Sharjah Free Zone business setup 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Secure your Establishment Card. Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Collect your Emirates ID. Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card.
- 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.
With us you can navigate this process quickly and effortlessly. You don't even have to arrive in Dubai — the registration procedure can be completed remotely. However, you will need to visit the UAE for medical checkups, visa formalities, and account opening.
Sharjah Free Zone License Cost
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
| TYPE OF LICENSE | COST |
|---|---|
| SAIF Office package (3-visa standard license + flexi-desk) | 10,800 AED |
| SAIF Office package (3-visa Multi-Activity license + flexi-desk) | 21,150 AED |
| SAIF Suite package (8-visa standard license + 21 sqm office) | 28,650 AED |
| SAIF Suite package (8-visa Multi-Activity license + 21 sqm office) | 28,650 AED |
The additional costs apart from the license fees include:
- SAIF Establishment Card
- SAIF visa fees
- Medical checkup
- Emirates ID
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 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.
You can also consider an alternative solution such as a 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 you need large retail spaces.
- If you are a freelancer.
- 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 Free Zone.
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 shipping and freight forwarding, jewelry manufacturing, and "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.
Here is the categories of business licenses supported by SAIF and their descriptions.
- E-Commerce License in Dubai — a UAE e-commerce license — also called an e-commerce trade license or online business license — authorizes a company to sell goods and services.
- Consultancy License in Dubai — with a Consultancy License offer professional advice to companies and individuals in areas like business, marketing, or finance.
- Commercial Trade License in Dubai — a Commercial License will allow you to open a business in retail, wholesale, or import-export, with access to local and global markets.
- Technical Services License in Dubai — provide a wide range of technical services in the UAE, from equipment installation and maintenance to repairs and construction.
- Gold Trading License in Dubai — gold is always a profitable investment. Buy and sell gold and precious metals with a Gold Trading License in the highly lucrative UAE market.
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 Commercial 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 free zones that offer ready-to-move facilities that are likely to suit any company considering business setup in Sharjah.
- Executive office — a fully equipped dedicated workspace. It offers privacy, essential support services, and a professional environment for business growth.
- Warehouse — a facility for companies needing storage space for goods and materials, often equipped for light industrial use.
- Plot of land — a space where businesses can construct their own facilities according to their specific needs, often with freehold or long-term lease options.
- Residential buildings — housing facilities within the free zone for staff or executives, providing convenience and proximity to the workplace.
- Unfurnished office — a work space within a free zone that you can design and furnish according to your business needs, offering complete flexibility.
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, SAIF boasts the following facilities:
- Staff accommodation premises
- Jewelry Park
- Container parking
- Temporary warehouses
SAIF’s own Jewelry Park is 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.
Sharjah Free Zone visa cost
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
| SAIF FEES | MEDICAL CHECKUP | EMIRATES ID | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner/Investor | Normal (6-8 days) 3,840 AED / Urgent (3-4 days) 4,040 AED | 755 AED | 370 AED |
| Employee | Normal (6-8 days) 3,245 AED / Urgent (3-4 days) 3,440 AED | 755 AED | 370 AED |
Employee visas require a refundable deposit amounting to 1-month salary and an airplane ticket. Also, to receive a visa, you are obliged to have medical insurance which is not included in the visa cost.
In case you applied for a resident visa while being on a tourist visa inside the UAE 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.
| FEE | COST |
|---|---|
| SAIF Service/Trading license renewal (second year) | 13,350 AED |
Note that this is the renewal price for the minimal package, and it varies based on the type of license and the number of residency visas the company sponsors.
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
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.
| SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
| Changing a manager | 2,000 AED |
| Adding/removing the director | 2,000 AED |
| Shares transfer | 10,000 AED |
| Changing the financial year | 500 AED |
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.
| SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
| SAIF company liquidation | 5,500 AED |
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.
With us, you can navigate this process quickly and effortlessly. You don't even have to arrive in Dubai — the liquidation procedure can be completed remotely. However, you will need to visit the UAE for medical checkups, visa formalities, and account opening.
About SAIF
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF) was formed in 1995 and presently hosts over 7,000 companies, including the most prestigious ones operating in the Middle East. It is situated right next to Sharjah International Airport, providing excellent connectivity for businesses and access to a vast customer base with over 2 billion people within a four-hour flight radius. SAIF’s pivotal role in the region's industrial sector is underscored by the fact that Sharjah accounts for approximately 34% of the UAE's industrial activity.
It is one of the oldest free zones in the country with the most developed infrastructure. Offices, warehouses, and land can be leased to any business, while other available facilities, such as SAIF’s own Jewelry Park, provide the versatility to accommodate diverse business needs. It is also UAE’s only industrial free zone with rich greenery.
Opening a business in SAIF comes with a multitude of advantages, such as 100% foreign ownership, exemption from personal and corporate income taxes, full repatriation of capital and profits, and exemption from import and export duties.
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.