores therefore pay the standard rate on profit above the legal threshold. Plan for this before you choose a structure.
**Ajman e-commerce licence cost.** The cost is made up of the AFZ licence and registration, the workspace you choose, the number of visas, the activity, and extras such as customs registration or product approvals. People often search for the cheapest e-commerce licence in the UAE, but the lowest headline figure may not include the visas, the activity or the import rights your business actually needs. Contact us on WhatsApp or live chat and we'll send a written quote based on your plan.
Octavon is based in Ajman Free Zone and handles the full setup: activity check, name reservation, application, licence, establishment card, visa, and the follow-up steps for banking and customs.
What's Included
- Business model and activity check against AFZ's rules (commercial vs service, import needs)
- Company name reservation (three options)
- Preparation and submission of the AFZ application and KYC
- E-commerce trade licence, MOA/AOA, certificate of incorporation and share certificate
- AFZ coworking access (E-Commerce Hub), or a dedicated office if you need one
- Bank introduction letter from AFZ
- Establishment card and e-channel registration
- Investor residence visa processing: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, visa (if included in your package)
- Support with corporate bank account applications
- Customs Code Letter request and Ajman Customs importer registration, if your activity needs it
- Guidance on corporate tax and VAT registration after the licence is issued
Requirements / Prerequisites
- At least one shareholder: an individual or a company. Shareholders do not need to live in the UAE.
- A general manager who is UAE resident (AFZ's FAQ states this requirement; we confirm it for your case).
- A clear description of what you sell, to whom and how (own website, social media, marketplaces). This decides the activity.
- If you're already employed in the UAE: a no-objection letter from your current sponsor.
- For regulated products (food, health, cosmetics, some electronics such as telecom devices): extra approvals from the relevant authority.
- If you plan to import stock: confirm the licence activity covers import and export before you apply.
Required Documents
- Individual shareholders: passport copy (valid at least 6 months)
- Individual shareholders: colour photograph
- Individual shareholders: UAE visa copy or UID number (if you've been in the UAE)
- Individual shareholders: no-objection letter from your current sponsor (if you're a UAE resident on an employment visa)
- Three proposed company names, in order of preference
- Short description of your products/services and sales channels (website link if you have one)
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, MOA/AOA and registration certificate of the parent company (attested)
- Corporate shareholders: board resolution approving the AFZ company
- Corporate shareholders: power of attorney for the authorised signatory
- Corporate shareholders: ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) details
Our Process
- Consultation: we review your business model and choose the right activity and package.
- Name reservation: we reserve your company name with AFZ.
- Application: you sign the application and KYC forms; we submit them with your documents.
- Payment and approval: AFZ fees are paid and the application is approved.
- Licence issue: AFZ issues the licence, company documents and bank letter.
- Establishment card and e-channel registration.
- Visa: entry permit (if outside the UAE), medical at Al Hamidiya Health Center, Emirates ID biometrics, visa issued. AFZ says residence visa issuance takes up to 4 working days, or 2 with the urgent service.
- Bank account application (timing depends on the bank).
- Customs registration, if you import goods.
- Corporate tax registration, within 3 months of incorporation; VAT registration if you reach the threshold.
- Payment gateway and marketplace onboarding.
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an e-commerce licence in Ajman let me do?
An Ajman Free Zone e-commerce licence lets your company sell online through its own website or app, social media and marketplaces. AFZ requires it for selling online through a third party to customers outside the free zone; a freelancer package doesn't cover this.
What does an Ajman e-commerce licence cost?
It depends on the workspace, the number of visas, the activity, and extras such as customs registration or product approvals. We don't publish a single figure because these choices change the total. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat for a written quote.
Which is the cheapest e-commerce licence in the UAE?
Compare the full cost, not the headline price. Check that the package includes the visas you need, an activity that marketplaces accept, and import rights if you hold stock. We can compare an Ajman Free Zone e-commerce licence with Sharjah and Dubai options for your business.
Can I sell on Amazon.ae and Noon with an AFZ e-commerce licence?
Marketplaces accept UAE trade licences, but each runs its own checks. Noon, for example, needs a licence that includes a sales, trading, manufacturing or distribution activity, with at least 30 days of validity left. We check the activity wording on your licence before you apply to a marketplace.
Can I hold stock and import goods with an e-commerce licence?
AFZ's guidance on this is mixed. Its FAQ confirms e-commerce licence holders can trade across borders, but also says that to import goods you should hold a licence with import and export activity. If importing stock is central to your business, tell us at the start. We'll confirm the right activity with AFZ, or suggest a general trading licence instead.
Can I combine online sales with services like digital marketing?
Not on the same licence. AFZ does not allow service and commercial activities on one licence. You would need a second licence, or to choose the one that matches your main business.
How long does it take?
The licence is usually issued within a few working days once your documents are approved. The visa adds the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and visa issuance; AFZ says visa issuance alone takes up to 4 working days. Bank account opening is separate and often takes several weeks. Timings depend on AFZ, ICP and the bank, so we can't guarantee them.
Do I pay corporate tax?
Your company must register for corporate tax. The 0% free zone rate applies only to qualifying income. Sales to individual consumers are generally not qualifying, so many online stores pay the standard rate on profit above the legal threshold. Ask us to review your model.
Do I need an office, and do I need to be in the UAE?
No warehouse is needed to hold the licence; the e-commerce package includes access to AFZ's coworking space. You can start the application from abroad, but you'll need to be in the UAE for the visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics.