# Sharjah Free Zone Companies: 2026 Directory & Setup Guide Sharjah’s free zones are among the UAE’s most cost-competitive entry points for foreign entrepreneurs. Licence costs start from approximately AED 5,750 at Shams for a freelancer permit. Sharjah hosts six active free zones with different specialisations: heavy industry at Hamriyah Free Zone, aviation and logistics at SAIF Zone, media and creative businesses at Shams and Sharjah Publishing City, and research and innovation at SRTIP. This guide profiles each Sharjah free zone and outlines the common setup process for entrepreneurs and companies planning to incorporate in Sharjah. ## Sharjah Free Zones at a Glance | Zone | Established | Activity Focus | Starting Licence | | --- | ---: | --- | ---: | | SAIF Zone | 1995 | Aviation, logistics, light manufacturing, trading | ~AED 12,000+ | | Hamriyah Free Zone | 1995 | Heavy industry, oil and gas, steel, manufacturing | ~AED 10,000+ | | Shams | 2017 | Media, IT, consultancy, ecommerce, freelance | ~AED 5,750+ freelancer | | Sharjah Publishing City | 2017 | Publishing, printing, media | ~AED 6,500+ | | SRTIP | 2018 | Research, innovation, biotech, sustainability | ~AED 15,000+ | | USA Regional Trade Center | 2011 | US-focused trading and services | ~AED 12,000+ | ## Sharjah Free Zone Profiles ### Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, commonly known as SAIF Zone, was established in 1995 and is located next to Sharjah International Airport. It offers strong logistics infrastructure, including bonded warehousing, and is a designated zone for VAT purposes. SAIF Zone is best suited for aviation services, logistics, light manufacturing, trading, and re-export businesses. ### Hamriyah Free Zone Hamriyah Free Zone was established in 1995 and provides direct access to Hamriyah Port. It is also a designated zone for VAT purposes. The zone covers approximately 50 million square feet of industrial land and is best suited for heavy industry, oil and gas services, steel and metals, food processing, and large-scale manufacturing. ### Shams — Sharjah Media City Free Zone Shams was established in 2017 and is one of the most affordable Sharjah free zones. It offers a fully digital setup process, with freelancer permits starting from approximately AED 5,750. Shams covers media, IT, consultancy, ecommerce, education, and general trading activities. It is especially suitable for solopreneurs, freelancers, and cost-conscious SMEs. ### Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Sharjah Publishing City was established in 2017 and is specialised for publishing, printing, media production, and content businesses. It is located near Sharjah Book Authority infrastructure and is best suited for publishers, content companies, and media SMEs. ### Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, or SRTIP, was established in 2018 and focuses on R&D, innovation, biotech, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. It hosts university spin-offs and corporate R&D centres, making it suitable for research-led companies and innovation-focused businesses. ### USA Regional Trade Center Free Zone USA Regional Trade Center is a specialised free zone for US-based businesses expanding into the GCC. It offers support through the US Commercial Service and is best suited for US SMEs and exporters establishing a regional base in the region. ## Why Choose a Sharjah Free Zone? Sharjah free zones are attractive for entrepreneurs and SMEs because they offer: - Low starting costs, with Shams freelancer permits from around AED 5,750. - 100% foreign ownership across all six zones. - Strategic proximity to Dubai, typically 15–30 minutes from major business districts. - Designated-zone benefits for certain goods movements at SAIF Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone. - Industrial-grade infrastructure at Hamriyah Free Zone and SAIF Zone for manufacturing and logistics. ## Tax Position for Sharjah Free Zone Companies Sharjah free zone companies are subject to UAE corporate tax under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. They may qualify for the 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income under the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, as set out in Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 and Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023. Non-qualifying income is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000. The de minimis threshold for non-qualifying revenue is the lower of: - AED 5 million; or - 5% of total revenue. Exceeding this threshold disqualifies the company from QFZP status for that tax period. For VAT, registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. Voluntary VAT registration is available above AED 187,500. Designated-zone status at SAIF Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone