The Emirate of Umm Al Quwain is located in between the emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. On the northwest, it fronts the Arabian Gulf for 27 kilometres. It is approximately 45 kilometres from Dubai with easy access to other emirates thanks to a highway that cuts across it.
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) was formed in 2014 to diversify the economy and to attract international investment. The jurisdiction has attracted businesses that are looking for affordable business licenses, offices and warehouses.
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UAQ FTZ is an ideal location for SME’s, freelancers and budget-conscious businesses that do not require a presence in the big cities of the UAE. With affordable packages that require minimal investment, you could have your business up and running in as little as a few days.
The UAQ free zone offers a “micro business” license package that is ideal for people that don’t need a visa or a physical office. It’s a great tool for those who want a vehicle to issue invoices without having to worry about the high costs of leasing an office that you don’t use!
If you work in the technology, media, or creative sector, you can get a “freelance permit” at a reasonable rate. This permit will grant you the ability to invoice under your name. If you plan to moonlight or are unsure that you want to leave your current job, getting a freelance permit might be the answer that you seek.
The free zone is also expanding its warehouse and office facilities over the next few years. They want to attract companies that want to build their back-office operations in a city where the cost of living is low by UAE standards. Expansion plans include the creation of zones catering to industrial facilities that can take advantage of UAQ trading port.
An UAQ Free Zone company can operate under these types of licenses:
Commercial License
Encompassing trading activities;
Industrial License
Encompassing industrial or manufacturing activities;
Professional License
Encompassing professional services;
The Umm Al Quwain free zone aspires to reduce the amount of paperwork required to launch a business; therefore, we recommend that you consult with us for the latest list of documents needed.
The current list of documents required are:
- Application form
- Specimen signature of all parties involved in the business
- Passport copy of all shareholders and company officers
- Visa copy of all shareholders and company officers (if applicable)
- Passport size photo of all shareholders and company officers
- Utility bill of all shareholders and company officers issued within the last 90 days
- External approvals (if applicable)
- If industrial license, technical and environmental assessments might be required
- If a foreign shareholder has an existing UAE residence visa, a NOC from the sponsor is needed
- If a company instead of an individual holds the shares, they need to be notarized and attested.
The goal of the UAQ free zone is to issue a license within a few days; however, it can take a few weeks for certain license types. If your company license requires external ministerial approvals, the process can extend for several weeks.