Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone SPC

License cost from AED 5,750

Residence visas for 2 years

Company formation from 7 days

Bank account Guaranteed

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

SPC Free Zone authorized partner

Is SPC suitable for your business?

— Yes,

if your company’s business activities are related to publishing, printing, distribution, trading (including E-commerce), consultancy, IT, or other professional services. Located in Sharjah, the SPC Free Zone also provides industry-specific businesses with unparalleled networking abilities.

• If you’re looking for an affordable business setup, the SPC Free Zone offers very cost-effective setup solutions.
• If you want your business to be set up quickly and easily, the company formation process at SPC is very straightforward and takes only 7 working days.
• If you prefer establishing your business outside of Dubai in a free zone with top-notch infrastructure and great connectivity, as the SPC free zone is strategically located in Sharjah and offers a variety of state-of-the-art facilities for lease.
• If you are an expat, SPC allows for 100 % foreign ownership.
• If your business requires a Dual License to operate in the Sharjah Mainland in addition to the free zone itself.

Should you require alternative solutions, consider company formation in SHAMS, Dubai Media City, or IFZA.

— No,

• if you’re planning to engage in business activities focused on heavy industry or logistics and require such facilities as industrial units or land lots. In this case, we would recommend applying to JAFZA or RAKEZ.
• If you’re looking for a business setup in Dubai.
• If your nationality or that of your employes is considered as high risk because there is no guarantee the residency visa will be issued from the Emirate of Sharjah.

SPC Free Zone company formation process

The process of company setup in the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone is managed by the SPC Authority and typically takes only 7 working days, with business license and incorporation documents issued within a day. It can also be carried out by business consultants in Dubai.

Company registration procedure in SPC Free Zone

Step 1. Choose your business activities and license type.

Determine the business activities of your future company and the corresponding license type. This aspect is vital for a successful business setup, as choosing the wrong activity and license can cause errors during company registration, leading to problems with opening a bank account or obtaining residency visas for yourself and your employees.

Step 2. Determine the legal entity of your business.

Define your company’s legal status. The SPC Free Zone offers several company types for establishing a business depending on the preferred number of shareholders and business activities:

• FZE (Free Zone Establishment) – an LLC with a single shareholder who can be either an individual or non-individual (company).
• FZC (Free Zone Company) – a free zone LLC formed by multiple shareholders which may include both individuals and non-individuals (companies).
• Branch - a branch opened by a parent company within SPC with 100% ownership by the parent company and subject to its name and activities. Parent companies can be both foreign and UAE-based.

Step 3. Prepare and file the required documentation.

Prepare and submit the necessary documents together with the application form. The list of necessary documents for the registration of an FZE in the SPC Free Zone includes the following:

• Passport copies of shareholders, managers, and directors
• Passport-size photos of shareholders
• Copies of visas and Emirates IDs of shareholders, managers, and directors
• Proof of address
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA and AoA)

Registering a company branch in the SPC Free Zone requires a different set of documents:

• Passport copy and photo of the manager
• Proof of address
• Parent company’s verified MoA and AoA
• Parent company’s verified incorporation certificate
• Parent company’s verified business license
• Parent company’s verified Board resolution and Power of Attorney

Also, this step involves paying all the registration and processing fees.

Step 4. Collect the license and registration documents.

Collect the license and registration documents for the company, including:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business license
• MoA and AoA
• Lease agreement

In the SPC Free Zone, both the business license and other company incorporation documents are issued within 1 day.

Step 5. Secure your Establishment Card.

Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes. The Establishment Card is typically issued on day 3 of the setup process.

Step 6. Apply for an entry permit.

Apply for an entry permit. If you’re outside of the UAE during the processing of the entry permit, you will need to come to the country when the document is issued within 60 days to complete the medical test and biometrics for your visa. If you’re in the UAE when the entry permit is issued, a status change will be done from your previous UAE tourist/residency visa to the new one.

Step 7. Take a medical test and submit visa documents.

Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa and an Emirates ID. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company, including a 0-visa package.

Step 8. Collect your Emirates ID.

Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card.

Step 9. Open a bank account.

Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. Once you receive your account details, you are free to start running your business.

SPC Free Zone license costs

The Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone is currently among the most affordable options for business setup in the UAE, with very reasonable company formation and facility lease costs along with numerous advantages the free zone provides. Business license costs at the SPC Free Zone start at AED 5,750, and there are plenty of cost-effective setup packages on offer for various business types with a varying number of visa quotas. 

SPC’s 1-year licenses and packages:

Different setup packages may or may not include additional costs, such as:

• SPC visa fees
• SPC rent costs
• SPC Establishment Card
• E-channel registration fee
• Medical checkup
• Emirates ID

SPC Free Zone licenses and business activities

The activity list of the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone includes over 2,000 business activities across a broad spectrum of activity categories:

• Publishing
• Printing
• Design
• Distribution
• General Trading
• E-commerce
• IT services
• Media
• Consultancy
• And others

In addition, SPC allows engaging in several activities under a single license. Licenses offered by the SPC Free Zone come in 4 types for businesses of all sizes. In the table below, you can find the list of business licenses supported by SPC and their descriptions.

