Outside the Strait of Hormuz
The UAE's only emirate on the Gulf of Oman / Indian Ocean — direct ocean access without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a genuine strategic edge for shipping.
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ)
Company Formation
Set up on the UAE's east coast — the country's only seaboard on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. Established in 1987 beside the Port of Fujairah, FFZ is a trading, logistics and industrial free zone with direct Indian Ocean access.
- 100% Ownership
- Established 1987
- East Coast · Gulf of Oman
- Trading & Logistics
- Beside Port of Fujairah
The UAE's East-Coast Gateway
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) was established on 28 November 1987 by Emiri Decree and is run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority. Spanning around 4 million square metres beside the Port of Fujairah, it is a trading, logistics and industrial free zone with direct Gulf of Oman access, outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) was established on 28 November 1987 by Emiri Decree and is run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA). Spanning around 4 million square metres, it sits on the UAE's east coast — the country's only seaboard on the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, outside the Strait of Hormuz — beside the Port of Fujairah and Fujairah International Airport.
That geography is the whole point. FFZ gives traders and shippers direct access to ocean routes without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, alongside one of the world's leading bunkering and oil-storage ports. It is a trading, logistics and industrial free zone, near the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, suited to import/export, re-export, warehousing, light industry and the services around them. For a business that values sea, land and air links on the eastern seaboard — and a strategic alternative to the Gulf-side ports — FFZ pairs that position with 100% foreign ownership.
East-coast access outside the Strait of Hormuz
Why Fujairah Free Zone
FFZ competes on geography and value. For trade and logistics, direct Gulf-of-Oman access and a leading bunkering port are advantages the Gulf-side zones cannot replicate.
Beside the Port of Fujairah
Adjacent to one of the world's leading bunkering and oil-storage ports, plus Fujairah International Airport — sea, land and air links in one place.
Trading, Logistics & Light Industry
~4 million m² for import/export, re-export, warehousing and light industry, near the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.
Cost-Effective East-Coast Base
Competitive setup and facility costs make FFZ an efficient base for trade and logistics on the eastern seaboard.
100% Foreign Ownership
Full foreign ownership of the company, with profit and capital repatriation — no local partner required.
UAE Free-Zone Tax Status
Free-zone status with eligibility for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income.
Ideal for
- Import / export and re-export traders
- Shipping, bunkering and maritime services
- Logistics, freight and warehousing
- Oil, fuels and commodities trading
- Light manufacturing and processing
- East-coast and Indian Ocean-facing trade
Fujairah Free Zone Licence Types
FFZ licences are weighted towards trade, logistics and light industry.
Trading / Commercial Licence
For import, export, re-export and general or specialised trading through the east-coast port.
- General & specialised trading
- Import / export & re-export
- Oil, fuels & commodities trading
- Distribution & stockholding
- Maritime & marine supplies
Industrial Licence
For light manufacturing, processing and assembly on the zone's land plots.
- Light manufacturing & assembly
- Processing & packaging
- Building materials
- Food & beverage
- Industrial production
Service Licence
For logistics, shipping and the professional and technical services that support the zone.
- Logistics & freight forwarding
- Shipping & bunkering services
- Warehousing & 3PL
- Management & consultancy
- Technical & support services
Legal Structures Under Fujairah Free Zone
FFZ recognises the standard free-zone legal forms.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
A limited-liability entity with a single shareholder, individual or corporate — common for owner-run trading businesses.
Free Zone Company (FZC / FZCO)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders, for partnerships and joint ventures.
Branch of an Existing Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign company operating under the parent's identity.
How a Fujairah Free Zone Company Is Formed
Six steps from activity to a licensed, east-coast operation.
- 01
Define Activity & Licence Type
Select the trading, industrial or service activities and the matching licence, and size the facility or land the operation needs.
- 02
Reserve Name & Initial Approval
Reserve the company name and secure FFZA's initial approval for the chosen activities.
- 03
Arrange Facility / Land
Select the office, warehouse or industrial plot that matches the licence and the operation.
- 04
Submit Documents & Sign
Submit incorporation documents and sign the constitutional documents.
- 05
Licence, Establishment Card & Customs
The licence and establishment card are issued, and customs registration is completed for import and export.
- 06
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process residence visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Fujairah Free Zone Setup
The standard set, plus project detail for industrial activities.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed company names and a description of activities
- Business plan for industrial and logistics activities
- For corporate shareholders: licence, constitutional documents, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose Fujairah Free Zone
FFZ pairs east-coast geography with free-zone ownership and value.
