Quick answer: The ANC activity list is the official catalogue of business activities you can license through ANC Ajman Free Zone, grouped mainly into commercial (trading), professional (services), industrial and freelance categories. Your chosen activity determines your licence type, and a single-activity ANC package with immigration eligibility typically costs around AED 6,000–12,000 in 2026, depending on visa quota and add-ons.
Key takeaways
- The ANC activity list covers 1,500+ activities across commercial, professional, industrial and freelance categories.
- Your selected activity maps directly to a licence type — get this right before you pay, because it dictates cost and permissions.
- Entry-level ANC packages start near AED 6,000; costs rise with extra activities, visa quotas and office needs.
- Some activities (financial, medical, media, food) need external approvals on top of the free zone licence.
- ANC is one of the more affordable UAE free zones — a strong fit for startups, freelancers and small traders.
If you are comparing UAE free zones on price and paperwork, ANC Ajman Free Zone keeps coming up — and the first practical question is always the same: what can I actually do here? That is what the ANC activity list answers. This guide explains the list plainly, maps each activity group to the right licence, and gives realistic 2026 costs so you can budget before you commit.
What is the ANC activity list?
The ANC activity list is the approved register of business activities that ANC Ajman Free Zone allows you to license under one company. In simple terms: it is the menu you choose from, and every activity on it is pre-mapped to a licence type (commercial, professional, industrial or freelance). You cannot legally invoice for work outside your licensed activities, so the list is not just administrative detail — it defines the boundaries of your business.
ANC's catalogue spans well over a thousand activities, from general trading and e-commerce to IT consultancy, marketing, logistics, light manufacturing and dozens of freelance professions. Most entry packages let you hold one or a small bundle of related activities; adding more, or mixing across licence types, usually costs extra. You can review the free zone in more detail on our ANC Ajman Free Zone page.
How does the ANC activity list map to licence types?
Every activity in the ANC list sits under one licence type, and that type decides what you're permitted to do. Here is how the categories break down.
| Licence type | What it covers | Example activities | Typical starting cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying, selling and distributing goods | General trading, foodstuff trading, electronics, garments, e-commerce | AED 6,000–10,000 |
| Professional / Service | Delivering services or expertise | IT consultancy, marketing, management consultancy, design | AED 6,000–9,000 |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, assembly, packaging | Light manufacturing, food processing, packaging | AED 12,000–25,000+ |
| Freelance | Individual professionals under their own name | Consultant, content creator, designer, developer | AED 5,500–8,000 |
Prices are approximate 2026 ranges for the licence plus establishment card, before visa costs, external approvals or physical office. General trading and multi-activity licences sit at the higher end because they grant broader permissions.
If you're weighing ANC against other jurisdictions, our guide to the cheapest free zone licence in the UAE puts these numbers in wider context.
Which ANC activities need extra approvals?
Certain activities on the ANC activity list require sign-off from an external UAE authority before ANC will issue the licence. The free zone licence alone is not enough for regulated sectors.
Common examples:
- Food-related trading or catering — needs municipality / food safety approval.
- Healthcare and medical — requires health authority licensing (see our note on the medical licence process in the UAE).
- Financial and investment services — Central Bank or SCA approvals apply.
- Media, publishing and broadcasting — media regulator approval.
- Education and training — relevant education authority sign-off.
These approvals add both time (a few days to several weeks) and cost, so flag any regulated activity early. Most standard trading, consultancy and freelance activities carry no external approval and can be licensed quickly.
How do you choose the right activity and set up in ANC?
Choosing correctly upfront saves you from expensive activity amendments later. Follow these steps.
- Define what you'll actually invoice for. Write down your real revenue lines — trading goods, delivering a service, or freelancing under your name.
- Match each line to the ANC activity list. Find the closest listed activity for every revenue line. Related activities often bundle under one licence.
- Confirm the licence type. Note whether your activities are commercial, professional, industrial or freelance — mixing types usually means a higher package.
- Check for external approvals. If any activity is regulated (food, health, finance, media), budget extra time and fees.
