Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone offers more than 3,500 approved business activities and lets you combine up to 10 of them on a single licence. You can hold that licence through a Free Zone Establishment, a Free Zone Company or a branch of an existing business. Choosing well at this stage decides what you can invoice for, how banks see you and what you pay later in amendments.
This guide explains how ANCFZ activities work, how to pick your 10, which company type fits which founder, and which activities need extra approval.
Why your activity list matters so much
A UAE licence does not give general permission to do business. It permits the specific activities written on it. Those activities affect four practical things.
- What you may legally sell. Work outside your licensed activities is unlicensed work.
- How banks assess you. Compliance teams compare your transactions with your licence.
- Which platforms accept you. Marketplaces and payment gateways check for a matching activity.
- Your tax position. Corporate tax rules for free zones turn on the nature of your income.
Spend an hour on this now and you save weeks of amendments later.
How many activities does ANCFZ offer?
The free zone’s FAQ states that it offers over 3,500 approved business activities across commercial, industrial, service, consultancy and education sectors. At launch, the zone described its portfolio as spanning technology, trade, professional services and media.
Its consulting and professional services category alone lists 53 licensed activities. Other categories cover trading in specific goods, e-commerce, software and IT, marketing and media, and business support.
The licence groups you will come across
ANCFZ sells one unified licence, and activities are drawn from broad groups. Third-party directories describe four main licence types, all starting from the same AED 4,888 price.
Group | Typical activities | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
Commercial or trading | Import, export and trading in specified goods | Traders and distributors |
Professional or services | Consultancy, marketing, IT, design, training | Freelancers, agencies and advisers |
E-commerce | Online retail and e-trading | Online sellers and dropshippers |
Technology and digital assets | Software, AI and blockchain-related services | Tech startups |
The free zone also promotes specialist offerings on its website, including an e-commerce licence, a blockchain tokenisation licence and an education-related licence. Specialist licences come with their own conditions, covered below.
The 10-activity mix-and-match rule
Every ANCFZ package, including the AED 4,888 zero visa package, includes up to 10 mix-and-match activities. You can combine activities from different groups on the same licence. A company can, for example, hold consultancy, e-commerce and trading activities together.
This is unusual. Many free zones include three to six activities, restrict you to one group, or charge for each addition. For a small business with more than one revenue stream, the ANCFZ rule can remove the need for a second licence.
If you need more than 10, additional activities can be added for a fee. Third-party sources report this at around AED 400 per activity. Confirm the current charge before you rely on it.
How to choose your 10 activities
Use this order.
- List your real revenue streams. Write down what you will invoice for in the next 12 months.
- Match each to an approved activity. Use the closest wording on the ANCFZ list.
- Add what you will need within two years. New product lines, training, online sales.
- Check each for approvals. Remove or plan for anything regulated.
- Test the list against your bank and platforms. Would a compliance officer understand your business from this list?
- Stop when the list is coherent. You do not have to use all 10.
A focused list of six clear activities is better than 10 unrelated ones. A licence that covers consultancy, foodstuff trading, real estate and software can look unfocused to a bank.
Example activity combinations
Digital marketing agency
- Marketing consultancy
- Social media management
- Advertising services
- Web design and development
- Content production
- Event management
Online retailer
- E-commerce or online retail
- Trading in your product categories
- General trading, where needed
- Marketing services
- Packaging or logistics support services
Tech startup
- Software development
- IT consultancy
- Web and mobile app development
- Data and cloud services
- Technology training
Trading company
- Trading in your main product lines, one activity per line
- Import and export
- E-commerce, for online sales
- Commercial brokerage, where permitted
Exact activity names come from the ANCFZ list. We match your business to the approved wording before the application is filed.
Activities that need extra approval
The zone’s FAQ says most commercial, service and consultancy activities are permitted. It adds that regulated activities such as financial services, healthcare and education may require additional approvals from the relevant authorities.
Plan carefully if your business involves any of the following.
- Financial services. Banking, insurance, currency exchange, investment advice and managing other people’s money are heavily regulated and generally fall outside a standard free zone licence.
- Healthcare. Clinics, pharmacies and medical products need health authority approval.
- Education and training. Schools, institutes and accredited courses may need education authority approval.
