ZONE · UAE
Sharjah Media City Free Zone: Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) accounts for 81 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 32 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is General Trading with 10 packages, followed by Software Development & IT (8 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 5,760*, the median combination runs from AED 5,760*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 6,300*. Filed setup timelines range from 7 to 13 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
SHAMS is Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), a high-volume budget zone for media, trading and services. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Sharjah Media City licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
- Activity combinations
- 81 32 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 5,760* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 5,760 – 6,300* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 7–13 days fastest → slowest filed
Activities
Top activity clusters at SHAMS
| Activity cluster | Packages at SHAMS | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| General Trading | 10 | from AED 5,760* |
| Software Development & IT | 8 | from AED 5,760* |
| Media Production & Broadcasting | 5 | from AED 5,760* |
| Office & Business Support | 5 | from AED 5,760* |
| General Services & Freelance | 4 | from AED 5,760* |
| Telecommunications | 4 | from AED 5,760* |
| Marketing & Advertising | 3 | from AED 5,760* |
| Finance & Investments | 3 | from AED 5,760* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at SHAMS
- Investor visa
- 81 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 5,760*
- Scope tagging
- 1% visa / 0% bank share of packages tagging visa / bank steps
- Establishment card
- 68% of the catalog 3,161 packages platform-wide include the step
- Corporate bank account
- 61% of the catalog 2,840 packages platform-wide include the step
The typical SHAMS sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Sharjah jurisdictions.
FAQ
SHAMS: questions
How much does a SHAMS license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 81 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 5,760*. The median package runs from AED 5,760* and the range stretches to AED 6,300*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at SHAMS take?
Filed packages at SHAMS complete in 7 to 13 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a SHAMS license cover?
The catalog maps 81 SHAMS combinations onto 32 activity clusters. The strongest are General Trading; Software Development & IT; Media Production & Broadcasting. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is SHAMS located and who is it for?
Sharjah Media City is based in Sharjah — Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), a high-volume budget zone for media, trading and services. As a free zone jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in SHAMS?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.