Set up a company in Sharjah: 100% online, all on one platform
How to set up a company in Sharjah in 2026: the differences between SPC Free Zone, Shams and SAIF Zone, the steps and timelines, the documents, the licence price (from AED 5,750 with no visas), renewal and opening the bank account. Dubase handles the formation and then the company’s accounting, tax and renewals.
- Licence
- issued in hours at SPC
- Ownership
- 100% foreign
- Location
- bordering Dubai
- Licence, year 1
- from AED 5,750
SPC, Shams or a Dubai free zone: which to choose
SPC Free Zone
The general-purpose default: services, consulting and trading with 1,500+ activities, licences in hours and up to 25 visas. We file directly as registered agent.
Get your SPC planShams
Content, production, marketing and creative businesses: up to 5 activities combined and up to 50 visas on one licence, with a digital process.
Ask about ShamsNeed Dubai instead?
If your clients or bank expect a Dubai address, paying more makes sense. Dubai free zones start at AED 12,520 in government fees.
See Dubai costs and zonesSharjah, Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah: comparison
| Feature | Sharjah (SPC / Shams) | Dubai free zones | RAKEZ (RAK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Entry licence, year 1 | From AED 5,750 | From AED 12,520 | AED 6,000 all-in |
| Pricing model | Cheap entry + per-case add-ons | Licence + itemised add-ons | One package, visas bundled |
| Residence visas | Up to 25–50 per licence, quoted per case | By package or office | Bundled by quota |
| Live in Dubai? | Yes, the visa is federal | Yes | Yes, the visa is federal |
| Prestige with banks | Standard | Strongest (DMCC premium) | Standard |
| Best for | Cost-driven services, media at Shams | Brand-sensitive and premium setups | Predictable all-in budgeting |
How to open a company in Sharjah, step by step
-
Zone and activity
SPC, Shams or SAIF, licence activity and visa plan. These choices set the price, the bank account and the tax outcome.
-
Licence application
KYC, passport copies and application filed directly with the zone; at SPC, standard licences issue in hours. No need to travel or visit a notary.
-
Licence issued
Trade licence and corporate documents in hand. Your company legally exists and can sign contracts.
-
Residence visa
Entry permit, status change if you are in the UAE, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping, following the standard federal process.
-
Bank account
Prepared file and introductions with banks that match your profile. Decision times vary from days to weeks; more in bank account.
Documents required to register a company in Sharjah
For a standard SPC or Shams setup with individual shareholders, this is the whole list.
Passport copy
Valid for at least 6 months, for every shareholder and director.
Passport photo
Recent, white background; the authority uses it for the visa file.
Contact and address details
Personal address and phone/email for KYC.
Short activity description
What the company sells and to whom; we draft the licence wording.
Corporate documents
Only if a company (not a person) will be a shareholder: incorporation set, attested.
Extra approvals
Only for regulated activities: finance, health, education, legal.
SPC, Shams or SAIF Zone: which Sharjah free zone to choose
Sharjah has a general-purpose free zone (SPC), a registry for media and creative businesses (Shams) and a logistics zone at the airport (SAIF Zone). The choice depends on the company’s activity.
SPC Free Zone
Sharjah Publishing City- Entry licence advertised at AED 5,750 (zero visas), 2026
- 1,500+ business activities, licences issued in hours
- Up to 25 residence visas on one licence
- Dubase files directly as registered agent
Shams
Sharjah Media City- Entry licence advertised at AED 5,750 (zero visas), 2026
- Built for media, content and creative activities
- Combine up to 5 activities on one licence, up to 50 visas
- 100% digital process, setup in days
SAIF Zone
Sharjah Airport- Airport-side zone for trading, freight and light industry
- Offices, warehouses and yards, priced by facility
- Suited to companies whose goods move through Sharjah
- Quoted per case; ask us for your configuration
How much does it cost to set up a company in Sharjah?
