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 Visa Packages
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
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. As a rule, if you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, Shams Free Zone deserves a close look for its media & creative focus and straightforward renewal process. GoldenKey has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs through Shams Free Zone company formation, from name reservation to the moment the licence PDF lands in their inbox.
Put simply, popular activities in Shams Free Zone include media, advertising, publishing, creative services and digital marketing, and most of them can be combined on a single licence. In short, 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. Shams Free Zone is located in Sharjah emirate — close to Sharjah International Airport, and the licensing authority's processing time for a standard file is around 3 working days.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Use the table below to compare packages for residence visas through Shams Free Zone; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. Day to day, pricing for residence visas through 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 2026-10-27.
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
Gather these supporting documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of residence visas through Shams Free Zone.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- A passport-size photograph on a white background
- Attested parent-company papers and a board resolution if the shareholder is a companyif applicable
- Your current residency visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE residentif 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
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visaif 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 working days (Monday to Friday) for a small authority fee.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in Shams Free Zone?
As we tell every client, most Shams Free Zone licences can be granted 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 residence visa is processed.
How many visas can I get with a Shams Free Zone licence?
Visa quota is tied to the package and office you choose. Shams Free Zone packages typically 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.
Is an audit required for a Shams Free Zone company?
In short, 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.
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 usually the same.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Shams Free Zone?
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
Visas for partners and staff
Partners listed on the Shams Free Zone licence receive investor visas; employees receive employment visas under the same quota. Salaries for employees must be paid through the free zone's wage system where applicable, and GoldenKey sets this up with you.
The visa process after the licence
Once your Shams Free Zone licence is issued we open the establishment card, apply for the entry permit, change your status inside the UAE if you are already here, book the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, and submit for stamping. Family visas follow once your own residence visa is active.
Why the UAE
The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for residence visas through Shams Free Zone and makes international pricing simple. As a rule, the UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for residence visas through Shams Free Zone.
Why GoldenKey
Because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a Shams Free Zone file. We speak the languages our customers speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for residence visas through Shams Free Zone. Most of our Shams Free Zone customers come to us through referrals from other founders, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.
Timeline
Here is a realistic timeline for residence visas through Shams Free Zone based on the files GoldenKey handles every week.
- Day 0In short, quotation approved, documents collected and checked by GoldenKey.
- Day 1–2Put simply, trade name reserved and initial approval requested for residence visas through Shams Free Zone.
- Day 2–5Authority review and issue of the licence; we chase any query the same day.
- Week 2–3Crucially, establishment card, visa entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID; bank introduction in parallel.
