Ajman publishes flat licence fees and renews in minutes, but the approvals around the licence still decide your timeline. PROXPAT files them and keeps the dates aligned.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
PRO Services in Ajman
In Ajman, economic licences are issued and renewed by the Ajman Department of Economic Development. Unlike Sharjah, which prices licences as a percentage of your rent, Ajman publishes flat fees per item, which makes budgeting simpler.
Labour transactions still run through MOHRE, and entry permits, residence and identity through the federal authority, ICP. The figures below come from the Department's own issuance and renewal service pages.
PROXPAT prepares the approvals, files the transactions and tracks renewal dates so the late-fee rules never apply to you.
Who Handles What in Ajman
| Transaction | Authority |
|---|---|
| Economic licence, issuance and renewal | Ajman Department of Economic Development |
| Trade name reservation | The Department, through the electronic service or customer happiness centres |
| Foreign partner approval | Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality |
| Lease contract authentication | Municipality and Planning Department |
| Chamber membership | Granted on licence issuance |
| Work permits and residence | MOHRE and ICP |
For the company itself, see Ajman company formation.
Published Licence Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Economic licence issuance or renewal | AED 600 |
| Administrative services application | AED 50 |
| Permit for a commercial name advertising banner | AED 350 |
| Approval of the advertising banner specification form | AED 100 |
| Registration in the commercial register | AED 200 |
| Registration in the unified economic activities register | AED 200 |
| Commercial registration certificate | AED 200 |
| Community contribution to the CSR UAE Fund | AED 1,500 |
| Publishing the official document of a limited liability company, Ministry of Economy | AED 3,000 |
On renewal, the Department also lists fixed-price contract documentation that varies by capital, and English translation at AED 50 per page. Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry fees are collected alongside the licence.
The Issuance Procedure
Step 1: Reserve the trade name through the electronic service or a customer happiness centre.
Step 2: Obtain the approval of the Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality for a foreign partner.
Step 3: Obtain approvals from other government entities where the activity is high risk.
Step 4: Authenticate the lease contract with the Municipality and Planning Department.
Step 5: Pay the prescribed fees.
Step 6: Issue the memorandum of association, for companies.
Step 7: Receive the licence, the Chamber of Commerce membership certificate and the commercial signboard permit.
Documents listed for issuance are the Emirates ID for UAE nationals and residents, or a passport copy where a partner is a visitor. A branch also provides the parent company's commercial registration certificate, the parent licence, and the annex to the memorandum of association amendment.
Renewal, Validity and Late Rules
| Topic | What the Department publishes |
|---|---|
| Validity | A minimum of one calendar year and a maximum of three years, where the renewal conditions are met |
| Documents | External approvals or a no objection from government authorities for high-risk activities |
| Steps | Certify the lease contract, provide external approvals where the activity requires them, then pay the fees |
| Late renewal | Penalties apply when the licence is not renewed within one month after expiry. Monthly delays accrue additional charges, and part of a month counts as a full month |
Issuance is listed with a validity of one year, while renewal can run up to three years. See trade licence renewal.
Processing Time and Channels
- Processing time: 10 minutes for both issuance and renewal.
- Channels: service centres, the e-service, and the mobile application.
- Service code: the renewal service is listed as DED01.003.
The 10 minutes is the counter transaction. The approvals before it, especially external approvals for high-risk activities and lease authentication, set the real timeline.
Conditions on the Legal Form
- UAE citizens may practise all activities under this legal form where the requirements and conditions are met.
- GCC citizens may establish a civil business company.
- Non-GCC partners require the appointment of a local service agent.
- The company must have sufficient capital to achieve the purpose of its establishment.
- Chamber of Commerce membership is granted when the licence is issued.
For how the legal forms compare, see UAE company types.
Federal Steps After the Licence
| Service | Fees |
|---|---|
| Entry permit for work | Request AED 100; issuance AED 100; electronic services AED 100; guarantee fees AED 1,000 |
| Residence permit for work | Request AED 100; residence issuance AED 100 per year; electronic services AED 100 |
| Penalties | AED 50 per day after the cancellation or expiry of residence |
ICP gives 48 hours as the completion time once requirements are complete. See work permit and labour card and establishment card.
How Ajman Compares With Its Neighbours
| Emirate | How the licence fee is set | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman | Flat published fees, AED 600 for the economic licence plus listed items | This page |
| Sharjah | A percentage of the lease contract value or area, with minimums | PRO services in Sharjah |
| Abu Dhabi | Fee schedules by activity, filed through TAMM | PRO services in Abu Dhabi |
If rent is your largest cost, the difference between a flat fee and a percentage of the lease is worth modelling before you choose an emirate.
Checklist for Ajman Companies
- Reserve the trade name before anything else.
- Start the ICP approval early where a partner is a foreign national.
- Check whether your activity is treated as high risk, because external approvals drive the timeline.
- Authenticate the lease with the Municipality and Planning Department.
- Budget the CSR contribution and signboard items alongside the licence fee.
- Renew within one month of expiry, since part of a month counts as a full month for charges.
How PROXPAT Helps
Trade name reservation
ICP approval for foreign partners
High-risk activity approvals
Lease authentication
Licence issuance and renewal filing
Memorandum and legal documents
MOHRE work permits and ICP residence
Renewal tracking and reminders
Frequently Asked Questions
Licence, permits and visas in one thread.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
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PRO Services for Your Ajman Company
PROXPAT reserves the trade name, clears ICP and activity approvals, files licence issuance or renewal, and handles the MOHRE and ICP steps that follow.