SAIF - Sharjah Airport Free Zone

Company setup from AED 10,800

Registration from 1 day

Bank account Guaranteed

Residence visas for 2 years

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

SAIF authorized partner

Is SAIF suitable for your business?

Yes,

• if you are looking for an affordable business setup solution in the UAE or specifically in Sharjah, as SAIF’s prices are very reasonable.
• if your business is related to manufacturing, trade, or logistics, as SAIF’s provides excellent logistical opportunities due to being located in close proximity to UAE’s significant seaports, Sharjah International Airport, and other airports.
• If you prefer a free zone with highly-developed infrastructure, as SAIF offers a variety of fitted-out offices, warehouses, land plots, and other facilities.
• if you’re looking for a free zone with a fast and efficient setup process, as company setup in SAIF takes only 1 day.

You can also consider an alternative solution such as business setup in RAKEZ or Fujairah Free Zone, which have a lot to offer for industrial companies too.

No,

• if you intend to open a business in Dubai or require a remote company setup.
• if your business revolves around non-industrial activities and does not require storage or logistical facilities. For such activities, we would recommend applying to Sharjah Media City or SHAMS Free Zone.

SAIF company formation process 

Free zone company formation in SAIF can be done personally by company owners or assisted by a business consultant. The license is issued instantly on the day of application.

Company registration procedure in SAIF

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. 

Specify the legal status of your business in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone. Available company formation types at SAIF include FZE (Free Zone Establishment), FZC (Free Zone Company), or branches of an already existing local or foreign company.

Step 3. Prepare and file the required documentation. 

Prepare and submit the necessary documents together with the application form. SAIF requires very few documents for company formation: 

• Passport
• Passport-size photo
• Residential address, phone number, and e-mail of the owner 

Company registration in SAIF can be done personally by company owners. The license is issued instantly on the day of application or may take a few working days depending on the security approval process. Also, this step involves paying all the registration and processing fees. 

Step 4. Collect the license and registration documents. 

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

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business license
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Investment Service Agreement
• Share certificate
• Lease agreement

Step 5. Secure your Establishment Card. 

Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes.

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. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company. 

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.

SAIF license costs

The best license offer at the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone currently is a Trading or Services license for AED 10,800. This package is eligible for 3 resident visas and has a flexi-desk as a part of the package. Visa and other immigration fees are paid separately, and a PO Box will cost an additional AED 1,000.

SAIF 1-year license package fees:

The additional costs apart from the license fees include:

• SAIF Establishment Card
• SAIF visa fees
• Medical checkup
• Emirates ID

SAIF licenses and business activities

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone has a very broad list of activities mainly related to industry, trading, and logistics, but it also includes some hard-to-get service activities, such as "Investment of own funds".

The free zone allows having multiple activities in the license for your company formation in Sharjah, but if they are not related, additional fees will apply. Unfortunately, SAIF does not share its activity list, so the availability of all business activities needs to be checked.

In the table below, you can find the list of business licenses supported by SAIF and their descriptions.

Your license can belong only to one of these categories. If you want to mix them, an additional license will have to be purchased. In particular, E-commerce falls under the Service license. Activities also allow storage and consolidation of the products specified in your license, as well as manufacturing and assembling of your products.

SAIF facilities

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone is one of the very few zones that offer ready-to-move facilities that are likely to suit any company considering business setup in Sharjah. 

Below are the facility options available at SAIF:

All office types come with high-class telecom/IT infrastructure, while the warehouses are equipped with fitted offices with air conditioning, a pantry, and a kitchen. Your investments into the fit-out of a warehouse will be minimal.

Apart from that, staff accommodation premises, container parking, and temporary warehouses are available. In addition, the SAIF has its own Jewelry Park, a full-scale and field-oriented unit for jewelry production and exchange with a variety of reputable jewelry businesses. Also, despite being mainly industry-oriented, SAIF boasts numerous green spaces with great landscaping.

SAIF residence visas

Company formation in SAIF usually entails resident visa opening. The visa of the company owner is valid for 3 years, and the visa of an employee – for 2 years.

SAIF visa costs:

In case you applied for a resident visa while being on a tourist visa or a canceled visa, a procedure of status change will apply. It costs AED 850 or AED 1010 on an urgent basis.

SAIF company license renewal

License renewal at the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone can be executed without the company owners’ personal visit. It typically takes 1 day.

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. The documents include:

• Original business license
• PO Box renewal receipt
• Audit report

SAIF company amendments and regulations

If you need to, you can make a company amendment at any time, and as many of them as you require. In SAIF, the implementation of amendments requires a resolution from shareholders or holders of the Power of Attorney.

Apart from the mentioned amendments, you can change the company name or its business activities, appoint or resign positions, etc.

SAIF company liquidation 

At the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, company liquidation is a step-by-step process that requires a considerable number of documents to confirm that the company has no liabilities left. To complete the procedure, you will need to pay the liquidation fee, which includes the publication of a newspaper notice.

The liquidation procedure will be the following:

1. Provide the following mandatory documents:

• Board resolution signed by the shareholders and stating the reason for the company liquidation
• Deregistration documentation
• Business license and all other company incorporation documents
• Clearance letters from the SAIF Immigration Department and SAIF Facilities Management Department
• Customs Clearance Letter
• Auditor Liquidation Certificate
• Audit report

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

3. All residence visas 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.

The timeframe of the company liquidation process at SAIF is approximately 15-20 days. The corporate bank account needs to be closed as well. If the account has a balance, you will be refunded after the liquidation. 

About SAIF 

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF) is situated right next to Sharjah International Airport. It is one of the oldest UAE zones with the most developed infrastructure: offices, warehouses, and land can be leased for any business. It was formed in 1995 and presently hosts over 7,000 companies. It is also UAE’s only industrial free zone with rich greenery.

SAIF’s location perfectly suits trading, manufacturing, and logistics companies who are considering a business setup in UAE for a reasonable budget as it is located in close proximity to UAE’s significant seaports and other airports besides Sharjah International Airport. Also, the number of resident visa quotas per company exceeds that in similar zones. 

If you are looking for business setup services in Dubai, it is worth checking SAIF as a possible option.

Benefits of SAIF company

• Located next to Sharjah International Airport
• Wide range of industrial activities
• Company registration in 1 day
• Small office facilities available
• 100% foreign company ownership
• 100% capital repatriation, no currency limitations
• No export and import taxes