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SHAMS Freezone Company Setup
Looking to launch your dream business in SHAMS Free Zone without breaking the bank? Sharjah Media City, commonly known as SHAMS, delivers everything modern entrepreneurs need: 100% foreign ownership, 0% income tax, minimal paperwork, and company formation in just 5 to 10 business days. While Dubai’s media zones command premium prices, SHAMS Free Zone business setup offers identical core benefits at significantly lower costs.
AED 5,900
Starting Cost
3
Visa Quota
5-7
Working Days
100%
Ownership
Why SHAMS Free Zone Is a Smart Business Choice in 2025
Sharjah Media City Free Zone has built its reputation on delivering substance over flash. The pro-business government behind SHAMS focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship rather than prestige positioning, which translates directly to better value for your business.
Business Structures Available in SHAMS Free Zone
Choosing the right entity type affects your operational flexibility, visa allocation, and long-term scalability.
SHAMS LLC (Limited Liability Company)
The LLC structure works for most businesses setting up in Sharjah Media City. You can establish an LLC with a single shareholder or multiple partners, with ownership percentages clearly defined in your incorporation documents. Each shareholder’s liability is limited to their capital contribution, protecting personal assets from business debts.
The SHAMS LLC provides credibility with clients and partners who prefer dealing with established corporate structures. You can sponsor employee visas, open corporate bank accounts, and operate with the legitimacy that comes from proper company formation.
Most service providers, consultants, e-commerce businesses, and trading operations choose the LLC structure for its balance of flexibility, protection, and professional standing.
Branch of Parent Company
International companies with established operations elsewhere can set up a SHAMS branch rather than creating a new legal entity. Your branch operates under your parent company’s name and reputation, which can provide instant market recognition.
Branch setup requires demonstrating your parent company’s financial stability through audited accounts and corporate documentation. You’ll need board resolutions authorising the UAE expansion and appointing local representatives. All corporate documents require proper attestation for UAE acceptance.
Branches work well for companies testing the UAE market, serving existing clients who’ve expanded regionally, or establishing a regional presence without creating separate legal entities.
License Types: Matching Your Business Activities
SHAMS Free Zone offers diverse license types covering virtually any legitimate business activity. Understanding options helps you select the license that properly authorizes your operations.
SHAMS Service License
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For businesses providing professional services such as consulting, marketing, IT solutions, design, or advisory services. This is one of the most common licenses in SHAMS.
SHAMS Commercial / Trading License
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For companies involved in buying, selling, importing, or exporting goods. You can combine multiple trading activities under one license for flexibility.
SHAMS E-Commerce License
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Perfect for online stores, dropshipping businesses, and digital marketplaces. This license allows you to operate entirely online without needing a physical shop.
SHAMS Industrial License
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This license supports manufacturing, packaging, and production activities. It's suitable for businesses planning small-scale industrial operations.
SHAMS Media License
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Designed specifically for media, content creation, production, film, publishing, and related creative activities.
SHAMS Freelance Permit
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A budget-friendly option for individuals offering creative or professional services independently. It comes with visa eligibility and legal recognition.
SHAMS Free Zone Business Setup Packages
SHAMS Free Zone offers diverse license types covering virtually any legitimate business activity. Understanding options helps you select the license that properly authorizes your operations.
Silver Package
- Company Registration
- 1 Business Activity
- Basic Office Solution
- Business License (1 Year)
- Essential Documents
Gold Package
- Investor Visa Processing (1 Visa)
- Shared Desk Facilities
- Multiple Business Activities
- Enhanced Support Services
- Banking Assistance
Platinum Package
- Multiple Visas
- Priority Processing
- Premium Office Options
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Expedited Setup
- Comprehensive Post-Formation Support
The Complete Setup Process for SHAMS Free Zone
Understanding the step-by-step process helps you prepare properly and set realistic timelines.
Step 1: Define Your Business Activities
Start by clearly identifying your business activities and choosing the appropriate license type. SHAMS allows a wide range of activities under a single license, but you need to specify exactly what you’ll do. List all activities you might reasonably conduct to avoid limitations later.
