SHAMS FREE ZONE
Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) Free Zone Company Formation
Sharjah Media City - widely known as SHAMS - is the UAE's dedicated hub for media and creative enterprise, based in Sharjah, the country's cultural capital. Its affordable, flexible structure has made it a first choice for young entrepreneurs.
Overview
Why Set Up in Sharjah Media City?
SHAMS was created with a long-term ambition: to set the benchmark for entrepreneurship in the region by pairing technology with a creative mindset. The zone welcomes founders of every nationality and language and has cultivated an energetic community built around living, learning and creating together - which is exactly why it attracts so many first-time business owners.
For solo entrepreneurs, the zone's media licence package with zero visas is a standout route into e-commerce and creative work in the UAE. A single licence can cover a wide span of media activities, including e-commerce, advertising, digital marketing, events organising, computer programming and consultancy, media production, photography, web portals, printing, market research, graphic design, fashion design, interior design, publishing and translation services.
Beyond media, SHAMS issues licences across three core categories. A service licence is for businesses whose main purpose is delivering services - including creating, transforming and distributing them, even where goods are used along the way. A trading licence permits selling goods inside the zone as well as importing and exporting them, taking in goods movement, wholesale, retail and any services tied to those sales. An industrial licence is required where the company manufactures, processes or transforms goods itself.
IZZAT Documents Clearing Services provides complete business setup support for SHAMS registrations and acts as your bridge to the free zone authority. In our experience SHAMS remains one of the most affordable and flexible zones in the UAE for company registration - request a quote and we will structure the right package for you.
- The investor does not need to be physically present for company registration
- Low-cost startup packages for new businesses
- Zero paid-up share capital requirement
- 100% foreign ownership, with no personal income tax in the UAE
- Flexible visa packages sized to your needs
- Complete company documentation issued within two days
- Fully remote, online registration from anywhere in the world
- One licence can combine a wide range of media and creative activities
SHAMS Licence Types
Service Licence
For companies whose core purpose is delivering services - covering how those services are created, adapted and distributed, with goods used only as a means of providing them.
Trading Licence
Lets you sell goods within SHAMS and import or export them, spanning goods movement, wholesale and retail activity, and the supporting services attached to those sales.
Industrial Licence
For businesses that manufacture, process or transform goods within the free zone.
Media Licence - Zero Visa
A package built for individual entrepreneurs entering e-commerce and creative fields, allowing a choice of media activities from digital marketing and photography to publishing and design.
Creative Ecosystem
SHAMS focuses on technology and creativity, hosting an innovation-driven community open to founders of every nationality and language.
How it works with IZZAT
Select Your Activities
We help you choose the media, service, trading or industrial activities that match your business plan.
Pick a Licence Package
Choose a zero-visa media package or a licence with the visa quota your team requires.
Submit Documents Online
IZZAT files your passport copy and application electronically - no UAE presence is needed at any stage.
Authority Approval
SHAMS reviews and approves the application, typically within two to three working days.
Receive Your Documents
Your licence and full corporate documentation are issued electronically, usually within two days.
Visas & Banking
If your package includes visas, we process them and assist with opening your corporate bank account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get a freelancer licence at SHAMS?
SHAMS has discontinued its standalone freelancer permit. Anyone wishing to freelance in the UAE can instead take a standard SHAMS licence, which allows them to operate as a business.
How long does SHAMS company formation take?
The process is streamlined - registration is typically completed within two to three working days, with the licence and corporate documents delivered electronically.
Do I need to be in the UAE to register a SHAMS company?
No. The entire registration can be completed online from abroad; the investor's physical presence is not required.
Is there a minimum share capital for SHAMS companies?
No - SHAMS requires zero paid-up share capital, which keeps the entry cost of company formation low.
What activities can a SHAMS media licence cover?
A single media licence can span activities such as e-commerce, advertising, digital marketing, event organising, programming and IT consultancy, media production, photography, web portals, printing, market research, graphic, fashion and interior design, publishing and translation services.
Register Your SHAMS Company with IZZAT - Fully Online
Talk to our consultant today. Call 052 271 7904 or message us on WhatsApp.
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