Open a company in Sharjah: 100% online, end to end

SPC is the general-purpose choice: 1,500+ activities, licences issued in hours and up to 25 visas per licence. 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.

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 of that price — each visa runs the standard federal steps (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping). Professional fees are charged separately — a serious provider always shows both numbers.

Yes. The residence visa a Sharjah zone sponsors is a federal UAE visa: you can live in Dubai, rent, get a driving licence and open and use bank accounts anywhere in the country. Sharjah borders Dubai, so many founders keep the licence there and live in Dubai.

SPC issues standard licences in hours; Shams typically takes 2 to 3 working days. The residence visa process adds 1 to 3 weeks — 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.

Yes. Sharjah free zone companies have always allowed 100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor or Emirati partner is required. It is also available for many mainland activities, but SEDD must confirm the legal form, activity and approvals for the specific application.

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, not the tax bill.

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, which is why file preparation matters. Nobody can guarantee an approval — the decision always rests with the bank.

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.

The licence renews annually from AED 5,750 at the zone's published rate. Visas renew on the standard federal two-year cycle: the zone's fees current at renewal plus the federal medical and Emirates ID steps per visa holder. We confirm the exact figures before every renewal.

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.

It can contract and invoice within the scope of its licence. The sale of goods or physical service delivery in the mainland can require a distributor, branch or local licence depending on the activity. Having Dubai clients does not automatically turn a free zone licence into a mainland one.

When the company needs direct local-market operations, a commercial establishment, an activity tied to premises or contracts that require a mainland supplier. The choice depends on activity, clients and approvals.

The headlines 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 visas enter, compare the all-in totals. We run both numbers for you before you choose.

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. Many founders start in Sharjah for cost and move when the brand or the bank justifies the Dubai premium — we plan the transition before you commit.