SHAMS Free Zone (Sharjah Media City Free Zone) is located in the Emirate of Sharjah, a 30-minute drive from Dubai. The free zone positions itself as a cradle nurturing creative professions and media start-ups. It is a large business center that provides all the necessary infrastructure for activities in the media sector, such as producing photo, video, and audio content, conducting interviews, and editing, as well as a wide selection of working spaces—from shared desks to large individual offices. SHAMS is an excellent opportunity to open a company at an affordable price, and gradually grow it under favorable conditions with good customer support. Company formation is available not only in the media industry but also in the trade and services sectors. IT companies often choose SHAMS to establish business in the UAE as well.

Advantages of setting up a company in SHAMS Free Zone

• A very competitive price for a media or e-commerce license without a visa—only 5,750 AED.
• An affordable option to obtain a trade or services license in the Emirate of Sharjah. Other options are Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone among others.
• Completely remote registration.
• Customer-oriented approach.
• A wide selection of co-working spaces and offices for companies of different sizes.
• Ready infrastructure for creating high-quality content and boosting sales.
• Up to 6 visas can be obtained without the need to rent an office—flexi-desk is already included in the license.
• You can start your business from the age of 19.
• No reporting required by the free zone authority.

Types of licenses and business activities in SHAMS

Although SHAMS stands for Sharjah Media City Free Zone and positions itself as a business space designed to support creative professions and media, its capabilities are actually much broader.

In SHAMS, you can also establish the following types of licenses:

• General Trading license – and trade a wide range of goods within the UAE.
• Trading license – and trade specific categories of goods listed in your license.
• Service license – and offer professional services.
• Consultancy license – and provide consultations in one or several expert areas.
• E-commerce license – and sell goods and services through online platforms, including marketplaces, social media, and your own website.

You can include up to 5 different activities in your license. This offers a significant advantage over other registration authorities, where each type of activity may require a separate license, and makes the entrepreneurs prefer SHAMS over other Sharjah free zones. This option is particularly convenient for new entrepreneurs who want to explore various fields to see what works best and what is most profitable.

The list of available activities is extensive and can be found on the free zone’s website or by consulting with your business consultant in Dubai. 

Media license

Since the free zone emphasizes supporting media businesses, let's focus on this type of license and the related business activities.

With a media license, you can create your own unique media product:

• Conduct interviews
• Stream live content
• Record audio and video podcasts
• Record music
• Conduct photo and video shoots
• Make reels
• Produce films
• Record webinars
• Edit videos
• Write scripts, and much more

The SHAMS business center is equipped with all the necessary hardware and software. You don’t need to worry about organizing each stage of your media production separately—everything is already provided at SHAMS.

You can learn more about other types of licenses and activities available in SHAMS Free Zone.

Customer-focused approach to SHAMS company formation

In SHAMS, everything is set up with the client’s convenience in mind. It is one of the newest and most modern free zones in the UAE, aiming to simplify the company formation process as much as possible, from submitting documents to maintaining the license and liquidating the company.

The entire business registration process is conducted electronically. You do not need to come to Sharjah to submit your registration application—you can be anywhere in the world. Similarly, you can live anywhere in the UAE or abroad and manage your business remotely, giving you the freedom and flexibility to enhance your entrepreneurial experience.

If you purchase a package with visa allocations, you will need to visit the free zone to undergo a medical examination and biometrics. Personal presence is also required to open a personal or corporate bank account.

Documents and timeframe

To obtain a license in Sharjah Free Zone, you will need a minimum set of documents:

• A passport copy (valid for at least 6 months)
• Contact details: phone number and email address
• Documents confirming the type of business activity you will be engaged in

The licensing process is very quick—typically 1-3 business days. If you are applying for a visa, the process may extend up to 2 weeks. The longest wait is for the delivery of your Emirates ID, which takes about 1 week.

Company set-up: Step-by-step guide

Thus, the entire procedure can be broken down into a few simple steps:

1. Submit your application online.
2. Upload the required documents.
3. Make the payment.
4. Receive your license, company registration documents, and establishment card.

