Before you read further
SHAMS may not fit 4 things you're probably after.
If any of these apply to you, the linked alternative will save you a week. Close this tab before you waste it.
Not for crypto / Web3
→ Compare launch routesVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Not for clinics
→ DHCCDHA-regulated medical/clinical activity requires Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Visa cap: 6
→ Browse higher-cap zonesPlanning a team of 7+? You'll hit this zone's visa cap. Compare SRTIP, IFZA, RAKEZ, or another launch route with the right visa capacity.
Sharjah · Free Zone
First-party verifiedSharjah Media City
LLC without the 'FZ' — 4-hour formation for media & creative entrepreneurs
1d est.
Licence pace
6
Visa quota
5+
Activities
6/10
Bank score
SHAMS is the only UAE free zone that issues an LLC without the 'FZ' suffix — your entity reads like a mainland company on invoices and contracts. Media licence from AED 5,750/yr (incl. VAT), Standard from AED 6,885/yr, 4-hour formation, up to 5 activities, monthly credit-card instalments of AED 573 × 12. Channel-partner verified.
Starting from
VerifiedAED 5,750
SHAMS Media Package · 0 visas · 1 year · incl. VAT
💰 Save up to 10% multi-year
Includes: Media licence, LLC without 'FZ' suffix, up to 5 media activities, flexi-desk, lease agreement — incl. VAT
The only UAE free zone that issues LLC without the ‘FZ’ suffix
Media licence from AED 5,750/yr (incl. VAT), Standard from AED 6,885. 4-hour formation. Up to 5 activities. Monthly instalments of AED 573 × 12 via UAE credit card, or Tabby 4×. Every number traced to the Shams customer portal.
What does SHAMS cost in 2026?
SHAMS publishes two licences. Media is the creator / freelancer / content track; Standard is for service, trading, or multi-sector businesses. Both issue an LLC without the ‘FZ’ suffix — unique to SHAMS — and all published prices are inclusive of VAT.
Cheapest entry point
Media Licence
AED 5,750/yr
Tabby 4× interest-free available
Creative professionals, freelancers, and media entrepreneurs
- ✓Up to 5 media activities
- ✓LLC issued — no (unique to shams)
- ✓Flexi desk & lease agreement included
- ✓100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor
- ✓NOC not required — can use existing UAE visa
- ✓Prices inclusive of VAT
Standard Licence
AED 6,885/yr
or AED 573 × 12 on UAE credit card
Service-based, trading, consultancy, e-commerce, multi-sector
- ✓Any 5 business activities
- ✓LLC issued — no (unique to shams)
- ✓Flexi desk & lease agreement included
- ✓100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor
- ✓NOC not required — can use existing UAE visa
- ✓Prices inclusive of VAT
Does SHAMS offer a multi-year discount?
Yes — lock in for 2, 3, 5, or 10 years and the per-year rate drops by up to 10%. The 10-year Media plan costs AED 51,750 total, AED 5,750 less than renewing annually for a decade.
| Package | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | AED 6,875 | AED 13,475 | AED 20,006 | AED 32,656 | AED 61,875 |
| Media | AED 5,750 | AED 11,270 | AED 16,733 | AED 27,313 | AED 51,750 |
What FZ+ concierge add-ons does SHAMS offer?
SHAMS publishes 14 add-on services through its FZ+ concierge. Corporate Tax registration is the one every founder should budget for — the FTA penalty for missing it is AED 10,000.
Corporate Tax Registration
AED 850/moComplete FTA registration, documentation review, compliance guidance — avoids AED 10,000 penalties.
VIP Medical & Biometrics
AED 2,000/yrElevated, fast-tracked residency with priority care and dedicated concierge support.
Dependent Visa
AED 5,000Seamless family sponsorship — professionally managed from entry to visa issuance.
Dedicated Account Manager
Contact ShamsPersonalized account management.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Contact ShamsProfessional accounting services.
VAT Filing
Contact ShamsVAT compliance and periodic filing.
Corporate Tax (Filing)
Contact ShamsCorporate tax return preparation and filing.
Contact Details Change
Contact ShamsUpdate company contact information on license.
Health Insurance
Contact ShamsEmployee health insurance arrangement.
Executive Office
Contact ShamsDedicated office space upgrade.
Company Stamp
Contact ShamsOfficial company stamp / seal.
Custom HS Code
Contact ShamsCustom HS code assignment for trading activities.
CT & Bank Assistance
Contact ShamsBank selection, application preparation, documentation review, follow-ups until activation.
Telephone Answering
Contact ShamsProfessional multilingual agents, business hours Sun–Thu 8:30AM–5:30PM, call forwarding, voicemail.
Invoice transparency · SHAMS
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- SHAMS licenceAED 5,750
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
1 visa · founder
- SHAMS licenceAED 5,750
- Entry permit × 1AED 3,500
- Medical + EID × 1AED 690
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
2 visas · partners
- SHAMS licenceAED 5,750
- Entry permit × 2AED 7,000
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,380
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
Visa bundle uses SHAMS-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · SHAMS
The real bank-approval picture for a SHAMS licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical bank review time after licence issuance and clean KYC documents.
Banking partners
Banking routes commonly reviewed for SHAMS companies, with final decisions subject to each bank's KYC and risk review.
Banking-review estimate
21 days
after licence issuance; subject to KYC
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to bank-file routing.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~1 day
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~0 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~13 days
Bank file routed
Clean KYC pack prepared and routed; final onboarding remains subject to bank review.
~7 days
SHAMS — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a SHAMS license cost in 2026?
+
A Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) starts from AED 5,750 in 2026. Media licence, LLC without 'FZ' suffix, up to 5 media activities, flexi-desk, lease agreement — incl. VAT. Add one investor visa and the customer-facing 1-visa route is AED 9,940 before any case-specific authority extras.
How long does SHAMS company setup take?
+
SHAMS publishes a typical licence-issuance estimate of 1 business day after initial approval (1 day). A residency visa adds an additional immigration stage. Banking preparation and review add another case-specific stage. Timelines vary by authority, immigration, document readiness, and bank risk review.
How many visas can I get with SHAMS?
+
SHAMS default package includes 0 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is 6. A 1-visa customer route is approximately AED 9,940 based on the current pricing schedule.
Which UAE banks open accounts for SHAMS companies?
+
SHAMS companies primarily bank with RAKBANK, Mashreq NeoBiz, WIO. Formenzo prepares the KYC pack, identifies missing items, and routes the application to a suitable bank. Bank outcomes vary by nationality, activity, source of funds, and full risk review.
What business activities does SHAMS allow?
+
SHAMS permits approximately 5 business activities. It is best suited for freelance, marketing, media, content creator. Activities not allowed include restaurant, industrial, fintech — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a SHAMS company without visiting the UAE?
+
Yes — SHAMS formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is SHAMS eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
+
Yes. SHAMS is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. SHAMS companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose SHAMS over other UAE Free Zones?
+
LLC without the 'FZ' — 4-hour formation for media & creative entrepreneurs. LLC without the 'FZ' suffix — only Shams offers this. Media licence from AED 5,750/yr (incl. VAT). Banking readiness score: 6/10. Published licence pace: 1 days, subject to document and authority review. Starting cost: AED 5,750. Run Formenzo's 60-second match to compare SHAMS against indexed UAE formation options based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Sharjah Free Zones
Compare SHAMS with other options in the same emirate.
SRTIP
R&D + innovation park — 5 activities per licence, free R&D grant available
SPC
AED 5,750 flat licence. 70% Sharjah utility subsidy. Pay-As-You-Go activity combination.
IFZA
Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address
Masdar City
Sustainability-focused free zone — cleantech, AI, space tech
Ready to form your SHAMS company?
Run the 60-second match. We'll prepare your docs, file with SHAMS, and track the case-specific licence timeline.