Step 2: Choose Your Company Name
Select three name options for your SHAMS Free Zone company. Names must comply with UAE regulations, avoiding religious references, existing trademarks, or inappropriate terminology. SHAMS conducts instant name availability checks, confirming whether your preferred options are available.
Step 3: Select Your Package and Office Type
Decide which setup package matches your budget and needs. Choose between flexi office arrangements, shared desks, or private office space based on your physical presence requirements and visa needs. Office selection affects visa allocation, with larger spaces qualifying for more employee visas.
Step 4: Prepare Required Documents
Individual shareholders need passport copies valid for at least six months, passport-sized photos with white backgrounds, visa page copies if already in the UAE, Emirates ID copies for residents, and completed personal information sheets.
Corporate shareholders must provide certificates of incorporation, board resolutions authorising the SHAMS venture, Memorandum and Articles of Association, recent audited accounts, and good standing certificates. All corporate documents require attestation through proper channels.
Prepare three company name choices and basic business information, including proposed activities and shareholding structures. Incorpyfy provides detailed checklists customised to your specific situation.
Step 5: Submit Application
Complete applications with all supporting documentation are submitted to SHAMS Free Zone for processing. The zone conducts compliance checks, verifies documentation accuracy, and processes initial approvals.
Digital submission systems speed the process significantly. Applications move electronically through approval stages, with status updates available throughout.
Step 6: Receive Approvals and Pay Fees
Once SHAMS approves your application, you’ll receive payment instructions covering license fees, registration charges, and office lease costs. Package pricing clearly itemizes all components, so you know exactly what you’re paying.
Payment confirmation triggers final license processing and documentation preparation. Most approvals happen within days of payment for straightforward applications.
Step 7: Collect Your License and Begin Operations
Your SHAMS Free Zone license gets issued electronically, ready for download and use. This official document authorises your business activities and proves your company’s legal existence. You’ll also receive your office lease agreement and incorporation documents.
With license in hand, proceed to operational setup including bank account opening, visa processing for yourself and employees, and launching your actual business activities.
Easy Bank Account Opening Support
Opening corporate bank accounts represents one of the more challenging aspects of UAE business setup. SHAMS Free Zone companies can access banking, though requirements have become stringent across all UAE banks.
Banking Requirements and Documentation
Banks conduct thorough due diligence on all new business accounts. Expect to provide comprehensive business plans, proof of business activities through contracts or agreements, details on expected transaction volumes and sources, and information about clients and suppliers.
You’ll answer detailed questions about your business model, revenue sources, and operational plans. Banks want to understand exactly how your business works and confirm legitimate commercial activity.
Incorpyfy’s Banking Assistance
Incorpyfy provides business consultation and banking support, leveraging relationships with banks familiar with SHAMS Free Zone structures. We help prepare documentation that meets banking requirements, coordinate meetings with relationship managers, and guide you through approval processes.
While we cannot guarantee bank account approval as ultimate decisions rest with banks, our experience and relationships significantly improve success rates. We position your application optimally based on your specific business model and banking needs.
Banking Timeline Expectations
Bank account approval typically takes two to six weeks, depending on the bank, your business type, and documentation completeness. Simple service businesses with clear revenue models usually face shorter timelines than complex trading operations.
Be prepared for multiple rounds of questions and possibly additional documentation requests. Banking compliance has intensified, and patience during the process is essential.
Visa Processing and UAE Investor Visa
SHAMS Free Zone provides straightforward visa processing, allowing you to live and work in the UAE while running your business.
Investor Visa Allocation
Your office type and package determine visa allocation. Basic packages typically include one investor visa for the business owner. Enhanced packages accommodate additional visas for partners and employees.
Visa allocation scales with office size, with larger spaces qualifying for more visas. Consider your immediate and near-term team needs when selecting office space to ensure adequate visa capacity.
Visa Processing Steps
After receiving your business license, apply for entry permits allowing yourself and employees to enter the UAE for visa processing. Once in the country, complete medical examinations at approved centres, submit Emirates ID applications, and finalise visa stamping.
The complete process from entry permit to visa issuance typically takes two to three weeks. Incorpyfy coordinates all steps, ensuring compliance with UAE immigration requirements and smooth processing.
