Sharjah · ranked #4 for your setup
Shams Free Zone
Sharjah’s media free zone, a natural home for creative businesses that also welcomes trading, consulting and other services. Setup is done fully online.
- Issued in 3-5 business days
- 3 activities included
- Visa limit: up to 5, no office required
- Up to 50 shareholders
Read this first. Media package: media activities only. If that is not you, look at SPC or IFZA instead.
Suits media, creative, e-commerce and consulting businesses working from a flexi-desk. It’s affordable to start, you can add up to five activities, and you can add more visas as your team grows by upgrading your workspace.
AED 24,480
AED 4,896 a year on average · AED 4,896 in year one, AED 4,896 in year two
You save AED 9,270 vs an agencyAED 640 below the zone’s own rate
Our fee is the price shown. Government charges for visas, medicals and Emirates ID are itemised on the written quote.
Step 1 · Choose a Package
Start by Choosing a Package.
Your prices update to match. Prices shown are for the first year, without visas. You can add visas and change the term above.
Perfect for media professionals and content creators
Below the zone’s own price
- 5 Media Activities
- Up to 50 shareholders
Most popular choice for startups and small businesses
Below the zone’s own price
- Any 3 Activities
- Up to 50 shareholders
Comprehensive package for growing businesses
No markup on this package
- Any 5 Activities
- Up to 50 shareholders
Step 2 · The Full Cost
What You’ll Pay Over Your Full Term.
See the cost for every year, including renewals, so there are no surprises later.
Click a term to price the page for it. Multi-year terms carry the zone’s own discount: 5% at two years, 10% at three, 15% at five.
Visa cap of 5. If you plan to sponsor a team beyond that, this license has to be replaced, not extended.
Step 3 · How It Works
How Your Setup Works, Step by Step.
See what’s included, what you’ll provide and how long each stage takes.
Local and International Operation
The company can operate and trade with clients in the UAE and abroad.
100% Foreign Ownership
Shareholders can own the whole company, with no local sponsor required.
Documents
Trade license issued by the Sharjah Media City (Shams) authority.
Documents
Certificate of Incorporation confirming the company exists in law.
Documents
Memorandum of Association setting out company structure and governance.
Documents
Lease agreement for the company's registered space.
Documents
Share Register recording ownership and shareholding distribution.
Activities
Up to 5 business activities combined under one license.
Shareholders
Up to 50 shareholders included.
No Physical Office
Co-working lease, so no office space needs to be rented.
Fast Registration
No NOC needed for existing UAE residents.
UAE Residence Visas
Visa allocation AED 1,600 each, no fixed cap, subject to approval.
Trade Name
Provide three name options in order of preference.
Activities
The exact products and services to be listed on the business license.
Passport Copy
Full spread, clear, and external cover valid for at least six months.
Special Passport Page
Where applicable to the shareholder's nationality.
Contact Details
Email address and mobile number for each shareholder.
Address
Complete address in the UAE or the home country.
Address
Ejari, a UAE utility bill, a home country utility bill, or a national ID showing the address.
Business License
5 working days Standard. The applicant can be inside or outside the UAE throughout.
UAE Residence Visas
Visa quota attaches to the license rather than to leased space.
Pricing
VAT
Prices shown are our fee, inclusive of VAT.
Government Charges
Government charges are itemised on your written quote and paid to the authority.
Renewal
Government Charges
Renewals are charged at the government rate per year.
Government Charges
The entry price is an application promotion; the renewal is quoted at the standard rate.
Zone rules
Zone Rules and Renewal.
How this free zone works and what you pay to renew from year two.
- Activities included
- 3 free of charge, AED 1,000 each after that
- Mixing activity types
- Free of charge
- General trading
- No charge
- Visas without an office
- Up to 5, no office required
- Longest term
- 5 years
- Office space
- Flexi desk only — no physical offices
- Nationality
- Nationality check applies
- Must you be in the UAE?
- Not required
- External approvals
- Rarely needed
- Banking
- Zone-introduced accounts; media activities are the easier route
- Shareholders
- Up to 50
- Setup time
- 3–5 business days
Renewal is charged at the same rate as the initial term, and a discount of 1% incremental applies for each additional year of term, up to ten years.
Activities
The Full Activity List.
See every business activity this free zone allows.
1,001activitiesShams activity registerSharjah Media CityCodesRisk ratingAML flagApprovalsOpen the Full ListAfter setup
After Setup: Renewing and Closing.
RENEWINGWhat happens each year after the first6 steps
Your license renews every year. Here’s how it works.
01
Get your renewal noticeThe free zone lets you know when your license is due for renewal. Check that your renewal quote is correct.
02
Review your detailsMake sure your company details are up to date. Any changes to activities, shareholders or structure should be made before your license expires.
03
Send your documentsProvide updated copies of shareholder passports, Emirates IDs if you have them, and anything else the free zone asks for.
04
Sign the renewal documentsSign the renewal documents and any shareholder resolutions online. Make sure every shareholder signs promptly to avoid delays.
05
Pay the renewal feePay the amount shown on your renewal quote. It’s always the free zone’s price or less.
06
Receive your renewed licenseOnce everything is complete, the free zone issues your renewed license, usually within a few working days.
CLOSINGHow to close your company, if you ever need to9 steps
If you simply stop renewing, your license doesn’t just disappear, and fines can build up. Closing it properly protects you. Or, if you’d rather, you can list your company for sale instead.
01
Agree to closeAll shareholders sign a resolution confirming the decision to close the company, on company letterhead and stamped.
02
Cancel all visasCancel every visa linked to the company, including investor, employee and family visas, and then the establishment card.
03
Clear what you owe the free zonePay any outstanding fees, rent or other charges to the free zone, and get a clearance certificate to confirm it.
04
Get other clearancesGet clearance letters from any other providers you’ve used, such as electricity, water, telecoms or customs.
05
Prepare a closing reportA UAE-registered auditor prepares a report on the company’s assets and liabilities. If the company never traded, the report should say so.
06
Close your tax registrationFile a final corporate tax return, pay anything due and deregister with the Federal Tax Authority within three months of closing. Do the same for VAT if you’re registered.
07
Close your bank accountMake sure all payments are settled and no cheques are pending, then close the account and get a closure letter.
08
Apply to closeSubmit your closing application and documents to the free zone, and pay the closing fee.
09
Receive your closing certificateThe free zone issues a certificate confirming your company is closed. Keep it safe for your records.
Questions People Ask About Shams
What does Shams cost over five years?
AED 24,480 through us, for the Media Package with no visas. Going direct to Shams costs AED 32,000.
Why is your price lower than Shams’ own?
As an authorized partner, we’re compensated by the free zone, not by you. We pass part of that on, which is why your price is lower.
Can a foreigner own 100% of the company?
Yes. You can own the whole company, with no local partner needed. Some nationalities may need extra approval.
Do I have to be in the UAE to set it up?
No. Your license and establishment card can be issued while you’re abroad. You only need to come to the UAE for your residence visa, to complete a medical test and register for your Emirates ID.
How many visas can I have?
It depends on your workspace. A flexi-desk supports a few visas, and you can add more with office space. Visa fees are government charges, passed on at cost.
Does the price go up at renewal?
No. Shams has locked the renewal price in writing. Visas renew separately, usually every two years.
Shams for 0 visas · 1 activity · 5 years: AED 24,480.
Written quote within the hour, itemised line by line. Nothing to pay until you approve it.