100% foreign ownership of the company
Full repatriation of profits and capital
Direct Gulf-of-Oman access, outside the Strait of Hormuz
Beside the Port of Fujairah and Fujairah International Airport
~4 million m² for trade, logistics and light industry
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
Near the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and a leading bunkering hub
Cost-effective east-coast base
Tax & Compliance Position — Fujairah Free Zone
FFZ entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. As a trading and logistics zone, the VAT and customs position matters.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
FFZ entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income.
QFZP eligibilityQualifying activities include logistics, qualifying trading/re-export and light manufacturing; sales into the UAE mainland are treated differently. Eligibility needs adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Export & Transport Treatments Apply
FFZ entities follow UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold. Exports and certain international transport services can be zero-rated, while domestic sales are standard-rated.
Designated Zone status: verify with FTADesignated-Zone status for goods is set by Cabinet decision and can change; several trading and port-linked free zones hold it. We confirm the current status for FFZ and map the VAT treatment to your goods flows.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment, with import/export and transport flows correctly treated
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Customs registration and per-shipment documentation
- Trade / industrial-licence renewal with FFZA
- ESR notification + report where a Relevant Activity is carried on
- UBO register maintained and updated
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (Designated Zones)
Sectors Active in Fujairah Free Zone
FFZ's tenant base is trade, logistics, maritime and light industry.
Trading & Re-Export
Logistics & Freight
Shipping & Bunkering
Light Manufacturing
Warehousing & Storage
Oil, Fuels & Commodities
Food & Processing
Services & Consultancy
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs FFZ setups end-to-end — matching the licence and facility to your operation and handling customs, banking, visas and tax.
Trade & Logistics Structuring
We structure the entity around your trading, shipping or logistics model and the east-coast advantage it relies on.
Port & Customs Setup
Customs registration and documentation set up for import, export and re-export through the Port of Fujairah.
Trade Tax & VAT
QFZP assessment for logistics and qualifying trading, plus VAT and the zero-rating that can apply to exports and international transport.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that onboard trading and logistics businesses, with the compliance file prepared.
Visas & Emirates ID
Investor, management and labour visas processed with Emirates ID and medicals.
Ongoing Compliance
Corporate Tax, VAT, customs, ESR and UBO obligations handled so the operation stays compliant.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of an FFZ setup — trade/logistics structuring, customs, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Traders Choose Avyanco for Fujairah Free Zone
Three things that come up in every FFZ engagement once the licence is issued.
Trade & Logistics Fluency
We set up traders and logistics operators and understand the east-coast, port and customs realities FFZ is built around.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, facility, customs, bank, visas and tax — coordinated by one team.
Tax Done for Trade
QFZP, VAT and Designated-Zone treatment mapped for the way trading and logistics revenue actually arises.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
Fujairah Free Zone suits trade, logistics, shipping and light industry on the east coast. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE entities through Avyanco.
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
Fujairah Free Zone — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Fujairah Free Zone.
What is Fujairah Free Zone?
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) is a trading, logistics and industrial free zone on the UAE's east coast, established on 28 November 1987 and run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority. Spanning around 4 million square metres beside the Port of Fujairah and Fujairah International Airport, it is the UAE's gateway on the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean.
Why set up in Fujairah rather than a Gulf-side zone?
Geography. Fujairah is the UAE's only emirate on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz, giving direct access to Indian Ocean shipping routes without transiting the Strait — a strategic advantage for trade and shipping. It also sits beside one of the world's leading bunkering and oil-storage ports.
What is FFZ best for?
It is built for trade and logistics — import/export and re-export, shipping and bunkering services, freight and warehousing, oil and commodities trading, and light manufacturing. Its east-coast position and port access are the deciding advantages.
Does an FFZ company qualify for the 0% Corporate Tax rate?
FFZ is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person — which can include logistics, qualifying trading and light manufacturing — while mainland sales are treated differently and non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. We assess the position against your activity.
Is FFZ a VAT Designated Zone?
Designated-Zone status for goods is set by Cabinet decision and can change, and several trading and port-linked free zones hold it. We confirm the current status for FFZ and map the VAT treatment to your specific import/export flows rather than assuming it.
How does FFZ differ from Fujairah Creative City?
FFZ is a trading, logistics and industrial free zone run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority. Fujairah Creative City is a separate media and creative free zone for freelancers and content businesses. We advise which fits your activity — or you can compare both with us.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Wikipedia as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of FFZA, the Government of Fujairah and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Free zone regulations, Designated-Zone status, licence categories, VAT treatment and Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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