Every entity formed in UAQ FTZ has limited liability: a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for a single shareholder, a Free Zone Company (FZC) for two to 50 shareholders, or a branch of an existing company. Each entity needs a natural person as manager, director and secretary.
The zone issues commercial, consultancy/service, industrial and freelancer licenses. UAQ FTZ states that a commercial license can carry 10 similar or 3 different categories, while consultancy, service and freelancer permits carry two activities.
- General trading falls under the broader commercial category
- Industrial licenses need a physical office or warehouse
- An e-commerce license is also offered
- Dual license: a company with a commercial license can add a consultancy/service license in the same entity
- Licenses run for at least one year, multi-year licenses are available, and activities can be amended during the term
UAQ FTZ states that all its packages include a shared workstation, which it calls the minimum requirement for company registration in the UAE. From there you can move to co-working, executive or serviced offices, warehouses or land.
On visas, the zone's office listing advertises 6+ visas with flexible visa options, and its support services cover work and residence visas for investors and employees, plus sponsoring dependents. The exact allocation depends on your package and space, so we confirm it in writing before you choose.
- Independent offices from 9 sq m, ready to move into, plus shell and core space
- Co-working with shared desks, meeting facilities and a business lounge
- Warehouses pre-built for storage and light manufacturing, fitted with office space
- Land plots from 2,500 sq m on leases of up to 25 years (renewable)
- Staff accommodation, listed alongside offices, land and warehouses
You can form a UAQ FTZ company without visiting: the zone states that no physical presence is required at its office for company formation, and that you can set up remotely from anywhere in the world. Its process has three steps: choose a license, choose a facility, then submit your documents.
Residence visas are a separate stage. UAQ FTZ lists residency visas, the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics assistance among its added services, so if you need a visa, plan for those steps after the license is issued.
- Company formation: no visit to the zone office needed, per UAQ FTZ
- Residence visas: separate steps, including the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics
- Banking: UAQ FTZ lists banking support for SMEs among its business support services
UAQ FTZ states that a free zone license generally allows you to do business within the free zone or outside the UAE, and that business in the local UAE market has to go through an agent or distributor. It also states there are no restrictions on taking part in exhibitions in the UAE.
For import and export, the zone lists 100% import and export tax exemption within the free zone and outside GCC countries, and special concessions at UAQ's sea port. Hutchison Ports UAQ is a four-berth facility with an 845-metre-long quay.
- 100% company ownership and 100% capital and profit repatriation, per the zone
- No currency restrictions
- No restrictions on hiring foreign employees
- Special concessions at UAQ's sea port for zone companies
All three zones register FZEs, FZCs and branches and offer warehouses and land, so the real differences are location, license range and whether you also want a non-free zone option. Our Ajman Free Zone and RAKEZ guides cover those zones in more detail.
- UAQ FTZ: on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road next to Hutchison Ports UAQ, with commercial, consultancy/service, industrial and freelancer licenses, and remote company formation
- Ajman Free Zone (AFZ): next to Ajman Port and close to Dubai and Sharjah airports, with business, industrial and sole professional licenses, plus onsite accommodation
- Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ): established by the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, with free zone and non-free zone company formation and industrial zones at Al Ghail, Al Hamra and Al Hulaila
- Activity range: RAKEZ states more than 3,000 business activities; UAQ FTZ states more than 1,500
Headline offers rarely tell the whole story. We answer these for your activity before you decide.
- Is your exact activity on UAQ FTZ's official list, or only something close to it?
- Does the activity need approval from another regulator first?
- Which workspace options are available, and how many visas does each allow?
- What does renewal involve each year, and which costs recur?
- Will most of your customers be in the zone, abroad or on the mainland?