SPC and Shams publish the price of the zero-visa licence. Visas, workspace and extras are quoted separately per case, so the total depends on how many visas you need.
| Sharjah free zone | Entry licence (0 visas) | Visa capacity |
|---|---|---|
| SPC Free Zone | AED 5,750 | Up to 25 visas per licence |
| Shams · Media City | AED 5,750 | Up to 50 visas per licence |
| SAIF Zone · Airport | Quoted per case | By office or warehouse |
Zone-published zero-visa entry rates, 2026, AED. Dubai bar = cheapest Dubai zone (Meydan FZ).
- SPC and Shams advertise the zero-visa entry licence at AED 5,750 for 2026; the licence renews annually at the zone’s published rate. We re-verify the rate with the zone before every engagement.
- Residence visas are quoted per case on top of the licence: each visa runs the standard federal steps (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, stamping). To compare with Dubai, add up the licence, the visas and the workspace.
- SPC issues licences in hours for standard activities and allows 1,500+ activities; Shams is the creative and media registry and allows combining up to 5 activities on one licence. Our service fee is quoted separately and itemised.
Sharjah company renewal: annual cost from year 2
The licence renews every year at the zone’s published rate and residence visas every two years. Zones revise their prices, so confirm the current rate before renewing.
Annual licence renewal from year 2 (AED)
| Sharjah free zone | Annual renewal |
|---|---|
| SPC Free Zone | From AED 5,750 (published rate) |
| Shams · Media City | From AED 5,750 (published rate) |
| SAIF Zone · Airport | Per contract |
Visa renewal every 2 years
| Step | What it is |
|---|---|
| Zone visa fees | Quoted per case at the zone’s current rate |
| Medical + Emirates ID | Standard federal steps, per visa holder |
| Visa stamping | Two-year cycle, handled by us end to end |
Sharjah zones quote visa renewals per case, without a published table. We confirm the figures with the zone before each renewal. At RAKEZ, by contrast, visa renewals are included in the package price.
Business bank account for a Sharjah company: requirements and timelines
UAE banks operate nationwide: a Sharjah company applies at the same banks and branches as a Dubai company. The bank reviews the activity, the source of funds and the shareholders’ residency, and some ask more questions when the licence package is very low-cost. It usually asks for the licence and corporate documents, the shareholders’ passports and residence visas or Emirates IDs, a description of the activity with expected turnover, and proof of the source of funds.
What we do: we prepare the file, submit it to banks that match your profile and suggest fintech alternatives when a traditional account takes too long.
What we cannot control: the approval. The bank decides, and no provider can guarantee it.
Advantages of setting up a company in Sharjah
- 0%
- personal income tax on salary and dividends
- 9%
- corporate tax, only on profit above AED 375,000
- 100%
- foreign ownership, no local sponsor
- 5%
- VAT; registration mandatory above AED 375,000 turnover
Tax is federal: a Sharjah company faces exactly the same UAE corporate tax, VAT and 0% personal income tax as a Dubai company, including the QFZP regime for qualifying free zone income. The entry price and the address change; the taxes are the same.
Services for your Sharjah company
Besides the formation, we handle the company’s accounting, tax, licence and visa renewals and compliance, with the same team.
- Company formation
- Residence visas
- Bank account opening
- Accounting & bookkeeping
- Corporate tax registration
- Corporate tax return filing
- VAT registration & returns
- Tax audit support
- Licence & visa renewals
- AML & UBO compliance
- PRO & government services
Sharjah company setup terms
Entry licence
The zero-visa licence at the zone’s advertised price, before visas and workspace, which are quoted per case.
Visa capacity
The maximum residence visas a licence can sponsor: up to 25 at SPC, up to 50 at Shams. Capacity is not cost; each visa is quoted separately.
Federal residence visa
A UAE residence visa is national, whichever emirate sponsors it: you can live, work and bank in Dubai with a Sharjah-sponsored visa.
Entry permit
The document that starts each residence visa: lets the applicant enter the UAE or change status inside the country.
Medical + Emirates ID
Mandatory federal medical test and biometric ID on every visa issue and renewal, at standard federal rates.
