Ajman Free Zone announces flexible payment plan for investors

In a statement, Mahmood AL Hashemi, General Manager of the Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) said that the "new initiative was part of a continuing array of investor-friendly measures adopted by the free zone in recent times to catalyse investments into AFZ. At the core our new business strategy is to offer investment options to a large audience of entrepreneurs from across the world within their respective budgets and requirements."

"Our flexible investment plans have elicited a robust response from the investor community with a continuing steady stream of inquiries from global entrepreneurs keen to set up a base in the UAE," he said.

The installment-based payment plan will allow an investor to pay the fees and other charges upon in monthly, quarterly or half-yearly tranches across a 12-month period significantly easing the burden of investors from one-time payment. This is of particular benefit to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which the free zone is increasingly focusing in its strategic approach to business.

"Our flexible payment plan coupled with other new initiatives we launched recently including the Smart Warehouses, Smart and Executive offices have indeed created a positive perception of AFZ that we mean business and we are unique in our outlook towards businesses - that we believe in nurturing entrepreneurships as well while soliciting investments into the free zone," said Nader Eldesouky, Deputy General Manager, AFZA..

The free zone has been rolling out a slew of pioneering measures to increasingly attract SME and other categories of investors to its premises which now houses over 7,000 companies. AFZ has also been taking these new investment platforms to global investor community in key markets across the world through road shows and participation in exhibitions with positive responses.

Rishi Somaiya, Sales Director of the Free Zone said, "The endeavor is to offer unparalleled investment and licensing options to investors. The installment plan is a revolutionary concept in the UAE free zone space as it offers investors a viable financial option, business continuity with cost-efficiency as well as an encouragement to their entrepreneurship."

"We are convinced that such measures are the need of the hour greatly enhancing opportunities to emerging investors and SMEs as they provide a strong rationale to step into entrepreneurship without the worries of parting with big funds," he said, adding that "the investors have the option to set the frequency of paying in installments from monthly tranches to quarterly or half yearly payments depending on their financials."

Promoting business, AFZ also has other inexpensive investment platforms - Smart Offices and Executive Offices. Under the Smart Office category, investor are offered a shared office space for a meager $555 per month while in the case of Executive offices the investment is only $777 per month which includes the cost of the license. Investors can also sign lease contracts of up to 40 years in two tranches of 20 years each in AFZ. Other advantages include 100 per cent foreign ownership, comparatively cheap labour structure, proximity to sea and airports backed by the excellent transport infrastructure of the UAE. Ajman Free Zone also offers cheap energy, an up to date technology backed infrastructure, low handling charges and a single window clearance for investors with licenses issued within 24 hours.