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
Shams Free Zone Licence Renewal
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
To be clear, 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. Founders choose Shams Free Zone when they want a credible UAE address, fast licensing and packages that scale from a solo flexi-desk to a multi-visa office. Shams Free Zone issues commercial, professional and industrial licences from its base in Sharjah, and GoldenKey processes new registrations there every week.
To be clear, shams Free Zone is located in Sharjah emirate — close to Sharjah International Airport, and the authority's processing time for a standard file is around 3 working days. Day to day, office options in Shams Free Zone range from virtual office, flexi-desk or office suite, so you only pay for the space your visa quota actually needs. In practice, 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.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
The figures below for renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Pricing for renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated.
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 2026-10-28.
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
Day to day, gather these paperwork and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of renewing a licence 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
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a companyif applicable
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the countryif applicable
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visaif applicable
- Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE residentif 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
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Shams Free Zone. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsCan I add more activities to my Shams Free Zone licence later?
Yes. Shams Free Zone allows activity additions and changes through a licence amendment, which GoldenKey can process in a few business days for a small authority fee.
How long does the Shams Free Zone licence take?
As a rule, once your documents are complete, the issuing authority typically issues the licence within 3 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in Shams Free Zone?
Importantly, most Shams Free 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 processed.
Can I open a UAE bank account with a Shams Free Zone company?
Yes, Shams Free 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.
Is an audit required for a Shams Free Zone company?
Requirements vary by zone and by company size. GoldenKey will confirm the current Shams Free Zone rule when we prepare your quotation, and we provide bookkeeping if you need accounts in any case for corporate tax.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Shams Free Zone?
From day one, start your Shams Free Zone journey with a free consultation: share a few details about your business and we will map out the fastest route to your licence.
Good to know
More about Shams Free Zone
Changing your package at renewal
Renewal is the natural moment to move to a larger or smaller Shams Free Zone package, add activities or change the office option. We review your plans before each renewal so the package still fits.
What a renewal includes
A standard Shams Free Zone renewal covers the licence fee, the lease or flexi-desk renewal and the establishment card. Visa renewals are separate and fall due on each visa's own expiry date, which may not coincide with the licence.
Why the UAE
Importantly, the UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, so so many founders choose it as a base for renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone. Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone no longer requires a local partner.
Why GoldenKey
Our quotations for renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before a single dirham changes hands anything. In our experience, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for renewing a licence in Shams Free Zone. Most of our Shams Free Zone customers come to us through referrals from other business owners, and for that reason we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.
