Free zone company
Company setup in Sharjah Media City (Shams) free zone
Sharjah Media City, known as Shams, is a free zone in Sharjah created in 2017 by Emiri decree. It is dedicated to media and creative business and serves freelancers, startups and small companies. It suits founders who need a licence and a registered address more than a large office. Caliph prepares the application and the visa file.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Emirate
- Sharjah
- Authority
- Sharjah Media City (Shams)
- Location
- Al Messaned, Al Bataeh, Sharjah
- Known for
- Media, content and creative businesses, freelancers and startups
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership, no local partner needed
- Office options
- Shared desks, dedicated desks, closed offices and meeting rooms
Overview
Shams was created to grow Sharjah's media and creative economy. The zone describes itself as dedicated to media and creativity, and it serves startups, small and mid-size companies and freelancers. Its campus has workspaces, studios, a podcast room and filming locations, which is useful if your work is producing content.
Many founders choose Shams for a simpler reason. They work from a laptop, their clients are online or abroad, and they need a licensed company with a real address behind it. Shams gives the company its registered address at Sharjah Media City, and the investor does not have to be a UAE resident to own it.
The activities you can hold, the visas you can apply for and the workspace that comes with the licence all depend on the package you pick. The zone can change its rules, so treat any list you find online with care. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you before you commit.
Why founders pick Shams
Made for content and creative work
Studios, a podcast room and filming locations are part of the zone, which helps production companies and creators.
Works for a company of one
Freelancers and solo founders are among the people the zone is designed to serve, alongside startups and small companies.
No local partner
Shams confirms that a company registered in the zone is fully foreign-owned.
Activities can change later
The zone allows a company to change its business activities after incorporation, so the licence can follow the business.
Your family can join you
Shams states that dependent visas for family members are available.
What to have ready for Shams
- A passport copy for each shareholder and the manager
- Your current UAE visa page, if you already live in the country
- Home address and contact details for each shareholder
- Three company name options in order of preference
- The activities you want on the licence
- For a corporate shareholder, the parent company's documents and a resolution
Shams sets the final list for your package. If you already hold a UAE visa, the zone says it does not ask for a no objection letter from your current sponsor to incorporate.
How setup in Shams works
Choose the activities
Your consultant matches your work to the zone's activity list and checks whether any activity needs an outside approval.
Decide on visas and workspace
You tell us how many residence visas you need and whether you want a shared desk, a dedicated desk or a closed office.
Reserve the name and apply
Caliph submits the application with the passport copies and the name options.
Sign and receive the licence
After approval you sign the company documents, and Shams issues the licence and the company papers.
Residence visa
If your package includes visas, we handle the entry permit, the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID and the visa itself.
Bank account and tax registration
We prepare the bank file and check whether you need to register for VAT or corporate tax.
Good to know
- Shams is in the Al Bataeh area of Sharjah, away from the city centre. Check the location on a map if you plan to work from the campus every day.
- Shams does not issue a Chamber of Commerce certificate. If you need one, you apply to the Chamber directly.
- Do not assume an activity is available because another website lists it. Your consultant checks your exact activity with the zone first.
Questions people ask
What is Shams free zone?
Shams is the short name of Sharjah Media City, a free zone established in Sharjah in 2017 by Emiri decree. It focuses on media and creative business and serves freelancers, startups and small and mid-size companies with licences, workspaces and production facilities.
Where is Sharjah Media City located?
Its address is Al Messaned, Al Bataeh, in the emirate of Sharjah. Your company's registered address is Sharjah Media City itself. The campus has shared and dedicated desks, closed offices, meeting rooms and studios for people who want to work on site.
Do I need to live in the UAE to open a Shams company?
No. Shams states that the investor does not have to be a UAE resident. If you want to live in the UAE, a residence visa through the company is a separate step with its own medical test and Emirates ID process, which Caliph handles for you.
Can I open a Shams company while on another employer's visa?
Shams says you can incorporate using your existing visa and that it does not ask for a no objection letter from your current sponsor. Your employment contract may still restrict outside business, so read it and ask your consultant before you apply.
How does Shams compare with a Dubai media free zone?
A Dubai media or technology zone puts you in a Dubai business district with a Dubai address, which some clients expect. Shams is in Sharjah and is aimed at freelancers and small companies that work mostly online. Caliph compares both against your activity, your visa needs and your budget.
Can a Shams company work with clients across the UAE?
Shams says its companies can invoice clients anywhere in the UAE. Selling goods on the mainland or opening a branch in another emirate is different and needs approval from the relevant authorities. Tell your consultant how you plan to sell so the structure is right.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
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