Also, the SPC Free Zone offers a Dual License, which allows businesses to operate in the UAE mainland without having to form a separate legal entity. It combines both the free zone and mainland business licenses and enables the SPC Free Zone to act as the local sponsor, which is required for mainland operations.

SPC Free Zone facilities

The distinctive feature of the SPC Free Zone is its well-established world-class infrastructure with an extensive choice of business facilities for lease and amenities for comfortable day-to-day operations.

Facility options available in the SPC Free Zone include:

As the name suggests, Sharjah Publishing City offers a full range of services and amenities that may be required by a publishing company or other related business types for their everyday activities. Apart from office and storage facilities, the SPC Free zone offers retail spaces, meeting rooms, printing units, in-house immigration services, dining establishments, and more.

In addition, SPC is located in Sharjah, the education capital of the UAE, within a 10-minute drive to Sharjah International Airport, a 15-minute drive to Dubai International Airport and within close proximity to the Carrefour Mall.

SPC Free Zone residence visas

Naturally, the SPC Free Zone allows for resident visa eligibility. The number of available visa quotas depends on your company type and the premises you choose, including a 0-visa option. Due to the fact that the SPC Free Zone has its own built-in immigration facilities and services, the processing and issuance of entry permits, visas, and Emirates IDs is very quick and takes only a few days, along with the required medical tests.

Just as with other company formation costs, immigration fees in the SPC Free Zone are among the most affordable across the UAE.

SPC Free Zone visa costs (AED):

All visas are valid for 2 years.

SPC Free Zone company license renewal

The renewal of a company in the SPC Free Zone has to be done after 1 year from the date of registration. The procedure includes the renewal of the license and office lease. In order to execute company renewal, you need to pay:

• License fees
• Establishment Card costs
• Office (facility) fees

These payments amount to the following:

The cost of license renewal is typically the fee that you pay for the license at the registration.

To renew your business license, contact your business setup consultant who will prepare an application with the required documents to the free zone authorities, sign the renewed lease agreement, pay the renewal fees, and wait for your license to be renewed.

SPC Free Zone company amendments and regulations

Corporate amendments in the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone can be implemented any time after the issuance of the business license is issued and as many of them as you require. The most frequently requested amendments include the following changes:

• Change of activity
• Change of trade name
• Shares transfer
• Change of manager

SPC Free Zone company liquidation

If you decide to close your company in the SPC Free Zone, you will have to return the original documents and pay the liquidation fee. The liquidation procedure consists of the following steps:

1. Provide the following mandatory documents, such as:

• Attested Board Resolution signed by the shareholders and stating the reason for the company liquidation
• Deregistration documentation
• Business license and all other company incorporation documents
• Bank account clearance and closure letter

2. Pay cancellation fees and settle other payments. Once this is done, the liquidation process is initiated.

3. All residence visas and other immigration-related documents issued under the company need to be canceled as well.

4. Once the liquidation is complete, you will be notified and receive the corresponding documents.

About SPC Free Zone

Located in the heart of the Emirate of Sharjah, the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC) is a pioneering business hub dedicated to fostering innovation and growth in the publishing and media industries. Established in 2017, the SPC Free Zone is one of the newest free zones in the country, but it has rapidly emerged as a premier destination for companies seeking to capitalize on the region's burgeoning demand for high-quality content.

This is in no small part due to Sharjah being the UAE’s renowned center of education and culture and the 2019 World Book Capital. As such, the Emirate regularly hosts large international events, such as the Sharjah International Book Fair, the main publishing-related event in the Middle East Region hosted by the Sharjah Book Authority, which in turn oversees the SPC Free Zone. This provides local and international businesses with unparalleled opportunities for development and networking.

The SPC Free Zone is strategically situated near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E 311) and Sharjah and Dubai international airports, providing effortless connectivity to other emirates and major markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This prime location facilitates the efficient distribution of printed and digital materials, making it an ideal base for businesses looking to expand their regional and global reach.

The SPC Free Zone is a purpose-built business hub designed to meet the unique needs of the publishing and media industries and home to a growing community of entrepreneurs and companies, including international and regional players. It boasts modern world-class infrastructure with an extensive choice of rentable facilities and amenities to satisfy all the needs of hosted businesses and their operations.

The zone's business-friendly environment and industry-specific infrastructure have attracted a diverse range of businesses, from startups to established industry leaders. With enabled 100% foreign ownership, affordable setup costs, minimized corporate taxes, streamlined company formation process, and over 2,000 available business activities, the SPC Free Zone provides the perfect platform to grow your business and succeed in the global market.