Business Setup in Sharjah
Sharjah is one of the most cost-effective places in the UAE to start a company, and we know it first-hand: our own company, S and S Global Ventures FZC, is licensed in Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. We handle your setup from the first question to licence, visa and bank account.
Sharjah free zone or mainland?
| Sharjah mainland | Sharjah free zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed by | Sharjah Economic Development Department | The free zone authority |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities | 100% foreign ownership |
| Where you can trade | Anywhere in the UAE | Within the free zone and internationally; mainland trade usually needs a distributor or extra permit |
| Office | Physical office usually required | Flexi-desk options available |
Free zones in Sharjah
- SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City): media, publishing, trading and services, with flexi-desk packages. Our own home.
- Sharjah Media City (Shams): media, creative and digital businesses, with a fully online setup.
- SAIF Zone: logistics, trading and industry, next to Sharjah International Airport.
- Hamriyah Free Zone: industrial, manufacturing and port-based businesses.
- Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park: technology, research and innovation companies.
The right zone depends on your activity, visa needs and budget. We compare the options for you in the first consultation.
How business setup in Sharjah works
- Consultation: your activity, budget, number of visas and where you will trade.
- Choose the jurisdiction: mainland or the free zone that fits.
- Trade name and activity approval.
- Documents: usually passport copies, photos and, for UAE residents, visa and Emirates ID copies.
- Licence issued: often within one to two weeks in a free zone, two to four weeks on the mainland.
- After the licence: visas, corporate bank account, VAT and corporate tax registration.
What a Sharjah licence costs
The cost depends on the free zone or mainland, the licence activities, the number of visas and the office type. Free zone licences with a flexi-desk and no visas are usually the lowest-cost option. You get one all-in quote, covering government fees and our service, before you commit.
After setup: tax, website and IT
Once your licence is issued, we register you for VAT and corporate tax where required, and the same team can build your website and source your office IT. See our full business setup and consultancy services.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check current requirements for every setup.