Sharjah Media City (SHAMS)

business

company registration

free zone

In this article:

SHAMS offers over 120 types of business activities to choose from, allowing you to combine different activities under one license, thus making it possible to find activities suitable for many business models.

01

Free zone features

Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) specialises in media and creative industries and therefore provides a wide range of activities in communications, advertising, media business, educational services, IT, GameDev.

The freezone is a 15-minute drive from Sharjah International Airport and 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

Relatively low fee for Business License — from 1600 USD (0 visas).
The cheapest General Trading License is from 2500 USD (0 visas). Allows you to import, export and trade any goods. There is no need to list them on the license.
Possibility of freelance activities — from 2100 USD (0 visas).
Soft requirements for issuing resident visas. A shared desk company may issue up to 12 visas. Other freezones require a physical office rental for this number of zones.

02

Free zone offers the following types of licenses:

Service License.
Trade license, including a General Trading License.
Industrial License.
Holding License (designed for businesses that want to carry out holding activities such as holding assets: real estate, shares, trademarks and others).

03

The SHAMS allows the registration of the following types of companies:

Limited liability company (LLC)
Branch.

What are the share capital requirements?

The authorised capital is 100,000 dirhams, but it only needs to be declared.

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04

The following documents are required for company registration:

LLC establishment

Identity documents for shareholders, managers and directors.
Registration form.
Form identifying the ultimate beneficial owner.
Business plan.
Additional documents may be requested if deemed necessary by SHAMS.

Branch opening

Parent company documents (certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation, share registry and business license, certificate of good standing issued within the previous 90 calendar days, resolution establishing a subsidiary legal entity).
Identification documents of the ultimate beneficial owners, managers and directors.
Registration form.
Ultimate beneficial owner form.
Business plan.
Additional documents may be requested as required by SHAMS.

05

Fees and costs

Obtaining a business license (1 year, 0 visas)

from $1 650~

Obtaining Visa Issuance Card

$550~

Visa fee (for 2 years)

$1 000~

Medical evaluation, insurance (for visa) and obtaining Emirates ID

$1 000+

Medical testing, insurance and Emirates ID issuance costs

$1 000 – 1 200