- Food, supplements and cosmetics. Product registration and municipality rules can apply.
- Legal and audit services. These are licensed professions.
- Virtual assets and crypto. Activities involving digital assets are regulated in the UAE. A licence with a blockchain or technology activity is not the same as regulatory authorisation to run an exchange, broker tokens or hold client assets. Get specialist advice before you start.
An external approval adds time and cost. Build it into your plan or choose a different activity.
Company types at ANCFZ
ANCFZ offers four structures.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
An FZE has a single shareholder, who can be an individual or a company. The zone describes it as a totally independent corporate entity. It is the standard choice for solo founders, freelancers and wholly owned subsidiaries.
Documents: passport copy, coloured photograph, residence visa and Emirates ID copy for residents, or tourist visa and entry stamp for visitors.
Free Zone Company (FZC)
An FZC has two or more shareholders. It suits partners, co-founders and investor-backed ventures. Each shareholder provides the same documents as for an FZE.
On shareholder numbers, ANCFZ packages advertise unlimited shareholders, while the zone’s FAQ refers to up to 50 for an FZC. If you plan a wide shareholder base, ask for the current limit in writing.
Branch of a foreign company
A company based outside the UAE can register a branch with 100% foreign ownership. The branch carries the parent’s name and activities.
Documents: the manager’s passport copy and photograph, plus the parent’s trade licence, Memorandum of Association and board resolution. Foreign company documents must be attested by the foreign office and UAE embassy in the country of issue, then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
Branch of a local company
A company holding a valid licence from another UAE licensing authority can open an ANCFZ branch. The parent’s licence, constitutional documents and board resolution must be notarised or attested in the UAE.
FZE, FZC or branch: which should you choose?
Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
Solo founder or freelancer | FZE | Simple, one owner, full control |
Two or more partners | FZC | Shares split between owners |
Holding company owns the new business | FZE | A company can be the single shareholder |
Overseas company testing the UAE market | Branch or FZE subsidiary | Branch keeps the parent’s identity, a subsidiary limits liability |
UAE mainland company wanting a free zone presence | Branch of a local company | Extends the existing business |
The key difference between a branch and a subsidiary is liability. A branch is an extension of its parent, so the parent is responsible for its debts. An FZE or FZC is a separate legal entity. Many overseas groups choose a subsidiary for that reason, even though a branch can look simpler.
Partners and shareholder agreements
If you set up an FZC with partners, agree the essentials before you file.
- Share percentages and how much each partner is investing
- Who manages the company and who signs for the bank
- How profits are distributed
- What happens if a partner wants to leave
- How disputes are resolved
The company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are included in the package where applicable. A separate shareholders’ agreement is worth having when the partners are not family or when one partner is an investor.
Share capital
ANCFZ states that there is no minimum paid-up capital requirement for most business activities. You still declare a share capital figure in your company documents.
Choose a sensible number. A very low figure can look weak to banks and counterparties. A very high figure creates an expectation that the money exists. Many small companies choose a moderate amount that reflects their real starting investment.
Changing activities or structure later
Businesses change. With ANCFZ you can generally:
- Add or remove activities
- Change the company name
- Add or remove shareholders
- Transfer shares
- Upgrade or downgrade your visa package
Each change is an amendment with a fee and updated documents. You then need to update your bank, the tax authority and any marketplace accounts. That is why getting it right at the start is cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How many activities can I have on an ANCFZ licence? Up to 10 are included in every package. More can be added for a fee.
Can I mix trading and services? Yes. The zone allows mix-and-match activities across groups.
What is the difference between an FZE and an FZC? An FZE has one shareholder. An FZC has two or more.
Can a company be a shareholder? Yes. The zone’s FAQ says an FZE shareholder can be an individual or a corporate entity.
Is general trading available? General trading is a common free zone activity. Ask us to confirm its current availability and any conditions at ANCFZ.
Can I do crypto business with an ANCFZ licence? Technology and blockchain activities are offered. Regulated virtual asset services need authorisation from the relevant UAE regulator.
Do I need share capital in the bank? There is no minimum paid-up capital for most activities.
Get your structure right first time
The right activities and company type make banking, onboarding and tax simpler from the first day. The wrong ones cost you in amendments and delays.