SHAMS Free Zone Licence Cost 2026: Packages, Visas & Renewals
By the Hers Consultancy team, Dubai · Last updated: November 2026
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City Free Zone), established in Sharjah in 2017, is based at Al Messaned. The site is around 30 minutes from Dubai. Also, it is one of the cheapest ways to start a company in the UAE.
Its published 2026 packages start at AED 5,750 a year for a zero-visa Media licence. A zero-visa Standard licence costs AED 6,875. Both prices include the flexi-desk. For example, Media allows up to 3 activities on a licence. In addition, Standard allows up to 5 activities. However, the package price is not the full first-year cost.
Add a visa allocation (AED 1,600 per visa), the establishment card and e-channel registration. Also add the visa process itself. As a result, a realistic one-visa first year lands around AED 13,000–16,000. The exact total depends on the package. It also depends on whether you apply from inside or outside the UAE.
This guide breaks down the full SHAMS free zone license cost. It covers package prices, visa costs and renewal. Therefore, you can see the real first-year total before you apply.
Hers’ prices: Hers Consultancy’s free zone packages start from AED 5,750. The SHAMS figures in this guide are the zone’s published package prices. In short, your Hers quote itemises the authority fees and our fees on separate lines before you commit.
Want your exact number? Hers Consultancy gives itemised quotes. For example, government/authority fees and our fees appear on separate lines. Request a quote in 10 seconds or WhatsApp us on +971 55 340 4707.
SHAMS licence cost — package price vs first-year cost
SHAMS prices its licences mainly by package type and visa allocation. Both main packages include the flexi-desk lease and registered address. For example, the Media package allows up to 3 business activities. In addition, the Standard package allows up to 5 business activities.
The Media package is the cheapest. However, at least one of your activities must come from its media, marketing, technology, digital-services or e-commerce lists. The Standard package costs AED 1,125 more at every level. It allows any five activities, including trading.
| Package (published SHAMS pricing, 2026) | Package price (AED/yr) | Visa allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Media package — zero-visa licence | 5,750 | 0 |
| Media package — 1 visa allocation | 7,350 | 1 |
| Standard package — zero-visa licence | 6,875 | 0 |
| Standard package — 1 visa allocation | 8,475 | 1 |
Each additional visa allocation adds a flat AED 1,600 to the licence price. Every SHAMS visa package includes the flexi-desk. For example, Media allows up to 3 activities on a licence. In addition, Standard allows up to 5 activities.
The visa allocation is the only thing that changes the licence price. Renewals are the part SHAMS does well. Also, a zero-visa licence renews at the same package price (AED 5,750 / 6,875). A one-visa Media package renews at around AED 9,190, because the visa issuance fees are one-off.
Multi-year terms are available and discount the annual cost. However, only commit to a longer term if you are sure you will keep the same package and visa count.
What the package price leaves out — budget for these on top
- Economic Registration Number (ERN): AED 10. In addition, SHAMS adds it to every licence package.
- Establishment (immigration) card: around AED 640, payable when your first visa is processed
- E-channel registration: around AED 2,280 for the company’s immigration file. The renewal figure is around AED 1,840. In addition, some schedules also quote a refundable e-channel deposit of around AED 5,025. Therefore, check whether yours includes it.
- Investor visa fee: around AED 2,200 per person. Employee visas cost more, at around AED 3,700.
- Medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID: around AED 900 per person, combined
- Change of status, if you are already in the UAE on another visa: around AED 700
- Mandatory health insurance: arranged separately, typically AED 700–2,500 per person
- Hers’ service fee: your Hers quote shows it as its own line.
Who SHAMS suits — and who it doesn’t
Good fit: media and creative businesses, consultants, digital services, e-commerce sellers and freelancers. They want the lowest-cost legitimate UAE licence. It gives 100% foreign ownership and no paid-up capital.
The whole setup runs online, so it suits founders applying from outside the UAE. For example, the flat AED 1,600 visa allocation makes adding team visas predictable.
Not a good fit if: you need a Dubai address. SHAMS is a Sharjah licence, and some clients and banks read the emirate on the licence.
You also cannot trade directly on the UAE mainland with any free zone licence. For that, you would need a distributor, a branch or a mainland permit.
Bank account opening is available to SHAMS companies. However, the choice of banks can be narrower for flexi-desk licences than for Dubai zones. Therefore, confirm your banking route before choosing on headline price alone.
