Does Business Setup AE issue the licence?

No. Business Setup AE is a comparison marketplace. UAQ FTZ issues the licence; a provider handles only the services stated in its quotation.

What should I confirm before paying a provider?

Confirm the issuing authority, activity codes, price basis, exclusions, visa quota, workspace, refund terms and full renewal cost in writing.

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Company Setup

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) company setup: licence cost, visas, activities, workspace, documents, renewal and source-linked package comparison.

Compare UAQ FTZ packages Find My Setup

Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-27

Quick answer

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) is a free zone in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, regulated by the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority. It licenses approved trading, service, e-commerce and industrial activities with 100% foreign ownership, often at a lower entry cost than larger Dubai free zones.

Authority / zone: UAQ FTZ
Emirate: Umm Al Quwain
Ownership: 100% foreign ownership available in free zones
Price evidence: Source-linked provider packages only

UAQ FTZ is often shortlisted by founders who want a free-zone licence without a Dubai address. This guide covers what it is, what it costs, visas, workspace, process, documents and renewal.

Figures shown come only from source-linked provider packages. Confirm fees with the authority or provider before paying.

Current verified packages

These are provider package prices, not universal government fees. Each row preserves the published price basis, renewal disclosure and source date.

Current verified packages · last catalogue check 2026-09-13
Provider and package	Activity	Visas	Workspace	Published price	Renewal	Last verified	Source
Lowest 2 Visa PackageUAQ Free Trade Zone	General business	2	Not stated	offer AED 13,500Promotional price	Not stated	2026-09-13	Provider source

Compare verified packages

What is Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone?

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone is a free zone in Umm Al Quwain, between Sharjah/Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. It is regulated by the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority, which issues licences and approves activities. It is commonly called UAQ FTZ or UAQ Free Zone.

UAQ Free Zone activities and licence types

The authority sets the approved activity list. Confirm each intended activity and whether it needs an external approval before paying.

Trading and general trading
Services and consultancy
E-commerce
Industrial and light manufacturing
Media and freelancer-type activities where listed

UAQ Free Zone company setup cost

There is no single all-in UAQ Free Zone price. The total depends on the licence type, number of activities, legal structure, workspace, visa count and any external approval. Figures below come only from current provider packages with a source link and verification date; packages whose prices are under review or conditional are not used as a starting price.

Authority registration and licence fees
Workspace or facility charge (flexi desk, office, warehouse or land)
Establishment card and immigration file where visas are required
Per-person visa, medical and Emirates ID processing
External approvals for regulated activities
Provider professional fee and VAT where applicable
Year-two renewal of licence, facility and visas

UAQ FTZ visas

Visa eligibility depends on the package and workspace. Some packages are zero-visa and others allow a stated quota; immigration, medical and Emirates ID charges are separate unless included in writing.

Workspace options

Entry packages usually use a flexi desk or shared facility. Offices and warehouses are available for operations that need them; the facility can affect visa quota and approved activities.

Renewal

Year-two renewal covers the licence, facility and any visas. Do not assume it matches a promotional year-one price; ask for the renewal components in writing.

UAQ FTZ compared

UAQ FTZ and nearby northern-emirate free zones

Factor	UAQ FTZ	Ajman Free Zone	RAKEZ
Emirate	Umm Al Quwain	Ajman	Ras Al Khaimah
Typical fit	Cost-conscious trading, services, e-commerce	Trading and services near Sharjah/Dubai	Broad activities incl. industrial land
What to compare	Visa quota, renewal, workspace	Visa quota, renewal, workspace	Visa quota, renewal, facility

Who this option suits best

Founders prioritising a lower entry cost
Trading, services and e-commerce start-ups
Businesses that do not need a Dubai address

Step-by-step process

1
Confirm activities
Check the intended activities against the authority's current list and identify any external approval.
2
Choose licence, legal structure and space
Select the licence type, company form and workspace that support the activities and planned visa quota.
3
Submit the application and KYC
Provide proposed trade names, shareholder and manager passports and the authority's application forms.
4
Review an itemised quotation
Separate authority, workspace, immigration and professional fees and get the renewal amount in writing.
5
Sign and receive the licence
Complete signing, pay the invoice and receive the licence and incorporation documents.
6
Visas, bank and tax
Open the immigration file, process visas, apply to a bank and complete corporate tax registration.

Documents required

Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
Three proposed trade names in order of preference
Business activity list and a short business description
Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
Authority application forms and any activity-specific approvals

Realistic timeline

Stage	Duration
Activity and KYC review	Authority dependent
Licence and incorporation	After approval and payment
Immigration and visas	Separate process, if selected
Bank account	Bank decision; not guaranteed

Prices change. Use the source link and verification date shown for each package, then obtain a final itemised quotation before paying.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Comparing headline prices only

Fix: Compare like-for-like activities, workspace, visas, exclusions and price basis.

Assuming visas are included

Fix: Confirm the quota and every immigration charge in writing.

Ignoring year-two costs

Fix: Ask for the renewal components before paying for year one.

Compliance after licensing

Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.

Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)

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Frequently asked questions

What is UAQ FTZ?

UAQ FTZ is the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone, a free zone regulated by the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority that licenses approved trading, service, e-commerce and industrial activities.

How much does a UAQ Free Zone licence cost?

It depends on activities, visas and workspace. Use the source-linked packages on this page and request an itemised quotation, including renewal, before paying.

Can I get a visa with a UAQ Free Zone licence?

Yes, if the package or workspace includes visa eligibility. Zero-visa packages exist, and per-visa charges are usually separate.

Do I need to live in Umm Al Quwain?

No. A free-zone licence does not require residence in the emirate, but activities must be carried out within the rules of the licence.

Founder checklist

Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
Compare at least three verified providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO register updates

Why you can trust this guide

Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers

Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.

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Official government sources

Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.

UAQ Free Trade Zone — official siteOfficial authority, activities and setup information
Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
Federal Tax Authority — corporate tax and VATSource for the 9% corporate tax threshold and VAT registration limits

Topics covered

UAQ FTZ

Umm Al Quwain

UAE free zone

Trade licence

Residence visa

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority