Sharjah · Sharjah Government · Est. 2017
Sharjah Media City (Shams) is a digital-first free zone designed for creative, media, and digital service businesses. Packages start from AED 5,750, supporting up to 20 visa allocations depending on facility selection, alongside moderate corporate banking access. Shams permits up to five business activities under a single license and provides an online onboarding workflow.
Fees last checked · Licensing authority: Sharjah Government. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the authority before you pay.
From
AED 5,750
Year 1
Quick facts
Media License (0 Visa)
AED 5,750
— · Flexi Desk · 0 visas
Renews at AED 5,750
Standard License (0 Visa)
AED 6,875
— · Flexi Desk · 0 visas
Renews at AED 6,875
Flexi-Desk + 1 Visa Package
AED 19,620
— · Flexi Desk · 1 visa
Renews at AED 15,520
Flexi-Desk + 2 Visa Package
AED 26,015
— · Flexi Desk · 2 visas
Renews at AED 21,915
Shared Desk + 3 Visa Package
AED 31,655
— · Dedicated Desk · 3 visas
Renews at AED 27,555
Advisory Estimate
AED 12,150
— · 0 visas
Renews at AED 9,000
Estimated
Visa renewal every 2 years
SHAMS suits trading, tech and media businesses. Confirm your exact activity is on the zone's list before you apply.
Comparing with a mainland licence? Trading & Services · Transport, Storage & Logistics · IT & Media · Professional & Technical Services
Features
Mainland trading
Dual licence allowed
Crypto-friendly
Shared ownership
Coworking available
Online portal
Audit required
Tax and compliance analysis
Substance
Medium
Audit risk
Moderate
Forensic ease
7/10
Digital-First Node; High Exposure to 'Management & Control' Audits.
SHAMS is a premier hub for the creative and digital economy. However, because it caters to many remote-first businesses, it faces a unique forensic challenge: proving the 'Place of Effective Management' (POEM). For 2026, the FTA is increasingly scrutinizing 'shell' digital entities; if management decisions are made from a home office in another emirate (or country), the entity risks losing its 0% Free Zone status and being reclassified as a 9% Mainland entity.
Digital-first jurisdiction. Compliance focuses on Article 18 QFZP criteria, specifically the 'Main Management' tests and the exclusion of certain digital service activities from the 0% 'Qualifying Income' list.
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Tax and compliance
SHAMS tax status and QFZP rules →
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Activities
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How much does it cost to set up in SHAMS?
The cheapest published package for Sharjah Media City is Media License (0 Visa) at AED 5,750 for Year 1, renewing at AED 5,750. Costs scale with visa count, office type, and licensed activities.
Is banking easy to set up with a SHAMS licence?
Banking difficulty for SHAMS is rated "Moderate". Known banking partners include Wio Bank, Mashreq Neo, Mashreq NeoBiz, RAKBANK.
How many visas can I get with a SHAMS licence, and what do they cost?
SHAMS allows 3 visas per desk. Published packages include up to 3 visas (Shared Desk + 3 Visa Package, AED 31,655 for Year 1). A dependent (family) visa costs about AED 3,500. Visa renewal every 2 years
How much is the SHAMS licence renewal each year?
Annual renewal runs from AED 9,000 to AED 13,000, depending on the package, office and visa count.
What is the minimum share capital in SHAMS?
SHAMS sets no minimum share capital for a standard company, though some activities and entity types carry their own requirement.
Can a SHAMS company trade on the UAE mainland?
Not directly. A SHAMS company trades inside the zone and abroad; selling to mainland customers usually needs a distributor or a separate mainland licence.