SAIF Zone Business Activities
Sharjah's industrial free zone — warehousing, logistics and manufacturing hub
- 5–7 daysSetup time
- Free ZoneLicence type
- Flexi | PhysicalOffice / facility
- Visa supportVisa eligibility
- StandardApprovals needed
- On requestRenewal cost
Why SAIF Zone
Setting up a company in SAIF Zone gives you 100% ownership, a UAE trade licence and the option to sponsor residence visas for yourself and your family. If you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, SAIF Zone deserves a close look for its Airport proximity and straightforward renewal process. SAIF Zone combines Airport proximity with the flexibility to add activities and visas later, which is why it suits both first-time company owners and established groups.
Office options in SAIF Zone range from flexi-desk, office suite, warehouse, factory unit or land lease, so you only pay for the space your visa quota actually needs. SAIF Zone is located in Adjacent to Sharjah International Airport — direct airside access, and the authority's processing time for a standard file is around 5 business days. As we tell every client, one of the reasons our advice is to choose SAIF Zone is its Airport proximity, which matters more than most entrepreneurs realise once the business is running.
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Use the table below to compare packages for choosing activities for SAIF Zone; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. On the ground, all prices for choosing activities for SAIF Zone are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay.
Message us with your activity and visa count — we reply shortly with prices in writing.
Get my quoteFull list of SAIF Zone activities
SAIF Zone licenses trading, service, professional and industrial activities. Search every activity we license across the UAE and see where it is available and what it costs.
Documents required
Here is what you will need for choosing activities for SAIF Zone; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the countryif applicable
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a companyif applicable
- Your current UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE residentif applicable
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visaif applicable
- A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activitiesif applicable
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zonesif applicable
For companies
- Certificate of incorporation (attested)
- Memorandum & articles of association
- Board resolution approving the UAE company
- Passport copies of shareholders & directors
- Company profile / business plan
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about SAIF Zone. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsCan I add more activities to my SAIF Zone licence later?
Yes. SAIF Zone allows activity additions and changes through a licence amendment, which GoldenKey can process in a few working days for a small authority fee.
Can I open a UAE bank account with a SAIF Zone company?
Yes, SAIF Zone companies open accounts with UAE banks every day. Approval depends on the bank's compliance review of your profile, business plan and supporting documents, and GoldenKey prepares the file and introduces you to a suitable bank.
What is the difference between an FZE and an FZCO in SAIF Zone?
An FZE has one shareholder and an FZCO has two or more. Both offer limited liability and 100% foreign ownership, and the fees in SAIF Zone are as a rule the same.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in SAIF Zone?
Most SAIF Zone licences can be issued remotely with scanned papers and a signed power of attorney. You will need to enter the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics when your residence visa is handled.
Is an audit required for a SAIF Zone company?
Requirements vary by zone and by company size. GoldenKey will confirm the current SAIF Zone rule when we prepare your quotation, and we provide bookkeeping if you need accounts in any case for corporate tax.
Ready to start your business in SAIF Zone?
Start your SAIF Zone journey with a free consultation: share a few details about your business and we will map out the fastest route to your licence.
More about SAIF Zone
Combining activities on one licence
SAIF Zone lets you list several related activities on one licence, which is the right approach for most businesses. Unrelated lines — trading and consultancy, for example — may need a general trading licence or a second licence, and GoldenKey tells you which before you commit.
Activities that need extra approval
On the ground, healthcare, education, legal consultancy, financial services and food require approvals from regulators outside SAIF Zone. GoldenKey identifies these at the first consultation so the timeline and cost in your quotation already include them.
Why the UAE
Banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of choosing activities for SAIF Zone predictable. In our experience, the UAE's reputation as a trading hub means international customers and suppliers already trust a UAE licence, which shortens sales cycles for choosing activities for SAIF Zone.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey's consultants have handled choosing activities for SAIF Zone for traders, consultants, tech entrepreneurs and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Day to day, after your SAIF Zone licence is issued, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. In practice, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for choosing activities for SAIF Zone.
Activity groups you can license
General TradingCommercial licence
E-commerceCommercial licence
IT & SoftwareProfessional licence
Business ConsultingProfessional licence
Marketing & Advertising AgencyProfessional licence
Real Estate BrokerageCommercial licence
Restaurant & CaféCommercial licence
Retail ShopCommercial licence
Logistics & Freight ForwardingCommercial licenceImport & ExportCommercial licence
Manufacturing & IndustrialIndustrial licence
Construction & ContractingCommercial licence
Healthcare ClinicProfessional licence
Education & TrainingProfessional licence
Media & Content ProductionProfessional licence
Recruitment & HR ServicesProfessional licence
Travel & Tourism AgencyCommercial licence
Event ManagementProfessional licence
Interior Design & Fit-outProfessional licence
Cleaning & Facilities ManagementCommercial licence
Beauty Salon & SpaCommercial licenceFitness & SportsProfessional licencePhotography & VideographyProfessional licence
Legal ConsultancyProfessional licence
Accounting & BookkeepingProfessional licenceAutomotive & Spare Parts TradingCommercial licence
Gold & Jewellery TradingCommercial licence
Crypto & BlockchainProfessional licence
Fintech & PaymentsProfessional licenceTourism & HospitalityCommercial licenceTextile & Garments TradingCommercial licence
Perfume & Cosmetics TradingCommercial licenceFoodstuff TradingCommercial licence
Engineering ConsultancyProfessional licence
Architecture & DesignProfessional licence
Printing & PackagingIndustrial licenceCar Rental & LeasingCommercial licencePharmaceutical & Medical SuppliesCommercial licence
Oil & Gas ServicesCommercial licence
Maritime & Ship ServicesCommercial licence
Holding CompanyCommercial licence
