Updated July 2026 · Sharjah Publishing City fees
SPC Free Zone Cost
From AED 6,875 — with the visa quota most budget zones cap.
A zero-visa SPC licence costs AED 6,875 in government fees, or AED 14,325 with one residence visa. SPC's distinguishing feature is visa capacity: where most low-cost zones cap you at three visas on a desk package, SPC supports far higher counts on one licence — which matters if you plan to hire.
Government cost from
AED 6,875
zero-visa licence · SPC Free Zone
- Zero visaAED 6,875
- With 1 residence visaAED 14,325
- Setup time~5 working days
- Ownership100% foreign
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In brief: An SPC Free Zone licence costs AED 6,875 in government fees with no visas, or AED 14,325 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,855 and three cost AED 23,385. SPC was established in 2017 by the Sharjah Book Authority as the world's first publishing-dedicated free zone, and its catalogue now covers service, commercial, e-commerce and general trading. Its practical advantage over other budget zones is visa capacity on a single licence without a large office. 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 14,325 | Adds entry permit, medical and Emirates ID |
| Licence with 2 residence visas | AED 18,855 | The second visa adds about AED 4,530 |
| Typical start — founder with residency | AED 14,325 | One licence, one residence visa, government cost |
What each visa adds
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First residence visa | + AED 7,450 | Includes the establishment card the company needs first |
| Second residence visa | + AED 4,530 | Much cheaper once the one-off setup is paid |
| Third residence visa | + AED 4,530 | Flat — and SPC supports counts beyond three |
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 SPC Free Zone
- Company registration and incorporation documents
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- A higher visa allowance than most desk-based packages
- Flexi-desk facility bundled into the standard packages
Additional, quoted separately
- A physical office or warehouse beyond the bundled desk
- Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately
- External approvals for regulated 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 SPC 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 SPC 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
- SPC vs SHAMS, Ajman and RAKEZ
- 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.
Visa count
The reason to pick SPC. Most budget zones tie your quota to office space, so growing past three visas means a bigger lease. SPC supports higher counts on a desk package, which changes the maths for anyone planning to hire.
Activity type
Service, commercial, e-commerce and general trading sit at the standard rate. General trading is worth confirming specifically — it is not universally available at this price point across zones.
Facility
The bundled desk suits most service and trading businesses. Physical space is a separate lease.
Speed
SPC issues the licence quickly, with residency typically following in about five working days. If you are working to a visa deadline, that speed has real value.
Renewal, not just setup
Compare year two, especially if your visa count will grow — the tier you renew on matters more than the one you start on.
How long it takes
- 1
Day 1 — Activity & visa plan
We confirm the activity and, crucially for SPC, how many visas you expect to need over the first two years.
- 2
Day 1–2 — Name & application
Trade name reserved and the application filed with SPC.
- 3
Day 2–5 — Licence issued
Incorporation documents and trade licence issued — SPC is among the faster zones.
- 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 spc free zone page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does an SPC Free Zone licence cost?
AED 6,875 in government fees for a zero-visa licence, or AED 14,325 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,855 and three cost AED 23,385. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
What makes SPC different from SHAMS?
Price is almost identical — both start at AED 6,875, and they are within AED 25 of each other at one visa. The difference is focus and capacity: SHAMS is media and creative with a freelance permit; SPC came out of Sharjah Publishing City and is known for supporting high visa counts on one licence. Choose on visa quota and activity fit, not price.
How many visas can I get on an SPC licence?
SPC supports considerably more visas per licence than typical desk-based packages, which is its main selling point. The exact allowance depends on the package — tell us your hiring plan and we will confirm the tier before you commit rather than after.
Can I do general trading with SPC?
Yes — SPC's catalogue covers service, commercial, e-commerce and general trading. General trading is worth confirming against your specific goods, since some categories need additional approval regardless of the zone.
Does the price include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure here is government cost paid to SPC Free Zone. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently.
How long does SPC setup take?
The licence issues quickly and residency typically follows within about five working days, making SPC one of the faster routes to a UAE residence visa.
Can I open a bank account with an SPC licence?
Yes. Banks assess your activity, documentation and business substance rather than the emirate. Expect standard free-zone requirements and timelines.
Can an SPC company work with Dubai clients?
Yes, for services and international trade. Like any free-zone company it cannot trade goods directly onshore in the UAE without a distributor or a mainland branch.
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 figures are in the fact sheet.
Does an SPC 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.
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.