What UAQ Free Trade Zone does

UAQ Free Trade Zone (legal name: Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority) is a government business licensing authority established in 1987 and headquartered in Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates. It operates as the official licensing and incorporation body for businesses setting up within the Umm Al Quwain free zone, offering commercial, industrial, consultancy/service, e-commerce, and freelance permits to entrepreneurs, SMEs, and large corporations across 150+ nationalities. Its core technology is a digital business registration and licensing platform that supports company formation within 1-2 working days, backed by a physical ecosystem of executive offices, co-working spaces, warehouses, industrial land (plotted up to 25-year leases), and the wholly-owned UAQ Port Freezone seaport for marine logistics.

The business operates a diversified revenue model combining recurring licensing fees (e.g., all-inclusive packages at AED 2,266/month, freelance permits at AED 1,818/month, one-time setup at AED 12,500), long-term lease income from office, warehouse, and industrial land assets, and value-added services (visa processing, banking assistance, post-licensing support) delivered through its wholly-owned subsidiary AMAAL. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led with a hybrid self-serve website channel, targeted content marketing, event participation (GITEX AI Asia 2026, Strategic Breakfast Connect 2026), and a banking partner network spanning Emirates NBD, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Ruya Bank, and National Bank of Fujairah. The entity is designated as a qualifying free zone under UAE Cabinet Decision No. 54 of 2023, providing 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, 100% foreign ownership, and full repatriation of capital, which underpins its competitive positioning against Dubai-based free zones.

Name

UAQ Free Trade Zone

Legal name

Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority

Website

http://uaqftz.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Get your business started in the UAQ Free Trade Zone.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Free Trade Zone Services

NAICS

Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing (532411)

SIC

Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)

akta.pro primary industry

Bonded Container Yards & In-Bond Depot Storage (TLALAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Empty Container Depots (ECD) & Container Yards (CY) (TLAHAAAF), Duty-Free & Travel Retail Bonded Warehousing (TLALAGAF)

Keywords

• Free trade zone licensing
• Business setup services
• Commercial lease
• Industrial land lease
• Company formation UAE

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Business Licensing Services: Revenue generated from issuing commercial, industrial, consultancy, and service licenses to businesses establishing presence in the free zone. License types include commercial license for buying/selling goods, industrial license for manufacturing, and consultancy license for professional advisory services.
2. Leasing Services: Revenue from leasing executive offices, co-working spaces, warehouses, and industrial land plots to businesses. Options include short-term and long-term warehouse rentals, land leases up to 25 years, and pre-built office facilities.
3. Value Added Services: Additional services including visa processing, residency permits, banking assistance, post-licensing support for license renewals and amendments. Provided through Amaal business support services.
4. E-commerce License Services: Specialized licensing for online businesses enabling entrepreneurs to tap into the growing UAE eCommerce market, including drop shipping business setup.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UAQ Free Trade Zone is a government business licensing authority that issues Commercial, Industrial, Consultancy/Service, E-commerce, and Freelance licenses to enable entrepreneurs and businesses to establish a legal presence in the UAE. It complements licensing with leasing of executive offices, co-working spaces, warehouses, and industrial land plots (up to 25-year leases), and provides value-added services including visa processing, residency permits, banking assistance, and post-licensing support through its subsidiary AMAAL.

Product overview

UAQ Free Trade Zone is a transformative government Business Licensing Authority in the UAE that operates as a single unified platform offering multiple interconnected business setup services and facilities. The core offering consists of licensing services (Commercial License, Industrial License, Consultancy/Service License, E-commerce License, and Freelance Permit) that enable entrepreneurs and businesses to establish legal presence. These are complemented by leasing services including Office Spaces, Warehouses, and Industrial Land for physical operations. Additional value is delivered through Business Support Services (residency, banking, post-licensing), Value Added Services via AMAAL, and UAQ PortFreezone for logistics. Together, these products form a comprehensive one-stop-shop ecosystem supporting businesses from setup through ongoing operations across 150+ nationalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMAAL: Value added services subsidiary providing wide range of business support services through one channel for UAQFTZ clients
• UAQ Port Freezone

Products and services

• Commercial License Business license for entities engaging in the purchase and sale of goods within or outside the UAE. Issued under the UAQ Free Trade Zone business licensing authority.
• Industrial License Business license for companies involved in manufacturing, processing, and production activities within the industrial sector in the UAE free zone.
• Consultancy/Service License License for entities offering expert or professional advisory services in various fields, for professionals and consultants wanting to operate in the UAE.
• E-commerce License License enabling businesses to reach a global audience through online operations with flexible payment alternatives and access to the growing UAE eCommerce market.
• Freelance Permit Permit and visa package for freelancers operating in the UAE market, available at AED 1,818/month as a bundled monthly subscription.
• Office Spaces Executive offices and co-working spaces with flexible lease terms at Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone, designed for businesses of all sizes.
• Warehouses Ready-to-move warehouses for rent in various sizes for storage and light manufacturing activities, equipped with alarm systems and 24-hour CCTV cameras, with pay-per-day to long-term options.
• Industrial Land Land plots for lease ranging from 2500 Sq. m upwards for short and long-term periods (up to 25 years), ideal for constructing commercial and industrial facilities with direct highway access.
• Business Support Services Comprehensive services including residency/visa processing, banking assistance for SMEs, and post-licensing support for license renewal and amendments.
• Value Added Services (AMAAL) Wide range of value-added services through the AMAAL subsidiary to support business growth of UAQFTZ clients via a single unified channel.
• UAQ PortFreezone Seaport services providing marine connectivity essential for supply chain operations and logistics hub activities within the free trade zone.

Quantifiable outcome

• Company setup completed within 1-2 working days
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cambridgeshire Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAQ Free Trade Zone held a meeting with representatives of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce as part of ongoing efforts to expand international engagement and build new partnership pathways for cross-border business collaboration.
• Amaal Business Support ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmaal provides wide range of value-added services through one channel to support business growth of UAQFTZ clients. Services include visa processing, residency permits, banking assistance, and post-licensing support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOIbg-NXR35be908sXj4NzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/uaqftz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uaqftz
• Instagraminstagram.com/uaqftz
• TikToktiktok.com/@uaqftz
• Xx.com/uaqftza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UAQ Free Trade Zone