Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF)

business

company registration

free zone

In this article:

Sharjah Airport Free Zone is a versatile free zone and is suitable for a vast list of activities. In particular, in the areas of trade, industry, services and logistics.

01

Free zone features

Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF) is located in the Emirate of Sharjah in close proximity to Sharjah International Airport and close to the seaports and airports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The most popular activities are trading in goods, importing and exporting. The transportation accessibility of the free zone is a contributing factor.

No VAT or customs duties. Included in the list of designated free zones, so not legally considered UAE territory.
Close proximity to major transport hubs, in particular Sharjah International Airport.
The free zone can be used to rent warehousing space for the storage of goods, as well as logistics and transport services.

02

Sharjah Airport Free Zone offers the following types of licenses:

Trading license

Commercial License (Standard): covers the import, export, distribution, consolidation, storage or warehousing of goods specified in the license.

General Trading License: allows a business to trade in any commodity. However, for goods whose trade requires a separate permit from the government authorities (e.g. petroleum products), it must be obtained in advance.

Service license

Allows the services specified in the license to be provided.

Industrial license

Includes imports of raw materials, production, processing, assembly, packaging and exports of finished products.

03

The following types of companies can be registered in this free zone:

FZE (1 founder: natural person or legal entity).
FZC (from 2 founders).
Branch of a company in the UAE.
Branch of a foreign company.

What are the share capital requirements?

The minimum capital requirement when setting up an FZE or FZC is 150,000 UAE dirhams. It can simply be declared and not deposited in the account.

Authorised capital is not required if a branch is set up.