If a visa is required:

1. Obtain an entry permit.
2. Arrive in the country.
3. Change your visa status.
4. Undergo a medical examination and provide biometric data.
5. Receive your residence visa.
6. Obtain your Emirates ID.

You can find more details about each step of the company registration process in the SHAMS Free Zone in Sharjah here.

State-of-the-art facilities for your creative business in SHAMS

For media industry professionals, the SHAMS business center offers all the infrastructure needed for the full content creation cycle—from scriptwriting to promotion:

• Coworking spaces
• Offices of various sizes
• Meeting rooms and conference rooms
• Recording studios
• Editing studios
• Studios for audio and video podcasts
• Studios for conducting interviews, shows, workshops, and webinars

Let’s take a closer look at the co-working areas. In the SHAMS Free Zone, they come in the following types:

• shared desks
• dedicated desk
• shared office
• dedicated office

On the ground floor of the business center, you'll find shared desks. This type of co-working allows multiple people to use the same desk at different times, making it a cost-effective option for freelancers, remote workers, or startups.

Higher up, there are offices of various sizes suitable for larger companies. Additionally, you can make use of printing stations and office phone pods. The center also features a café, coffee shop, and a gym.

Sharjah Media City is just a 15-minute drive from Sharjah International Airport and 30 minutes from Dubai. Given the benefits of Sharjah Free Zone, such as the lack of a requirement to rent a physical office and the remote process for registration, renewal, and maintenance of the license, you can live in any emirate, such as Dubai, and rent an office there - SHAMS allows for this flexibility.

What expenses should I expect after registering a company in SHAMS?

In Sharjah Free Zone, it's easy not only to set up a company but also to manage it. The free zone demonstrates a flexible, client-oriented approach. To help you understand the expenses and procedures you might encounter after receiving your registration documents, here is a brief guide:

1. License renewal. You need to renew your license annually. The cost is the same as the initial license fee for the first year.
2. Residence visa renewal. The visa is valid for 2 years, after which you will need to undergo the visa renewal process, including medical tests and biometrics. Additionally, medical insurance is mandatory for the SHAMS Free Zone.
3. Establishment card renewal (if you purchased the package with visa allocations). Costs around 2,000 AED.
4. Company amendments. You can make changes to your company's documents (such as the name, shareholders, etc.) free of charge during the license renewal process. Otherwise, the service will cost around 2,000 AED.
5. Company liquidation. Dissolving a company in SHAMS is just as straightforward as setting it up. You do not need to provide audited financial statements or other reports to the free zone authority. The fee for closing the company is 2,000 AED.
6. Accounting and bookkeeping. Under UAE law, companies operating with a license in the UAE are required to keep accounting records. If hiring a full-time accountant is not financially feasible, you can outsource these services to manage your costs effectively. Discover more about accounting and bookkeeping services in Dubai.
7. VAT registration. Businesses trading goods within the UAE are required to pay a 5% VAT. VAT is applicable if the company’s taxable supplies exceed 375,000 AED, and the company must register with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) for VAT. VAT returns must be filed on a quarterly basis. Certain free zones are VAT-exempt designated areas, but SHAMS is not one of these designated zones.
8. Corporate tax registration and tax return filing. All companies in the UAE are classified as taxable persons and must register with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) for corporate tax purposes. A 9% corporate tax is levied on profits that exceed 375,000 AED for the tax period, applying only to the amount above this threshold. Free zones offer specific conditions that can reduce the tax burden, but regardless of the tax amount — whether zero or otherwise — corporate tax registration and annual tax return filing remain mandatory.

To sum up, the SHAMS free zone is highly popular among investors due to its combination of significant advantages: low company setup costs, a wide range of business activities, and a simple, hassle-free registration process that can be completed online. Even the basic setup package includes a flexi-desk, providing access to workspace as needed and access to the business center's facilities. Additionally, a SHAMS license allows you to live wherever you choose without needing to be physically present in Sharjah, and you can also rent an office in another emirate, such as Dubai. If your business is related to media, SHAMS offers all the conditions necessary for content creation and high-quality media production.