General Trading in the UAE for South Africans

Why Ajman Free Zone

Ajman Free Zone licences are renewed annually with a simple online payment and updated passport copies, and GoldenKey sends a reminder 60 days before the due date. Unlike some zones, Ajman Free Zone does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is issued.

How Ajman Free Zone works with GoldenKey

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   We confirm that your activity is available in Ajman Free Zone, choose the licence type and agree the visa package and office option that match your plan. For opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder, GoldenKey completes this stage with you on WhatsApp or by email.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name with the Ajman Free Zone authority and obtains initial approval, as a rule within one to two working days.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   With the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested papers and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf. If the authority raises a query on opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder at this stage, we handle it the same day.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   Ajman Free Zone issues the licence, incorporation certificate and lease; from there we open the establishment card, process visas and arrange your bank introduction.

Documents required

Here is what you will need for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.

• A bank statement from your South Africa bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• A police clearance certificate from South Africa if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
• List of intended product categories
• Educational certificates attested by the South Africa authorities and the UAE embassy, for professional activities

Pricing

The figures below for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the licensing authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. All prices for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay.

Why the UAE

The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder. Banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder predictable.

Why GoldenKey

Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder happen the same day they are ready. Most of our Ajman Free Zone customers come to us through referrals from other company owners, so we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing. As we tell every client, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for opening a general trading company in the UAE as a South African founder.

Frequently asked questions