SHAMS Free Zone Business Setup

No. SHAMS does not require a No Objection Certificate from your current sponsor, so you can register a company using your existing UAE visa while still employed. This is one of its standout advantages for professionals building a side business before going full-time.

It removes a common barrier that trips people up at other zones. We can get your SHAMS company set up alongside your current job without the NOC hurdle.

The most affordable option is the zero-visa licence, starting from around AED 5,750, making SHAMS one of the cheapest free zone entry points in the UAE. It covers your licence, registration, and a flexi-desk address, and suits solo founders who already hold UAE residency through another route.

If you need a visa, a one-visa package with a flexi-desk starts from roughly AED 11,000. We can give you an exact quote for your activity and visa needs.

Yes, this is unique to SHAMS. It's the one UAE free zone that lets you register as a Limited Liability Company without the ""FZ"" designation in your trade name, giving your brand a more mainland-like presence.

Many founders value this when dealing with clients or partners who read ""FZ"" as a signal of free zone limitations. It's a small detail that can make your company look more established on paper. We can reserve the right name for you during setup.

SHAMS sits in Sharjah, right on Dubai's border, giving it strong connectivity. It's approximately 15 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and around 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport, with easy access to Dubai's business districts and ports.

That proximity is a key part of its appeal — Sharjah's lower costs while staying plugged into the Dubai ecosystem. Actual travel times vary with traffic and your exact location.

Yes. SHAMS lets you combine up to five business activities under a single licence, even across different sectors - for example, media, consultancy, and e-commerce together. It's one of the most flexible activity structures among UAE free zones.

Bundling upfront saves on separate licences, and you can update activities after incorporation as your business evolves. We can map the right combination to your model so you're covered from day one.

A physical office isn't mandatory. SHAMS offers flexi-desk, shared desk, and virtual office options included in its cost-effective packages, with dedicated offices available when you need them. Physical presence isn't required to incorporate.

Your workspace sets your visa allocation — a shared desk supports up to six visas, while a larger office allows more. Start lean and scale the space as your team grows.

Yes. SHAMS runs a fully digital setup - you can apply, pay, and receive your licence from anywhere in the world, without visiting the UAE to incorporate. Company documents are typically issued within one to two business days.

If you later want a residence visa, you'll need a short visit for your medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Otherwise, the whole formation can be handled remotely, which we manage end to end.

Yes. SHAMS offers a freelance licence for independent professionals — designers, writers, consultants, content creators, and other creatives — letting you operate legally and invoice clients without setting up a full company. Freelance permits typically start from around AED 7,500.

It's a lower-commitment route for solo operators who don't need a company structure yet. We can advise whether a freelance permit or a full licence works out better for you.

SHAMS licence renewal broadly matches your setup fee, a zero-visa licence renews from around AED 5,750, ranging up to roughly AED 13,000 depending on your package, activities, and office. Visa renewals are separate, at about AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 per visa.

Renewing before expiry avoids penalties, which begin once the licence lapses. We can handle your renewal, visas, and any approvals together so nothing slips.