SPC Free Zone vs Ajman Free Zone
Licence fees, visas, office rules and setup time for both zones in one table, then the cases where each one is the better choice. On the lowest listed prices Ajman Free Zone starts about AED 195 lower (one figure is our estimate, as the zone publishes no tariff), but the licence fee is only the first line of the budget.
| SPC Free Zone | Ajman Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 5,750 | ~AED 5,555 |
| Visa allocation | unlimited | 0 (visa packages extra) |
| Activities | 2,000+ | 1,500+ |
| Office | not required | not required |
| Setup time | 1–2 business days | 2–4 business days |
| Emirate | Sharjah | Ajman |
SPC vs Ajman Free Zone: the price gap is small
SPC Free Zone charges AED 5,750 for e-commerce and publishing activities and AED 6,875 for other activities; Ajman Free Zone publishes no price list, and entry licences there are quoted at about AED 5,555 (our market estimate). On those figures the two cost about the same for e-commerce or publishing, and SPC costs about AED 1,300 more for other activities. Visas, the establishment card and medicals outweigh the gap either way. Neither zone requires an office lease to start.
SPC lists 2,000+ activities, issues a licence in about 45 minutes and offers a dual licence with the Sharjah mainland. Ajman Free Zone has a broad activity list, gives quotes through an online calculator that emails the price, and does not publish a licence issuance time. It has licensed companies since 1988 and sits next to Ajman port.
How visas work at SPC and Ajman Free Zone
Neither entry price includes a visa, but the zones scale differently. SPC states there is no cap on visas on a flexi‑desk, and each visa is paid for separately. At Ajman Free Zone the entry package in our index has no visa, and residence visas come with larger packages. If you need visas for yourself, a partner or early staff, price the first visa in each zone before you decide.
| SPC Free Zone | Ajman Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price covers | E-commerce and publishing (other activities AED 6,875) | Entry package, no visa |
| How visas scale | No cap on a flexi‑desk, paid per visa | With larger packages |
| Mainland access | Dual licence with Sharjah mainland | Not in the entry package |
| Port | No | Next to Ajman port |
Who each zone fits
SPC fits founders who need residence visas from day one, want the widest activity list to combine trading and services under one licence, value fast issuance and might use the Sharjah mainland dual licence later.
Ajman fits the zero-visa case: a non-resident holding company, a single foreign founder who keeps residence elsewhere, or a lean trading licence near a port. Its long operating history also reassures founders who prefer an established authority.
On banking, be realistic: both are budget northern-emirates zones, and UAE banks look closely at low-substance, no-office companies from either. Neither address carries Dubai-level weight, so plan the account around a clear activity and real trade flows. Read our note on opening a business account before you pick.
SPC or Ajman Free Zone: which to choose
Pick SPC Free Zone if you need residence visas now, want the broadest activity list, value quick issuance or expect to add a mainland dual licence.
Pick Ajman Free Zone if you need no visa (a holding vehicle or a founder resident elsewhere), want a low entry price for general activities, or need to be near a port.
Open both full profiles side by side, SPC Free Zone and Ajman Free Zone, then run your real first-year total in the setup-cost calculator with your actual visa count.
When each one wins
SPC Free Zone: A low-cost Sharjah zone with instant licence issuance, a dual-licence option with Sharjah mainland and a broad activity list. AED 5,750 covers e-commerce and publishing activities; other activities cost AED 6,875, and e-book or audio-book publishing AED 4,999. One licence takes up to five activities, and visas on a flexi‑desk are not capped.
SPC Free Zone full card →Ajman Free Zone: A budget zone founded in 1988 that has modernised its online services. A solid option for trading and services when cost matters more than the prestige of the address.
Ajman Free Zone full card →This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.