Sharjah · ranked #1 for your setup
SPC Free Zone
Started as Sharjah’s publishing hub, SPC now welcomes trading, service and online businesses, and offers some of the longest license terms available.
- Issued in 3-5 business days
- 5 activities included
- Visa limit: up to 6, no office required
- Up to 50 shareholders
A strong choice if you need several activities on one license. You can combine up to five, and choose a term of up to 10 years, which means fewer renewals to manage. Pick the Standard license unless your business is purely e-commerce or publishing, as those have their own cheaper licenses.
AED 5,750
Year one, license included
You save AED 1,000 vs an agencyAt the zone’s own rate, no markup
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.
Broadly flexible license for publishing-related and media activities
No markup on this package
- Up to 5 E-publishing activity clauses
- Up to 7 shareholders
Covers publishing and e-commerce activity combinations
No markup on this package
- Up to 5 Publishing and/or E-commerce activity clauses
- Up to 7 shareholders
Maximum flexibility, covers any business activity across all sectors
Below the zone’s own price
- Up to 5 activity clauses (any business type)
- Up to 7 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. This zone does not discount multi-year terms; a longer term here just locks the paperwork for longer.
Visa cap of 3. 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.
Activities
Trade License issued by the SPC Free Zone authority
Documents
Certificate of Formation confirming company establishment
Documents
MOA setting out structure and governance
Shareholders
Share Certificate confirming ownership and shareholding distribution
Activities
Up to 5 publishing / e-commerce activity clauses included at no extra cost
Shareholders
Up to 7 shareholders included at no extra cost
No Physical Office
Co-working license with no floor space to lease
Activities
AED 2,200 a year for each activity clause added beyond those included.
Shareholders
AED 1,000 a year for each shareholder added beyond those included.
Fast Registration
Setup completed remotely, with no shareholder or director presence required in the UAE.
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.
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.
Zone rules
Zone Rules and Renewal.
How this free zone works and what you pay to renew from year two.
- Activities included
- 5 free of charge
- Mixing activity types
- Free of charge
- General trading
- No charge
- Visas without an office
- Up to 6, no office required
- Longest term
- 10 years
- Office space
- Limited office space
- Nationality
- Nationality check applies
- Must you be in the UAE?
- Not required
- External approvals
- Rarely needed
- Banking
- Straightforward route via Mashreq Neo
- Shareholders
- Up to 5
- Setup time
- 3–5 business days
Renewal holds at the zone’s standard rate; the year-one figure is not a promotion. Visa costs renew separately with each visa, typically every two years.
Activities
The Full Activity List.
See every business activity this free zone allows.
1,982activitiesSPC activity registerSharjah Publishing CityCodesPublished feesAML 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 SPC
What does SPC cost over one year?
AED 5,750 through us, for the Publishing License with no visas. Going direct to SPC costs the same.
Why is your price the same as SPC’s own?
As an authorized partner, we’re compensated by the free zone, not by you. So you pay the zone’s own price, with no service fee on top.
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. Your license renews at SPC’s standard rate. Visas renew separately, usually every two years.
SPC for 0 visas · 1 activity · 1 year: AED 5,750.
Written quote within the hour, itemised line by line. Nothing to pay until you approve it.