Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) has started offering corporate re-domiciliation services to global offshore companies in its premises in a move to enhance foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the UAE.

In a statement, AFZ said its re-domiciliation facility comes at a time when there is an increasing trend among corporate entities to move their base to more investor and tax-friendly destinations and the UAE offers an ideal option to relocate to with its business-friendly environment.

“Corporate re-domiciliation facility is a strategic step to enhance foreign investments into the country and we believe AFZ with its cutting-edge investment facilitation services offers the right platform for corporate entities across the world to move in while keeping their assets and legal identity intact for reasons of operational, regulatory and stakeholder transparency,” said Mahmood Al Hashemi, director general, AFZ.

He said AFZ has already started receiving keen interest from companies currently domiciled in global offshore locations scouting for a comparatively flexible and conducive business environment.

“The AFZ corporate re-domiciliation services complement the overall vision of the UAE to attract increased inward FDI flows to boost the economy. By widening our investment canvas across the globe as well as to regional and local onshore markets, the thrust is to accelerate the free zone’s growth and pro-active vision,” Al Hashemi said.

The target markets for AFZ in corporate re-domiciliation services are across all global offshore locations that wish to relocate to more competitive markets.

“The new service is an integral part of  AFZ’s strategy to woo foreign investments and coupled with our accelerated drive to set up more hub offices in global locations, our mission is to attract more overseas investments into the UAE which will in turn support national economic growth,” said Faisal Al Nuaimi, AFZ deputy director general.

“While the new services are largely meant for global offshore companies, it is not limited to those geographies alone and companies that have an offshore base in the local market can also avail the AFZ advantage,” he said, adding that the pioneering investment-friendly steps taken by the free zone will add to the attraction for global corporate entities wanting to re-domicile to the UAE.”

Explaining the corporate re-domiciliation steps to register with AFZ, Rishi Somaiya, sales director, AFZ said transparency and good conduct by companies wishing to relocate to the free zone was an imperative.

“Companies need to produce a good standing certificate from authorities at the outgoing jurisdiction. A board resolution by the existing company which intends to re-domicile is also necessary,” he said, adding that those companies with no up-to-date accounts and having an ongoing legal process in the existing jurisdiction may not be able to relocate. – TradeArabia News Service