Activities, ownership and office
- Activities: hundreds of approved activities across media, services, consultancy, e-commerce, trading and light-industrial categories. Media allows up to 3 activities on a licence. In addition, Standard allows up to 5. Licence types include service, trading and light-industrial, plus freelance permits for individuals.
- Ownership: SHAMS issues companies as LLCs with 100% foreign ownership and no paid-up capital requirement.
- Office: no physical office required — the included flexi-desk covers the licence and registered-address requirement. Visa allocations scale with the package. For example, larger quotas need larger facilities. In addition, SHAMS advertises up to 50 visas per licence on the right office package.
- Visas and records: SHAMS generally issues residence visas for 2 years. You can renew them while the licence stays active. Also, like every UAE company, a SHAMS company must register for corporate tax and keep proper records.
SHAMS vs RAKEZ — the budget comparison most founders actually make
| SHAMS | RAKEZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Al Messaned, Sharjah (~30 mins from Dubai) | Ras Al Khaimah |
| Published starting package | From AED 5,750 (Media, zero-visa); Standard from AED 6,875 | From around AED 6,500 (zero-visa) |
| Activities | Up to 3 per licence (Media) or 5 (Standard) | Up to 5 per licence |
| Best for | Media, creative, digital and service businesses wanting the lowest entry cost | Trading and industrial businesses wanting RAKEZ’s facility and warehouse options |
Do not pick between them on the headline alone. Compare the same bundle: licence, visa allocation, establishment card, e-channel and renewal price. Also, check your exact activity is covered.
Steps to set up in SHAMS
- First, choose from the SHAMS free zone packages (Media or Standard) and confirm your activities fit its list. The Media package needs at least one media-list activity.
- Next, pick your visa allocation — 0, 1 or more at AED 1,600 per allocation. Also pick your licence term.
- Submit passport copies and shareholder details online. SHAMS typically issues the licence in 2–5 working days for standard cases. The zone markets 2–3 days once documents are ready.
- If you need residency, complete these steps in this order. First, get the establishment card and e-channel registration. Next, get the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and insurance.
- Open your business bank account. Allow extra time for this. The bank account is separate from the licence. It typically takes 1–4 weeks.
FAQs
How much does a SHAMS free zone licence cost?
Published packages start at AED 5,750 a year for a zero-visa Media licence. A zero-visa Standard licence costs AED 6,875 a year. Both prices include the flexi-desk.
With one visa allocation, the licence price is AED 7,350 for Media. For Standard, it is AED 8,475. In short, a realistic one-visa first year is around AED 13,000–16,000. That total covers the establishment card, e-channel and the visa process.
How much is SHAMS licence renewal?
A zero-visa licence renews at the same package price. For Media, that is AED 5,750. For Standard, it is AED 6,875. In addition, SHAMS holds renewal pricing at the package rate.
A one-visa Media package renews at around AED 9,190. In addition, the visa issuance fees from year one do not repeat. So your SHAMS license renewal is the package price, not a new setup fee.
Is SHAMS only for media companies?
No. Despite the Sharjah Media City name, SHAMS licenses hundreds of activities. For example, it covers consultancy, IT, e-commerce, education, events, trading and light industry. The Media package is simply its cheapest tier. It requires at least one media-list activity. In addition, the Standard package covers any five activities.
Visas and mainland trade
Can I get a residence visa or a freelance permit through SHAMS?
Yes. You can add visa allocations to any package at AED 1,600 each. For each visa, SHAMS handles the residence visa process. The process covers the establishment card, e-channel, entry permit, medical and Emirates ID. Also, it then costs roughly AED 6,000 per person on top.
Individuals who do not need a company can take a freelance permit instead. In addition, it typically costs AED 7,500–9,000. This is a market range, not a SHAMS package.
Can I trade on the mainland with a SHAMS licence?
No, not directly. A free zone licence does not permit direct mainland trading anywhere in the UAE. Therefore, you need a distributor, a branch or a mainland permit.
Get your exact SHAMS cost
Ranges are useful; your business needs a number. Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. Hers Consultancy will send an itemised quote — authority fees and our fees separated, year-one and renewal costs both shown. In short, it gives the exact Sharjah Media City free zone cost for your setup. It is not just a headline package price.
- Request a quote in 10 seconds
- WhatsApp / Call: +971 55 340 4707
- Email: khushnuma@hersconsultancy.com
Prices in this guide are indicative published market ranges for 2026. They come from SHAMS package pricing, as published by the zone. Multiple UAE setup firms also reported these figures in 2026. SHAMS revises its packages and runs promotions. Figures vary by what is bundled. Therefore, your written Hers quote is the figure to rely on.