Activity combination
Shams allows up to 5 activities on one licence; SPC offers 1,500+ activities. The wording drives approvals and banking.
QFZP
Qualifying Free Zone Person: the regime that keeps qualifying free zone income at 0% corporate tax.
MOA
Memorandum of Association: the constitutional document of the company, issued at incorporation.
Setting up a company in Sharjah: frequently asked questions
SPC or Shams: which Sharjah free zone should I choose?
SPC is the general-purpose choice: 1,500+ activities, licences issued in hours and up to 25 visas per licence, and Dubase files there directly as a registered agent. Shams is built for media and creative work: combine up to 5 activities on one licence with up to 50 visas. Same entry price; the activity decides.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Sharjah?
Both SPC Free Zone and Shams advertise the zero-visa entry licence at AED 5,750 for 2026, renewing annually at the zone’s published rate. Residence visas, desks and extras are quoted per case on top; each visa follows the standard federal steps (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping). Our service fee is quoted separately.
Can I live in Dubai with a Sharjah company?
Yes. The residence visa a Sharjah zone sponsors is a federal UAE visa: you can live in Dubai, rent, get a driving licence and bank anywhere in the country. Sharjah borders Dubai, so many founders run the licence there and the life next door.
How long does it take to open a company in Sharjah?
SPC issues standard licences in hours; Shams typically takes 2 to 3 working days. The residence visa process adds 1 to 3 weeks, with the same federal steps as everywhere in the UAE. The bank account runs in parallel and can take from days to several weeks depending on your profile.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Sharjah company?
Yes. Sharjah free zone companies have always allowed 100% foreign ownership, with no local sponsor or Emirati partner.
What taxes does a Sharjah company pay?
Exactly the same as anywhere in the UAE, because tax is federal: 9% corporate tax only on profit above AED 375,000 (qualifying free zone income can stay at 0% under the QFZP regime), 5% VAT with mandatory registration above AED 375,000 turnover, and 0% personal income tax. Choosing Sharjah changes the entry price; the taxes are the same.
Is opening a bank account harder with a Sharjah company?
The banks are national, so a Sharjah company applies at the same banks as a Dubai one. Approval depends on your activity, flows and residency; low-cost licences get more questions, so the file needs to be complete. The bank decides on approval and no provider can guarantee it.
Do I need a physical office in Sharjah?
No. The entry licence covers the legal address requirement; desks and offices are optional upgrades quoted per case. You do not need to live or work in Sharjah to keep the company.
What does it cost to keep a Sharjah company alive each year?
The licence renews annually from AED 5,750 at the zone’s published rate. Visas renew on the standard federal two-year cycle: zone fees quoted at renewal plus the federal medical and Emirates ID steps per visa holder. We confirm the exact figures before every renewal.
Can I set up a Sharjah company without travelling to the UAE?
Yes. The licence and corporate documents are processed fully remotely. You only need to enter the UAE when you activate your residence visa (medical test and biometrics), and some banks require one in-person meeting.
Sharjah from AED 5,750 or RAKEZ at AED 6,000: which is cheaper?
The prices are close but the models differ: Sharjah zones price the bare licence and quote visas per case, while RAKEZ bundles visa government fees into one flat package that renews at the same rate. With zero visas Sharjah is cheaper; once you add visas, compare the all-in totals; we calculate both for you.
Can I move from a Sharjah zone to Dubai later?
Yes. The usual route is a new licence in the target zone with assets and contracts migrated, or running both in parallel during the transition. It is common to start in Sharjah for the cost and move to Dubai when clients or the bank ask for it; we plan it with you.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page traces to an official source. Rates change, so we verify them before every engagement.
- SPC Free Zone: Sharjah Publishing City
- Shams: Sharjah Media City Free Zone
- UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies
- UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses
- UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax
- ICP: UAE residence visa rules
Ready to set up in Sharjah?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. Within 24 hours we send you the recommended structure, the total cost and the timeline in writing.
Request a quote