SHAMS Free Zone (Sharjah Media City) Company setup from AED 5,760, licence in 2–3 working days, up to 5 activities on one LLC licence
SHAMS Free Zone, Sharjah Media City, is a UAE free zone built for media, creative and service businesses, and one of the cheapest ways to start a company in the UAE. Official packages start from AED 5,760 a year, the process is 100% digital, and a company can be set up in 2–3 working days with 100% foreign ownership. A&A Associate is a registered SHAMS partner and handles the full setup, visas, bank account and tax registration end to end.
- Licence from AED 5,760
- 100% foreign ownership
- Up to 5 activities, LLC without "FZ"
- 2–3 working days, fully online
Let's Talk Free Consultation
Sharjah Media City (SHAMS): quick facts 2026
SHAMS was established under Emiri Decree No. 10 of 2016 and has been operational since 2017. It licenses media, creative, service, trading and holding companies, sits in Al Bataeh, Sharjah, about 30 minutes from Dubai, and runs every step of licensing online.
Starting cost
Media package from AED 5,760 a year; standard package from AED 6,885. Zero-visa, flexi-desk included.
LLC without the "FZ" suffix
Your company name reads like a mainland company, which helps with international clients and banks.
Five activities on one licence
Mix media, e-commerce and consultancy under a single licence.
2–3 working days, fully online
Application, payment and licence issue happen online; no visit needed for the licence.
Visa quota that scales
Shared desk starts with a small quota; office upgrades unlock up to 50 visas per licence. No NOC needed.
Banking access: medium
Depends on activity, documents and shareholder profile. We prepare the compliance file before you apply.
Should you choose SHAMS Free Zone?
Choose SHAMS if…
- You run a media, creative, consulting or digital service business
- You want the lowest realistic UAE licence cost with a fast, fully online setup
- You value an LLC name without the "FZ" suffix for client-facing credibility
- You need room to scale visas later without re-incorporating
Look elsewhere if…
- Your activity is regulated (finance, insurance, health): different approvals apply
- You must invoice UAE mainland clients directly: consider Sharjah mainland
- You need heavy logistics or warehousing: SAIF Zone fits better
- Your bank file needs a stronger jurisdiction: we assess this before you pay
Is SHAMS Free Zone in Dubai? No. SHAMS is in Sharjah, the emirate next to Dubai, about 25–35 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Many investors run their business from Dubai on a SHAMS licence: that works for service, media and e-commerce activities, since a SHAMS company can serve clients across the UAE and internationally at a much lower licence cost than Dubai free zones.
SHAMS Free Zone licence cost in 2026
Official SHAMS package prices as of 23 October 2026, inclusive of VAT. Visa, immigration and add-on figures are A&A's indicative ranges; request an itemised quote before payment.
Media package
- Up to 5 media activities
- Licence issued as LLC, 100% ownership
- Flexi desk and lease agreement
- No NOC required
Standard package
- Any 5 business activities
- Service, trading, e-commerce or multi-sector
- Flexi desk and lease agreement
- No NOC required
With one visa, all-in
- One-visa package from about AED 13,000–14,000 before stamping
- Multi-visa packages custom; up to 50 visas with office upgrades
- Up to 20% off multi-year licences
SHAMS Free Zone licence
- Trade licence with up to 5 activities
- Registration and authority documents
- Shared desk and lease agreement
- Fixed A&A fees agreed in writing
Hidden costs to budget for: establishment card and immigration file, visa stamping and status change, office upgrades when your visa count grows, activity amendments, and renewal pricing that may exceed promotional year-one rates. We quote these up front so year two doesn't surprise you.
What makes SHAMS Free Zone different
You can register an LLC without the "FZ" suffix, combine up to 5 activities on one licence, and have the licence issued online in 2–3 working days. Pick the licence that matches what you sell.
Service licence
Consulting and professional services.
Trading licence
Buying and selling goods.
Media licence
Content, production and publishing. The AED 5,760 media package.
Freelancer permit
For individuals in media and creative fields working under their own name.
Industrial licence
Light manufacturing.
Holding licence
Owning shares and assets.
Not sure which 5 activities to pick?
We map your business model to the right combination from the SHAMS activity list so you avoid amendment fees later.
SHAMS vs SAIF vs SPC vs SRTIP: which fits?
Sharjah has four main free zones. Starting prices are each zone's published 2026 figure.
| Free zone | Licence from | Best for | Setup speed | Signature feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHAMS | AED 5,760 | Media, creative, services, e-commerce | 2–3 days, fully online | LLC without FZ suffix; 5 activities |
| SPC Free Zone | AED 5,750 | Publishing, e-commerce, consultants | Instant licence | SPC guide |
| SRTIP | AED 7,500+ | Tech, R&D | 3–7 days | SRTIP guide |
| SAIF Zone | AED 12,000+ | Logistics, trading, airfreight | 3–7 days | SAIF guide |
Compare every option on our Sharjah free zone hub or the UAE free zone comparison . Need mainland? See business setup in Sharjah
Get a free comparison
Documents required for SHAMS company formation
No physical presence is needed for licensing; banks may ask for one meeting during account opening. There is no minimum share capital to pay up front.
How to set up a company in SHAMS Free Zone: 5 steps
Fully digital. As a registered SHAMS partner, A&A files the application, tracks approvals and handles visas and banking.
SHAMS issues the licence in 2–3 working days after payment. Visas add about a week; bank account opening takes 1–4 weeks depending on the bank.
Start my SHAMS company- 01
Choose activities and licence type
Pick up to 5 activities from the SHAMS list. We map your business model to the right combination so you avoid amendment fees later.
- 02
Reserve the trade name
Submit three name options. SHAMS allows the LLC suffix without "FZ", worth using for international-facing brands.
- 03
Submit KYC documents online
Passport copy, photo and address details for each shareholder. No visit required for the licence.
- 04
Receive your licence
Typically 2–3 working days after payment. E-channel and establishment card follow for visa processing.
- 05
Process visas and open the bank account
Visa stamping, Emirates ID and medical take about a week. We prepare the bank compliance file and introduce you to banks that fit your profile. Bank account opening
Tax, compliance and banking for SHAMS companies
SHAMS companies fall within UAE corporate tax scope like every free zone entity. We include corporate tax registration and a QFZP assessment in our setup packages.
Corporate tax
A qualifying free zone person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000. Registration with the FTA is mandatory even at 0%.
VAT registration
Applies once UAE taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 a year.
Economic substance
ESR was cancelled for financial years ending after 31 December 2022 (Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024), so no ESR filings are due.
Bank account
Medium difficulty. Digital-first banks like Wio often decide within days for clean service businesses; traditional banks take 2–4 weeks. No free zone can guarantee approval.
Why set up SHAMS through A&A Associate
Registered SHAMS channel partner
Direct filing through the SHAMS portal and partner support.
We compare before you pay
SHAMS against SPC, SRTIP, SAIF, Meydan and IFZA for your activity, visas and budget.
Itemised, fixed fees
Licence, visas, bank account, corporate tax and VAT under one roof, quoted in writing.
In-house PRO team
Handles e-channel, immigration and Emirates ID. PRO services
SHAMS Free Zone FAQs
Quick answers on cost, location, visas, activities, tax and timing for SHAMS companies.
Still have a question?
Speak to a SHAMS Free Zone consultant today. The first consultation is free.
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Start your SHAMS company in 2–3 days
Free consultation with a registered SHAMS partner. Licence, visas, bank account and tax registration handled end to end, with an itemised quote the same day.