Fujairah Free Zone Setup

The Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA) is a government-run free zone established in 1987, making it one of the oldest and most established free zones in the UAE. It's situated on the emirate's east coast, spanning over 3 million square metres directly adjacent to the Port of Fujairah, giving businesses the UAE's only free zone location with direct access to the Gulf of Oman and, from there, the Indian Ocean.

This geography is FFZA's core advantage. Roughly 75% of Fujairah's external trade moves through its port and free zone, and the location bypasses the congestion and longer transit times associated with Jebel Ali and Dubai's western coastline, putting businesses closer to shipping lanes serving South Asia, East Africa, and the wider Indian Ocean region. Fujairah is also recognized as one of the world's top three global bunkering hubs, and the free zone hosts the largest oil storage capacity in the GCC, alongside branches of major petroleum companies.

FFZA's proximity to Fujairah International Airport, the only international airport on the UAE's east coast serving both eastern UAE and northern Oman, adds a third transport mode to sea and land, making the zone a genuine multimodal logistics hub. FFZA is distinct from Fujairah Creative City (a separate free zone focused on media and creative freelancers) and FOIZ (the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, a specialist energy-sector zone), and FFZA itself is the broad-activity free zone covering trading, industrial, logistics, and professional services.

FFZA is purpose-built for businesses that move goods, such as trading, logistics, industrial, and maritime companies, but its broad activity list and lower cost base compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi also make it a strong fit for professional service businesses that don't need a Dubai address.

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Fujairah Free Zone offers tailored license categories to support your business requirements:

• Commercial / Trading License – For importing, exporting, distributing, and wholesaling physical goods.
• General Trading License – Covers multiple, unrelated product lines under a single corporate entity.
• Professional / Service License – For consultancy, IT development, business consulting, marketing, and expertise-driven services.
• Industrial / Manufacturing License – For raw material importing, light assembly, and packaging. Requires physical space and safety approvals.
• Maritime & Specialist Licenses – For maritime-related services. Special exclusions apply (e.g. ship agency or ship repair require separate setups).
• Alcohol & Tobacco Trading – Highly specialized licenses available under custom conditions, restricted in most other regions.

FFZA permits over 2,000 activities. Main categories include:

• Trading & Logistics: Wholesale trade, distribution, cargo clearing, warehousing, and logistics.
• Oil, Gas & Energy: Fuel bunkering, energy supply consulting, and petroleum-adjacent services.
• Industrial: Assembly, manufacturing, raw material processing, and sorting.
• Professional Services: IT services, administrative support, business management, and marketing consulting.

Select the legal corporate vehicle appropriate for your structure:

• Free Zone Establishment (FZE) – Ideal for solo owners. Features a single shareholder (individual or corporate parent).
• Free Zone Company (FZC) – Formed by 2 to 50 shareholders. Best for partnerships or joint ventures.
• Branch Office – Allows a foreign or UAE company to operate under its existing corporate name.

FFZA requires all licensed entities to lease physical space inside the zone:

FFZA offers unique geographic and licensing features:

• Bypass the Strait of Hormuz – The only UAE free zone with direct access to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Oman, saving shipping days to South Asia and East Africa.
• Specialist Activity Licenses – Permits maritime services, and alcohol or tobacco trading categories that are restricted in other emirates.
• Decades of Industrial Expertise – Formed in 1987, FFZA has deep experience hosting light manufacturing, assembly, and bulk trading setups.

• Passport copy (minimum 6 months validity)
• Passport-sized photograph (white background)
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement <6 months)
• UAE residence visa & Emirates ID copies (if resident)
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from current sponsor
• Parent company registration documents (for corporate shareholders)

FFZA companies must follow UAE corporate tax and regulatory frameworks:

• Corporate Tax – Register with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and submit annual tax filings. Qualifying entities can apply for the 0% rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying profits above AED 375,000 are taxed at 9%.
• VAT & Customs – 5% VAT applies on local trading transactions. A 5% import duty applies on goods imported into the UAE mainland.
• UBO & Compliance – Register and maintain Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) filings in line with federal mandates.
• License Renewal – Licenses must be renewed annually, which can be done remotely. Audited financial statements are activity-dependent.

• 10+ years of UAE company setup experience – Over 3,000 companies formed. We understand the specific approvals needed for industrial, logistics, and trading licenses.
• Specialist licensing expertise – We coordinate with municipal authorities for maritime, energy, or restricted trading licenses (alcohol, tobacco).
• Facility sourcing & leasing support – We help identify, inspect, and lease offices or warehouses that meet FFZA's mandatory workspace requirements.
• Post-setup compliance – From FTA tax registrations to VAT filings and customs code setup, we keep your business fully compliant.