applies only to goods movements. It does not apply to real estate or services. ## Indicative Cost Comparison for 2026 | Zone | Basic Trading Licence | First-Year Total with 1 Visa | | --- | ---: | ---: | | Shams freelancer | ~AED 5,750 | ~AED 18,000–22,000 | | Shams business | ~AED 16,000 | ~AED 28,000–32,000 | | SAIF Zone | ~AED 12,000 | ~AED 25,000–30,000 | | Hamriyah Free Zone | ~AED 10,000 | ~AED 25,000–30,000 | | Sharjah Publishing City | ~AED 6,500 | ~AED 22,000–27,000 | | SRTIP | ~AED 15,000 | ~AED 30,000–40,000 | ## Step-by-Step Setup Process ### 1. Choose the Right Sharjah Free Zone Match the free zone to your business activity: - Industrial activities: Hamriyah Free Zone. - Aviation and logistics: SAIF Zone. - Media, IT, freelance, and consultancy: Shams. - Publishing: Sharjah Publishing City. - Research and development: SRTIP. ### 2. Choose the Entity Type Common entity options include: - FZE for a single shareholder. - FZC or FZCO for multiple shareholders. - Branch of a foreign company. Shams also offers freelancer permits and packages without the FZ suffix. ### 3. Reserve the Company Name The company name is reserved through the relevant free zone’s portal. It must comply with the zone’s naming rules and include the correct suffix where required. ### 4. Submit the Application and Documents Standard requirements usually include: - Passport copies. - Photographs. - Brief business plan or activity description. - Proof of address. Corporate shareholders typically also need to submit the memorandum of association, board resolution, and certificate of good standing. ### 5. Pay Fees and Receive the Trade Licence Most Sharjah free zones issue trade licences digitally within 1–5 business days after payment. ### 6. Apply for Establishment Card, Immigration Card, and Visas The standard UAE visa process includes: 1. Entry permit. 2. Medical examination. 3. Emirates ID biometrics. 4. Visa stamping. The process usually takes 2–4 weeks per visa. ### 7. Open a Corporate Bank Account UAE banks accept Sharjah free zone companies, but often apply more conservative onboarding checks than they do for entities in jurisdictions such as DMCC or DIFC. Digital banks such as Wio and Mashreq Neo may clear faster as an initial business account. ### 8. Register for VAT and Corporate Tax VAT registration is required once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. Corporate tax registration on EmaraTax is mandatory regardless of revenue. The deadline depends on the trade licence issuance date under FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024. A late registration penalty of AED 10,000 applies. ## BCL Globiz Experience: Common Setup Issues Banking is often the slowest part of a Sharjah free zone setup. BCL Globiz routinely sees banks decline freelancer-only Shams structures with no operating history. A practical solution is to build six months of payment history with a digital bank first, or upgrade structurally to a business package and provide credible proof of activity during the bank meeting. The most overlooked compliance step is corporate tax registration. The deadline is tied to the trade licence issuance date, not the incorporation date. The AED 10,000 late registration penalty applies even if the company has no taxable income. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How many free zones does Sharjah have? Sharjah has six active free zones: - SAIF Zone. - Hamriyah Free Zone. - Shams. - Sharjah Publishing City. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. - USA Regional Trade Center. ### Which is the cheapest Sharjah free zone? Shams is the most affordable, with freelancer permits starting from approximately AED 5,750 per year. Sharjah Publishing City and Hamriyah Free Zone also offer competitive starting packages from approximately AED 6,500–10,000. ### Are Sharjah free zones designated zones for VAT? Two Sharjah free zones are designated zones for VAT: - SAIF Zone. - Hamriyah Free Zone. Designated-zone status applies only to movements of goods. It does not apply to services or real estate. Shams, Sharjah Publishing City, SRTIP, and USA Regional Trade Center are not designated zones. ### Can a Sharjah free zone company invoice clients in Dubai? Yes. Sharjah free zone companies can invoice clients across the UAE, including Dubai. However, selling physical goods directly to UAE mainland consumers typically requires a mainland trade licence or a dual-licence arrangement. ### Do Sharjah free zone companies pay UAE corporate tax? Yes. Sharjah free zone companies are subject to UAE corporate tax under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. They may benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income if they meet Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions. Non-qualifying income is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.