Dependent Visa Sponsorship
Visa holders can sponsor dependents, including spouses and children, subject to minimum salary requirements set by the UAE immigration authorities. Plan for dependent visa costs and processing time if relocating your family to the UAE.
Flexible Office Solutions in SHAMS
SHAMS Free Zone offers diverse workspace options matching different business needs and budgets.
Flexi Office and Shared Desk
Cost-conscious entrepreneurs and digital businesses can opt for flexi office arrangements, providing professional business addresses without dedicated office space expenses. Shared desk options offer workstations in professional environments with access to meeting rooms and amenities.
These flexible solutions cost significantly less than private offices while meeting SHAMS requirements for physical presence. They’re perfect for online businesses, remote teams, or operations not requiring constant physical space.
Private Offices
Businesses needing dedicated space can lease private offices ranging from small single-person offices to large spaces for entire teams. Private offices provide complete control over your workspace, allowing customisation and offering professional settings for client meetings.
Office size directly affects visa allocation, so choose a space that accommodates your team size and growth plans.
Why Choose Incorpyfy for SHAMS Free Zone Business Setup
Selecting the right business setup partner affects your entire experience from formation through ongoing operations.
Specialised SHAMS Expertise
Incorpyfy maintains deep experience with SHAMS Free Zone business setup, having successfully established numerous companies across all license types and business structures. We understand SHAMS-specific requirements, maintain direct relationships with zone authorities, and stay current on any process or regulatory changes.
This specialised knowledge means we anticipate challenges, position applications for smooth approval, and complete setups efficiently without delays from documentation errors or procedural mistakes.
Comprehensive Business Consultation
We don’t just process paperwork. Incorpyfy provides strategic business consultation, helping you choose optimal license types, select appropriate packages, and structure your company for long-term success. Our advice considers your specific business model, growth plans, and budget constraints.
Transparent Pricing with No Hidden Fees
Incorpyfy provides detailed quotations upfront, itemising every government fee, service charge, and optional cost. You’ll know your total SHAMS business setup cost before committing, with no surprise charges appearing midway through the process.
This transparent approach builds trust and allows accurate budgeting. We structure recommendations around your actual needs rather than pushing expensive packages with unnecessary features.
End-to-End Setup Services
From initial consultation through license collection, banking assistance, and visa processing, Incorpyfy handles everything. You have one partner managing all aspects of your setup rather than coordinating multiple service providers.
This comprehensive approach ensures smooth coordination, consistent communication, and efficient processing. Everything flows seamlessly because one experienced team manages the entire process.
Ongoing Compliance and Support
Your relationship with Incorpyfy continues after formation. We provide annual license renewal support, visa renewal assistance, compliance guidance, accounting services, and business advisory as your operations evolve.
Many clients work with us for years, relying on our expertise for various business needs beyond initial formation. We succeed when you succeed, making us invested partners in your business journey.
Getting Started with Your SHAMS Free Zone Company
Ready to launch your dream business in SHAMS Free Zone? Start by clearly defining your business activities and goals. Understanding what you want to accomplish helps determine the optimal license type and package selection.
Gather your documentation early. Having passports, photographs, and business information ready accelerates your application significantly. If you’re a corporate shareholder, begin document attestation processes early, as they can take several weeks.
Consider your visa needs realistically. How many visas do you need immediately versus future expansion? This affects office selection and initial costs.
Think through your banking requirements. What transaction volumes do you expect? Will UAE banking work for your business model, or should you plan for international banking solutions? Understanding banking needs sets realistic expectations.
Contact Incorpyfy for a free consultation about your SHAMS Free Zone business setup. We’ll assess your specific needs, recommend optimal packages and license types, provide transparent pricing, and outline a clear timeline for your company formation.
With minimal paperwork, fast and efficient processing, excellent infrastructure and facilities, and cost-effective packages, SHAMS Free Zone removes barriers to UAE entrepreneurship. Combined with Incorpyfy’s expert guidance and comprehensive support, you can launch operations quickly and focus on building your business rather than navigating complexity.
The combination of 100% foreign ownership, zero taxation, strategic location, and exceptional value makes SHAMS Free Zone an intelligent choice for entrepreneurs who understand that success comes from smart decisions at every stage. Your business deserves a foundation built on value, efficiency, and professional support.
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