In practice, since the 2021 ownership reforms, most Sharjah mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership, which removed the biggest objection founders used to have. A mainland company in Sharjah can hold a mainland office, hire staff under MOHRE contracts and register with the Chamber of Commerce for tenders. As a rule, external approvals for restaurant & café are: municipality food control, civil defence and, for alcohol, the relevant licensing authority. Restaurant & Café in Sharjah means operating a dine-in restaurant, café, cloud kitchen or food truck, and it is licensed as a commercial activity.
Why Sharjah
To be clear, sharjah's industrial areas host more than 30% of the UAE's small manufacturers. Among the strengths of a Sharjah mainland licence are Lowest-cost mainland licence among the big three emirates and Industrial zones with affordable warehouses, and that is why local service businesses gravitate here. Put simply, for restaurant & café, Sharjah offers the office options such a business actually needs and a visa quota that can grow with the team.
How Sharjah works with GoldenKey
Step 1Activity and legal form
We pick the precise activity codes from the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals.
Step 2Trade name and initial approval
Crucially, your trade name is reserved and initial approval secured from the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), together with any external approvals the activity requires. Nothing is submitted for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland until you have reviewed and approved it.
Step 3Office, MOA and submission
For most clients, you sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file.
Step 4Licence, Chamber and immigration
Your Sharjah mainland licence is released, Chamber membership is activated and we open the establishment and labour files so visas can begin. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland.
Documents required
Gather these supporting documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland.
- Attested parent-company documents for corporate shareholders
- The existing visa copy and NOC if a shareholder is on another UAE visa
- The notarised memorandum of association, which GoldenKey drafts for you
- An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
- Tenancy contract for the outlet
- A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
Pricing
Use the table below to compare packages for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
| Additional visa | AED 2,800 |
|---|---|
| Annual renewal | AED 8,500 |
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-07.
Why the UAE
As we tell every client, english is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland for international founders. To be clear, residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland a route to relocation as well as a business decision.
Why GoldenKey
In practice, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland happen the same day they are ready. Crucially, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland. As a rule, most of our Sharjah clients come to us through referrals from other company owners, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.
Ready to start? Send us a WhatsApp message with your nationality, the activity you have in mind and the number of visas you need, and we will reply shortly with a written quotation for restaurant & café on Sharjah mainland.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sharjah mainland company formation take?
With paperwork and a tenancy contract ready, the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) typically issues the licence within 4 working days (Monday to Friday). External approvals for regulated activities add time.
Are Sharjah mainland companies subject to corporate tax?
Yes — Mainland companies pay 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 and must register with the FTA, which GoldenKey handles as part of your setup.
Can a Sharjah mainland company trade in other emirates?
Yes — A mainland licence is valid across the UAE, and you can open branches in other emirates by registering with their economic departments.
Which licence type covers restaurant & café?
As a rule, restaurant & Café is classified as a commercial activity, and GoldenKey selects the exact activity code so your licence matches what you actually do.
Can I combine restaurant & café with other activities?
In most cases yes. Related activities can share one licence, while unrelated ones may need a general trading licence or a second licence.


