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Shams vs SPC is a close call on the entry price and a clear one on visa pricing. Shams Free Zone (Sharjah Media City) starts at AED 5,760 a year for its Media Package, VAT included, with no visa. SPC, the Sharjah Publishing City free zone, charges AED 5,750 for its Publishing and E-commerce licence, and it prints a one visa package at AED 13,165. Shams suits media founders who want a cap of 50 visas and monthly payments. SPC suits sellers who want every fee line in public.
Shams and SPC side by side
| Shams | SPC Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest licence | AED 5,760, Media Package, media activities only | AED 4,999, E-Publishing, online publishing only |
| General licence, no visa | Standard Package AED 6,885 | Publishing / E-commerce AED 5,750; Standard from AED 6,875 |
| Licence with 1 visa | Not published; agencies quote AED 14,285 to AED 15,055 | AED 13,165, or AED 14,290 on Standard |
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 per visa | AED 1,600 per visa |
| Visa cap | Up to 50 | None on the flexi desk |
| Activities per licence | Up to 5 | Up to 5 groups, 2,000+ in the list |
| Share capital | AED 100,000 default, no proof needed at that level | Zero paid share capital |
| Licence issue | Under 60 minutes | Instant; full setup 2 to 5 days |
| Renewal fee | Not published | From AED 5,750 |
| Location | Al Messaned, Sharjah | Al Zahia, on the E311, Sharjah |
Taken from shamsfz.ae and spcfz.ae, with the Shams one visa row from 3 agency price pages, checked .
Entry price: which package to compare
The two cheapest licences are not like for like. SPC's AED 4,999 E-Publishing licence covers online publishing activities only. The Shams Media Package at AED 5,760 covers media activities only. If your business is not media or publishing, skip both.
The fair match is the general tier. At SPC that is the Publishing and E-commerce licence at AED 5,750, or Standard from AED 6,875 for trading and consulting. At Shams it is the Standard Package at AED 6,885, which takes any 5 activities. Shams says its prices include VAT. Ask SPC whether its tier price does too.
Shams lets you spread the Media Package over 12 monthly payments of AED 480 on a UAE credit card. SPC offers a discount for paying several years at once instead.
What is the Shams free zone license cost?
The Shams licence is priced by package, and the figures below are 2026 prices that Shams marks as starting from. All include VAT.
- Media Package: AED 5,760 a year, for up to 5 media activities. It comes as an LLC with no NOC, a flexi desk and a lease agreement.
- Standard Package: AED 6,885 a year, for any 5 business activities, with the same LLC, flexi desk and lease.
Neither package includes a visa. Each visa allocation is a further AED 1,600, so a Media Package with one allocation comes to AED 7,360 before the establishment card, e-channel and visa processing. Agencies put a first year with one visa at AED 14,285 to AED 15,055. You can pay the Media Package in 12 monthly card payments of AED 480.
Visa costs: where the two really differ
SPC prints the parts of a visa on its pay as you go page, and they add up to its one visa package:
- Visa allocation: AED 1,600
- Establishment card: AED 640
- E-channel registration: AED 2,280
- Investor visa with Emirates ID: AED 2,530
- Medical test: AED 365
Shams publishes the same AED 1,600 allocation, then stops. The card, e-channel, entry permit and medical are not priced on its official pages. Agencies fill the gap with one visa totals of AED 14,285 to AED 15,055 for the first year (3 agencies, checked ). On the published figures, a one visa start is lower at SPC.
Two Shams terms are worth a note. A rejected visa application costs AED 1,050 in admin fees. Cancelling the last shareholder visa triggers an AED 2,100 deposit. SPC adds health insurance on top of every visa, from AED 450 a month.
Visa caps and team size
Shams caps you at 50 visas and asks for more proof as you grow: a business plan and bank statements above 10, audited accounts above 20. SPC says visas on its flexi desk are unlimited, paid one by one. If you plan to hire more than a handful of people from a desk, SPC's rule is simpler. Read free zone visa cost for the government fees every zone passes on.
Share capital and company forms
Shams sets a default share capital of AED 100,000 and asks for no proof at or below it. SPC advertises zero paid share capital. In practice neither asks you to deposit money to get started.
Shams registers your company as an LLC with no FZ in the name, with up to 50 shareholders. It also takes local and foreign branches. SPC registers an FZE-LLC for one owner, an FZC-LLC for two or more, and a branch. Seven shareholders are included at SPC, and each extra one costs AED 1,000.
Renewal and multi-year terms
SPC states its renewal: AED 5,750 for Publishing and E-commerce, from AED 6,875 for Standard. Shams does not publish its licence renewal price, only that each visa allocation renews at AED 1,600 a year.
Both reward longer terms. SPC gives 10% off for 2 years, up to 20% for 10 years. The Shams terms give 2% for 2 years, rising to 10% for 10 years, while a Shams banner says up to 20%. Confirm the rate with the zone before you prepay.
Offices, banks and location
Each package at both zones comes with a flexi desk. SPC publishes office rates per square metre, from AED 480 for retail, storage and warehouse space up to AED 900 for a furnished office. Shams offers shared and dedicated desks and offices, without prices on its packages page.
On banking, Shams gives new companies a list of recommended partner banks. SPC sells banking help for AED 2,000, which takes about 3 working days, and you attend the bank meeting yourself. Neither promises an account.
Shams sits in Al Messaned. SPC Free Zone Sharjah is on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Al Zahia. Both were set up in .
Choose Shams if
- Your work is media, content or creative, and the Media Package fits
- You want to pay monthly by credit card or Tabby
- You want the company name to end in LLC with no FZ
- A cap of 50 visas is enough for your plans
Choose SPC if
- You want a one visa price you can read before you call
- You plan to hire beyond 50 people from a flexi desk
- You want renewal prices in writing from day one
- You need office, storage or warehouse space at published rates
The two full profiles are on Shams Free Zone and SPC Free Zone. For every Sharjah option, see the Sharjah free zones hub, or the cheapest free zone in Sharjah ranking.
Ask both zones through us
Put your activities, shareholders and visa count into the form on this page. We are UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com, an independent directory with no tie to Sharjah Media City or the Sharjah Book Authority. We send the details to each zone or to a licensed setup partner, and each one quotes you directly.
Sources
- https://shamsfz.ae/business-setup/packages/ : Media and Standard prices, VAT, instalments
- https://shamsfz.ae/terms-and-conditions/ : visa allocation, rejection fee, last visa deposit, share capital, multi-year discount
- https://shamsfz.ae/knowledge-hub/faqs/ : visa cap, partner banks
- https://www.spcfz.ae/blogs/sharjah-free-zone-license : tier prices, one visa packages, renewal, discounts
- https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/ : visa fee lines and office rates
- https://www.spcfz.ae/faqs/ : visa cap and banking help
- https://arnifi.com/blog/shams-free-zone-license-cost-packages/, https://avyanco.com/business-setup/uae/sharjah/free-zone/shams/cost/ and https://www.businessdubai.ae/blogs/shams-free-zone-setup : Shams one visa agency totals
