UAE free zone operator plans to open offices in India

DUBAI: A Gulf-based company operating a free economic zone in United Arab Emirates's port city of Ajman is planning to expand its global reach by opening offices in key markets like India.


The Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) said that opening these offices in the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the UK were in line with its plans to attract global investors to its premises, which now houses over 7,000 companies.

"India has been a key market for us for many years we believe that there is untapped potential to tap a growing class of young Indian entrepreneurs who would like to get a vantage point for expanding into the Middle East markets," said General Manager of AFZA, Mahmood Al Hashemi.

Over 40 per cent of the investors in Ajman Free Zone are from Indian sub-continent and the free zone is attracting a growing number of investors from Africa.

"South Africa is another emerging market for us and we would like to maximise our reach to the investors in that country," Al Hashemi said.

AFZA offers Executive offices for a monthly payment of USD 555 to USD 777, as well as its warehouses as small as 100 square meters for its investors.

"We have further decided to investigate the possibility of incepting our own offices in the UK as it is the financial hub and Ajman Free Zone enjoys a constant flow of inward investment from the country. We have planned roadshows in London and Birmingham in the month of September which will also serve as a survey trip for us having our own offices," Al Hashemi said.