Updated July 2026 · Sharjah Media City fees
SHAMS Free Zone Cost
From AED 6,875 — Sharjah's media and creative zone, at budget pricing.
A zero-visa SHAMS licence costs AED 6,875 in government fees, or AED 14,300 with one residence visa. Sharjah Media City was set up in 2017 as a home for content creators, media production and creative agencies, and it remains one of the most freelancer-friendly zones in the UAE.
Government cost from
AED 6,875
zero-visa licence · Sharjah Media City
- Zero visaAED 6,875
- With 1 residence visaAED 14,300
- Setup time~1 week
- Ownership100% foreign
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In brief: A SHAMS licence costs AED 6,875 in government fees with no visas, or AED 14,300 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,465 and three cost AED 22,595. SHAMS is Sharjah's media and creative free zone, established by Emiri Decree in 2017, and offers a freelance permit alongside standard company licences — which makes it one of the cheapest legitimate routes to UAE residency for a solo content professional. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
What it costs — line by line
These are the government line items. Ranges are real variation by activity and legal form, not padding — where a figure genuinely moves, we show the span rather than a flattering minimum.
| Government item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence | AED 6,875 | Trade licence and company registration |
| Licence with 1 residence visa | AED 14,300 | Adds entry permit, medical and Emirates ID |
| Licence with 2 residence visas | AED 18,465 | The second visa adds about AED 4,165 |
| Typical start — freelancer with residency | AED 14,300 | One licence, one residence visa, government cost |
What each visa adds
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First residence visa | + AED 7,425 | Includes the establishment card the company needs first |
| Second residence visa | + AED 4,165 | Much cheaper once the one-off setup is paid |
| Third residence visa | + AED 4,130 | Flat from the second visa onward |
Indicative government costs as at July 2026. They exclude Avyanco’s professional fee, office rent, VAT where applicable and external-approval charges for regulated activities. Government fees are set by the authorities and change — confirm the live figure for your activity and visa mix before budgeting.
What the price includes — and what it doesn’t
Most “cheap setup” quotes fall apart here. This is the honest split.
Included in the figures above
- Trade licence issued by Sharjah Media City
- Company registration and incorporation documents
- Freelance permit option for solo creative professionals
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- Flexi-desk facility bundled into the standard packages
Additional, quoted separately
- A physical office or studio beyond the bundled desk
- Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately
- External approvals for regulated or broadcast activities
- Corporate bank-account opening and minimum balances
- VAT and corporate-tax registration, bookkeeping and audit
- Avyanco's professional service fee, quoted separately
Download the complete SHAMS fact sheet
The table above answers the headline question. The fact sheet answers the next ten — every visa tier priced out, what year two costs, and how it stacks up against the cheaper free zones. It is the same one-pager our advisers send to clients, and it is free.
Free PDF · instant download
Download the full SHAMS fact sheet
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every cost priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- Renewal costs — what year two really costs
- SHAMS vs Ajman, RAKEZ and SPC
- Document checklist and realistic timeline
What actually moves the price
Two companies registered on the same day can differ by more than AED 10,000. These are the factors that decide where you land in the range.
Licence or freelance permit
SHAMS offers both. A freelance permit is the cheaper route for a solo professional trading under their own name; a company licence is necessary if you will invoice as an entity, hire, or want to sell the business later.
Number of visas
The first visa adds AED 7,425 because it carries the one-off establishment card. The second and third add only about AED 4,150 each, so if you plan to sponsor a spouse, doing it on the same licence is comparatively cheap.
Activity type
Media, content, creative and consultancy activities sit at the standard rate. Broadcast and some regulated media activities need additional approval.
Facility
The bundled desk suits most freelancers and agencies. Studio or production space is a separate lease.
Renewal, not just setup
SHAMS stays inexpensive at renewal, which matters more for a freelancer than for a funded company — you will pay it every year you keep your residency.
How long it takes
- 1
Day 1 — Licence or permit
We confirm whether a freelance permit or a company licence fits how you actually invoice.
- 2
Day 1–2 — Name & application
Trade name reserved and the application filed with Sharjah Media City.
- 3
Day 3–5 — Licence issued
Incorporation documents and licence issued, typically within about a week.
- 4
Week 2 — Establishment card
Immigration card issued so the company can sponsor residence visas.
- 5
Week 2–3 — Visas
Entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID for each person.
- 6
After licensing — Bank & compliance
Corporate account opening, corporate tax registration and bookkeeping set up.
Get a quote with the government fees shown separately
Tell us the activity and how many visas you need. You will get a written figure that separates what goes to the authorities from what goes to us — no bundled “all-in” number hiding the difference.
Compare before you commit
Cost is one input. Where you can trade, who your customers are and what banking you need matter just as much. Read the shams free zone page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does a SHAMS licence cost?
AED 6,875 in government fees for a zero-visa licence, or AED 14,300 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,465 and three cost AED 22,595. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
Is SHAMS good for freelancers?
It is one of the better options. SHAMS offers a freelance permit alongside company licences, so a solo content creator, designer or consultant can get a legitimate licence and UAE residency without incorporating a full company or renting an office.
Is SHAMS cheaper than Ajman or RAKEZ?
No — SHAMS is AED 6,875 against Ajman's AED 5,565 and RAKEZ's AED 6,010 at zero visas, and RAKEZ is cheaper again with one visa. SHAMS is worth the difference if your work is media or creative, where the zone's focus and freelance permit fit how you actually operate.
Do I have to be in media to licence with SHAMS?
Media and creative activities are its focus, but the catalogue extends to consultancy and general services. If your activity sits outside that, a general-purpose zone such as Ajman or RAKEZ is usually a better fit and often cheaper.
Does the price include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure here is government cost paid to Sharjah Media City. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently.
How long does SHAMS setup take?
Typically about a week from a complete document set to a licence in hand. Residence visas run after the licence and establishment card are issued, usually adding one to two weeks per person.
Can I work with Dubai clients on a SHAMS licence?
Yes — you can invoice clients across the UAE and internationally for services. Like any free-zone company you cannot trade goods directly onshore without a distributor, but for media, content and consultancy work that restriction rarely bites.
Can I open a bank account with a SHAMS licence?
Yes. Banks assess your activity, documentation and substance rather than the emirate. Freelancers and small creative businesses should expect questions about client concentration and expected turnover — having contracts ready helps.
What does renewal cost?
Less than first-year setup, because registration and establishment-card costs are one-off. The licence and any visas renew on their own cycles. Exact renewal figures are in the fact sheet.
Does a SHAMS company pay corporate tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above it. A qualifying free-zone person can access 0% on qualifying income subject to strict conditions — it is not automatic. VAT registration becomes mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.
SHAMS or SPC — which is better?
They are close on price: SHAMS AED 6,875 and SPC AED 6,875 at zero visas, and within AED 25 of each other at one visa. SHAMS is media and creative focused; SPC came out of Sharjah Publishing City and is known for supporting high visa counts on one licence. Pick on visa quota and activity fit rather than on price.
Pricing note. Figures on this page are indicative government costs as at July 2026, published so you can budget realistically. They are set by the relevant UAE authorities, vary by activity, legal form, visa mix and office type, and change over time. They exclude Avyanco’s professional service fee, office rent and any external-approval charges. This is general guidance, not a quotation — confirm your specific position with us before acting.