License Cost
Licence only · upgrade to visas anytime
AED 6,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Upgrade to visas anytime
- Company name reservation
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
FREE ZONE · SHARJAH
Bank Account for a Shams Free Zone Company
Sharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences from AED 5,750
5–7 daysSetup time100%OwnershipUp to 10 visasVisas
- 5–7 daysSetup time
- Free ZoneLicence type
- Flexi | PhysicalOffice / facility
- Up to 10 visasVisa eligibility
- StandardApprovals needed
- From AED 5,280Renewal cost
About Shams Free Zone
Why Shams Free Zone
Setting up a company in Shams Free Zone gives you 100% ownership, a UAE trade licence and the option to sponsor residence visas for yourself and your family. Crucially, shams Free Zone is Sharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences from AED 5,750, and it has become one of the most practical choices for founders who want a UAE licence without a large upfront budget. Day to day, shams Free Zone combines media & creative focus with the flexibility to add activities and visas later, which is why it suits both first-time founders and established groups.
One of the reasons we recommend Shams Free Zone is its media & creative focus, which matters more than most business owners realise once the business is running. On the ground, unlike some zones, Shams Free Zone does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is issued. Shams Free Zone licences are renewed annually with a simple online payment and updated passport copies, and GoldenKey sends a reminder 60 days before the due date.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
The figures below for opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Crucially, all prices for opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before a single dirham changes hands.
License Plus Visa Quota
1 residence visa · 1-year licence
AED 8,475
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 1 visa eligibility
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
2 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 10,075
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 2 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
3 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 11,675
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 3 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
4 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 13,275
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 4 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
5 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 14,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 5 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
6 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 16,575
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 6 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
7 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 18,075
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 7 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
8 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 19,675
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 8 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
9 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 21,275
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 9 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
10 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 22,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 10 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
Additional visaAED 2,420
Annual renewalAED 5,280
Bank account assistanceAED 1,650
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-27.
Business activities
Explore 834 business activities in Shams Free Zone
Shams Free Zone lets you combine related activities on one licence. Search by what your business does — in English or Arabic — and quote the GK code when you ask for a quotation.
GK-SHAMS-001PrintingMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-002Printing of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, books and brochures, music and music manuscripts, maps, atlases, posters, advertising catalogues, prospectuses and other printed advertising, postage stamps, taxation stamps, documents of title, cheMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-003Printing directly onto textiles, plastic, glass, metal, wood and ceramics (except silkscreen printing on textiles and wearing apparel)
the material printed is typically copyrighted.MediaGK-SHAMS-004Printing on labels or tags (lithographic, gravure printing, flexographic printing, other)MediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-005Multi dimensional printing servicesMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-006Printing,Advertising Agencies And Event OrganizingMediaApproval requiredPopular choices · 834 activities availableAll 834 Shams Free Zone activities
Required documents
Documents required
As a rule, gather these documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
- A passport-size photograph on a white background
- A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activitiesif applicable
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visaif applicable
- 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
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
Our process
How Shams Free Zone works with GoldenKey
- 1
Consultation and activity selection
We confirm that your activity is available in Shams Free Zone, choose the licence type and agree the visa package and office option that match your plan.
- 2
Name reservation and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved with the Shams Free Zone authority and initial approval is obtained; this stage rarely takes more than two working days. If the authority raises a query on opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone at this stage, we handle it the same day.
- 3
Document submission and payment
You sign the application and memorandum, we file the attested paperwork with Shams Free Zone and the authority's licence fee is paid.
- 4
Licence issued and next steps
Shams Free Zone issues the licence, incorporation certificate and lease; from there we open the establishment card, process visas and arrange your bank introduction. Nothing is submitted for opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone until you have reviewed and approved it.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Shams Free Zone. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsCan a Shams Free Zone company do business on the UAE mainland?
A Shams Free Zone company can sell to mainland customers through a mainland distributor, invoice services to mainland clients for most applicants, and apply for a dual-licence arrangement where the emirate offers one. Direct retail or on-site contracting on the mainland needs a mainland licence.
How many visas can I get with a Shams Free Zone licence?
As a rule, visa quota is tied to the package and office you choose. Shams Free Zone packages usually start from a zero-visa option and scale to five or more visas with a physical office, and additional visas can be added later for the per-visa fee shown in our pricing.
What is the difference between an FZE and an FZCO in Shams Free 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 Shams Free Zone are nine times out of ten the same.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in Shams Free Zone?
From day one, most Shams Free Zone licences can be issued remotely with scanned documents and a signed power of attorney. You will need to enter the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics when your residency visa is completed.
How long does the Shams Free Zone licence take?
Once your papers are complete, the authority as a rule issues the licence within 3 business days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Shams Free Zone?
Call or WhatsApp GoldenKey today and a consultant will walk you through opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone step by step, with no obligation and no pressure.
Good to know
More about Shams Free Zone
Timing the application
Day to day, we submit the bank file for your Shams Free Zone company after the residency visa and Emirates ID are issued, because a resident signatory is what most banks want to see. Digital banks can sometimes start earlier.
What the bank will ask
As we tell every client, expect questions about your customers, suppliers, countries of operation, expected monthly inflows and the source of your initial capital. A one-page business profile prepared by GoldenKey answers most of them before they are asked.
Why the UAE
Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone a route to relocation as well as a business decision. In our experience, the UAE's reputation as a trading hub means international clients and suppliers already trust a UAE licence, which shortens sales cycles for opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped business owners from more than 60 countries with opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. GoldenKey's consultants have handled opening a bank account for a company in Shams Free Zone for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves fast. Importantly, you deal with one named consultant from the first call until your Shams Free Zone licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally.
