Company Setup in Sharjah

Mainland and free zone options in Sharjah

Company setup in Sharjah has two sides. The Sharjah Economic Development Department, SEDD, licenses mainland companies. Five free zones operate in the emirate: SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone, SHAMS (Sharjah Media City), SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) and SRTIP, the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, branded SPark. Ask SEDD about any further zone you are offered, such as COMTECH, before you pay.

The federal rules sit underneath. For the general comparison of mainland, free zone and offshore, read company setup in the UAE.

Mainland licences from SEDD

SEDD issues commercial, industrial and professional licences for premises, plus an instant licence, an electronic trading licence, a home accreditation licence, a Birq licence and an industrial office licence. According to Gulf News of 31 July 2023, citing SEDD figures, Sharjah has allowed 100% foreign ownership of commercial and industrial activities since 2021, except for the strategic list. Check your activity code on the federal Basher activity search.

An LLC has 2 to 50 partners, and SEDD requires a premises lease notarised by Sharjah City Municipality and valid for at least three months after submission. Its FAQ gives licence fees of 8 to 13 percent of the lease value or site area, plus fixed items. A trade name costs AED 250 in Arabic, AED 1,250 translated and AED 2,250 for a foreign name. The FAQ estimates AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 for the first year. These are SEDD's own figures, as of October 2026, and the activity decides where in the range you land, so ask SEDD for the fee sheet for your activity.

The five free zones

SAIF Zone offers trade, service and industrial licences as an FZE, an FZC or a branch. Its visa quota follows the facility: 8 visas for a SAIF Suite, 5 for an Executive Office and 3 for a SAIF Office. Its FAQ states a minimum capital of AED 150,000 for an FZE or FZC. The site content dates from about 2020 and it publishes no prices, so confirm both the capital rule and the quota with SAIF Zone.

Hamriyah Free Zone serves oil and gas, industrial, maritime and food businesses. It offers 15 packages, from a Start Up package with 1 visa to a 40 sqm Supreme package with 12 visas, and says rates vary with the number of activities. SHAMS was established by Amiri decree in 2017 and serves media, creative, e-commerce and trading companies. It offers a Media and a Standard package, both issued as an LLC with 100% foreign ownership. SHAMS says its licence costs start from about AED 5,750 (SHAMS blog, May 2026), advertises up to 50 visas per licence subject to office eligibility, and leaves the final total to visas and add-ons.

SPC Free Zone sells annual packages for publishing and e-commerce companies on its marketing site. Ask for the current package, the visa line and the renewal line in writing. SRTIP targets research, technology and innovation companies, and its fees come from the zone on request. Packages are not an official tariff.

Dual licence and selling on the mainland

SAIF Zone states that its licence is valid only inside the zone. Operating elsewhere in the UAE needs a branch approved by the local authority, and goods sold into the UAE pay customs duties. SHAMS gives the same answer: a branch or subsidiary subject to the approval of the relevant authorities.

SEDD's FAQ lists a free zone company branch among its licence types. It asks for the free zone licence, board minutes, an agency contract with a local agent, Ministry of Economy registration and a no objection letter from the free zone authority. Sharjah Publishing City has had a dual licence arrangement with SEDD since 2018 (Gulf News, August 2018), and SPC and SRTIP both say a dual licence is available. No general scheme for SAIF Zone, Hamriyah or SHAMS is published, so ask the zone and SEDD for the rules in writing.

A Dubai permit is not part of this route. Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025 covers Dubai free zone companies working in Dubai.

Some Sharjah zone sites still carry older tax wording, such as exemption from income and corporate tax. Corporate Tax has applied since 1 June 2023. Free zone companies must register for it, and 0% is for a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income only.

Some zone marketing promises a bank account. No zone publishes bank approval rates, and the Central Bank guidance of 7 November 2025 tells banks to decline when due diligence cannot be completed, so treat any such promise as marketing.

Company setup in other emirates

Each emirate has its own zone system. Company setup in Ajman covers two free zones under one authority, and company setup in Dubai covers the 21 zones on the Government of Dubai list. Umm Al Quwain has a single free trade zone, the UAQ Free Trade Zone.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues mainland licences in Sharjah?

The Sharjah Economic Development Department. Its site lists commercial, industrial and professional licences plus instant, electronic trading, home accreditation and Birq licences. Check your activity against the federal Basher activity search before applying.

How many free zones are in Sharjah?

Five: SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone, SHAMS, SPC Free Zone and SRTIP.

Do Sharjah free zones publish their fees?

Mostly packages, not tariffs. SHAMS says its licences start from about AED 5,750, Hamriyah publishes its package structure without prices, and SAIF Zone publishes no prices. Figures are as of October 2026.

Can a Sharjah free zone company sell on the mainland?

Through a mainland branch approved by SEDD, which asks for a no objection letter from the free zone and a local agent contract. Sharjah Publishing City has a dual licence arrangement with SEDD. Ask your zone which route applies.

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