- Decide your visa quota. Choose how many visas you'll need now; ANC packages are priced by quota, so don't over-buy.
- Pick your address package. Flexi-desk / smart office for a lean start, or a physical office if your visa count or operations demand it — see office solutions.
- Submit and pay. With documents ready, ANC typically issues the licence within a few working days for standard activities.
- Complete immigration steps. Establishment card, then investor or employment visas via PRO services.
The whole process, for a straightforward single-activity company, commonly runs 3–7 working days to licence issuance, with visas following after.
Documents checklist for an ANC licence
Have these ready before you apply to avoid back-and-forth:
- Passport copy (clear, valid 6+ months) for each shareholder
- Passport-size photograph (white background)
- Proof of address / recent utility bill
- Business activity selection from the ANC activity list
- Proposed company name (2–3 options)
- Entry stamp or visa page if you're already in the UAE
- External approval documents (only for regulated activities)
For corporate shareholders, add the parent company's attested trade licence, memorandum and a board resolution.
What does an ANC licence actually cost in 2026?
A single-activity ANC company with one visa allocation typically costs around AED 6,000–12,000 in 2026, all-in for the licence and immigration eligibility. The main cost drivers are simple to understand:
- Number of activities — one activity is cheapest; general trading and multi-activity bundles cost more.
- Visa quota — each additional visa slot raises the package price.
- Office type — a flexi-desk is included in most packages; a private office adds rent.
- External approvals — regulated activities add authority fees.
- Add-ons — VAT registration, bookkeeping, or extra shareholder visas.
Because ANC sits at the affordable end of the market, it's popular with freelancers and small traders watching every dirham. If cost is your deciding factor, run the numbers on our cost calculator, and compare against the wider picture in our breakdown of the cost of starting a business in Dubai in 2026.
One honest note on jurisdiction: ANC is an Ajman-based free zone, so it's ideal for businesses that don't need a mainland Dubai presence or direct trade with the local UAE market without a distributor. If your model depends on that, weigh the trade-offs in our mainland vs free zone guide.
FAQ
What is the ANC activity list?
The ANC activity list is the official catalogue of over 1,500 business activities you can license through ANC Ajman Free Zone. It groups activities into commercial, professional, industrial and freelance categories, and each activity is pre-mapped to a licence type that defines exactly what your company is legally allowed to do.
How much does it cost to set up a company in ANC Ajman Free Zone?
A single-activity ANC company with one visa allocation typically costs around AED 6,000–12,000 in 2026, covering the licence and establishment card. Final cost depends on how many activities you add, your visa quota, whether you need a physical office, and any external approvals for regulated activities.
Can I combine multiple activities under one ANC licence?
Yes, you can usually combine several related activities under one ANC licence, especially within the same licence type. Mixing different types — for example commercial trading with a professional service — often pushes you into a higher-tier package, so confirm the exact bundle and price before paying to avoid costly amendments later.
Do all ANC activities need external government approval?
No, most standard trading, consultancy and freelance activities on the ANC list need no external approval and can be licensed within a few working days. Only regulated sectors — food, healthcare, financial services, media and education — require sign-off from the relevant UAE authority, which adds time and fees.
Can I get a UAE residence visa through an ANC licence?
Yes, an ANC licence with visa quota lets you apply for a UAE investor or employment residence visa, plus family sponsorship once eligible. The number of visas you can obtain depends on the package quota and office type you choose. See our visa services for the full process.
How long does it take to get an ANC trade licence?
For a straightforward single-activity company with documents ready, ANC typically issues the trade licence within 3–7 working days. Regulated activities that require external approvals take longer, and immigration steps such as the establishment card and residence visas follow after the licence is issued.
Ready to pick the right activity and get a clear, itemised quote — no surprises? DBM has formed 1,000+ UAE companies over 10+ years, with a 5.0-star rating from 120+ reviews. Book a free consultation via our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 504 6228, and we'll map your business to the exact ANC activities and licence type you need.