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SHAMS Free ZoneCompany Formation
Set up in Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), the free zone for media, creative and consultancy businesses, with low-cost licences and freelance permits.
- 100% Ownership
- Media & Creative
- Freelance Permits
- Low Setup Cost
- Bank Account Support
Published Updated
SHAMS: Sharjah’s free zone for media and creative business
Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) was set up by the Government of Sharjah to grow the emirate’s media and creative industries. It now licenses a broad range of media, creative, consultancy and service businesses.
SHAMS is a popular choice for content creators, agencies, consultants and freelancers who want a low-cost licence and visa, often on a flexi-desk. It sits under the Sharjah Media Council and close to the Sharjah–Dubai road network.
Best known for: media, creative & freelance licences
Why SHAMS
SHAMS gives creative and consultancy businesses an affordable route to a UAE licence and visa.
Media & creative focus
Activities for content creation, production, publishing, marketing and design are at the heart of the zone.
Low-cost packages
Licence packages priced below most Dubai free zones, with flexi-desk options.
Freelance permits
Individuals can work under a freelance permit instead of forming a full company.
Broad activity list
Consultancy, technology, trading and service activities sit alongside media.
100% foreign ownership
Full ownership with no local partner, and profits and capital can be repatriated freely.
Sharjah base, Dubai reach
Most clients and staff can reach Dubai easily, while costs stay at Sharjah levels.
Ideal for
- Content creators & influencers
- Marketing & creative agencies
- Consultants
- Freelancers
- Small media production companies
SHAMS Licence Types
SHAMS offers licences for companies and permits for individuals.
Media Licence
For media, content and creative businesses.
- Content creation
- Film & video production
- Publishing
- Photography
- Graphic design
Consultancy & Service Licence
For consultancy and professional services.
- Management consultancy
- Marketing consultancy
- IT services
- Event management
- Training
Freelance Permit
For individuals working on their own account.
- Writers & editors
- Designers
- Photographers
- Social media specialists
- Consultants
Legal Structures in SHAMS
SHAMS offers the usual free zone forms, plus freelance permits for individuals.
01
Single-Shareholder Free Zone Company
One individual or corporate owner, with liability limited to share capital. The usual start for solo founders.
02
Multi-Shareholder Free Zone Company
Two or more shareholders, individual or corporate, with shares and voting set in the Articles.
03
Branch of a Foreign Company
An overseas company operating in the zone under its own name, with the parent liable for the branch.
04
Branch of a UAE Company
A mainland or other free zone company adds a presence in the zone without forming a new entity.
05
Freelance Permit
An individual permit to trade in your own name, with a residence visa, without forming a company.
06
Holding Structure
A SHAMS company owned by a holding company in another zone or abroad, where the activity allows.
How a SHAMS Company Is Formed
Free zone setup is mostly online. We prepare and file each step with SHAMS for you.
- 01
Choose Activities & Package
We match your business to SHAMS’s activity list and pick the licence package and visa allocation that fits.
- 02
Reserve the Company Name
We check your name options against the zone’s naming rules and reserve the best one.
- 03
Submit the Application
Application forms, shareholder documents and any business profile filed with the zone, with compliance (KYC) checks.
- 04
Sign the Constitutional Documents
Articles of Association and resolutions signed, in person or by e-signature where the zone allows it.
- 05
Office or Flexi-Desk
Flexi-desk or office in the zone, sized to the visas you need.
- 06
Licence Issued
SHAMS issues the licence and certificate of incorporation, usually as digital documents.
- 07
Establishment Card, Visas & Bank
We open the immigration file, run investor and staff visas, and prepare the bank application in parallel.
Documents Required for SHAMS Setup
What we need depends on whether each shareholder is a person or a company. Documents issued abroad must be notarised and attested for use in the UAE; we arrange this for you.
Individual Shareholders
- Passport copy of each shareholder and manager
- UAE visa or entry stamp, if any
- Emirates ID, if resident in the UAE
- Passport-size photo
- Three trade name options
- Proof of home address
- Portfolio or CV, for freelance permits
Corporate Shareholders
- Certificate of incorporation or trade licence
- Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Board resolution approving the SHAMS company
- Certificate of good standing
- Passport copy of the appointed manager
- Ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) declaration
Why Choose a SHAMS Company
SHAMS suits creative and consultancy founders who want a licence and visa without big fixed costs.
100% foreign ownership
Possible 0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income
Low-cost licence packages
Freelance permits for individuals
Strong media and creative focus
Flexi-desk options
Mostly online setup
Tax & Compliance Position: SHAMS
Companies in SHAMS can pay 0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income, but only if they meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions every year. We check this before you choose the zone, not after.
UAE Corporate Tax
0% on qualifying income · 9% on the rest
To be a Qualifying Free Zone Person, the company needs real substance in the zone, qualifying income, audited financial statements and arm’s-length dealings with related parties. Taxable income that doesn’t qualify is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.
Selling to mainland customers?Most mainland revenue isn’t qualifying income. If non-qualifying revenue passes 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower, QFZP status is lost for that year and the next four. We model this with you upfront.
UAE VAT
5% standard rate · same rules for services
Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 in 12 months and optional from AED 187,500. Free zone services are taxed exactly as they are on the mainland.
Designated zone statusSome free zones are VAT designated zones, where certain supplies of goods inside or between them fall outside UAE VAT. It never covers services. We confirm how SHAMS’s status applies to your trade.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Corporate Tax return within 9 months of year end
- Audited financial statements (needed for QFZP status)
- VAT returns once registered
- Annual licence renewal with SHAMS
- Office or flexi-desk lease renewed with the licence
- UBO register kept up to date
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 & Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023 (Qualifying Free Zone Persons) · Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 (VAT) · Sharjah Media City (SHAMS)
Where SHAMS Companies Operate
SHAMS is home to a large creative community and many small consultancies.
Creative & Design
Film & Video Production
Content Creation
Publishing
Marketing & Advertising
Technology
Education & Training
Consultancy
The TMFS Advantage
We handle SHAMS setups end to end, from activity selection and SHAMS licensing to a banked, visa-ready company registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
Activity & Licence Advice
Matching your business to the right SHAMS activities and licence category.
Package & Office Choice
Flexi-desk, office or warehouse sized to the visas you need, so you don’t pay for space you won’t use.
Application & Constitutional Documents
Application forms, resolutions and Articles prepared and filed with the zone for you.
Corporate Bank Account
Your application prepared alongside the licence and matched across our 18 partner banks.
Investor & Staff Visas
Investor, partner and employee visas with medicals and Emirates ID.
QFZP & VAT Compliance
Corporate Tax and VAT registrations, audited accounts and the yearly checks that keep 0% status intact.
Why Founders Choose TMFS in SHAMS
Three things clients mention most.
Free zones compared, not sold
We work across several free zones and recommend the one that fits your activity, visas and tax, not the one with the biggest commission.
One team, end to end
Licence, documents, premises, bank account, visas and tax with one consultant, from first call to renewal.
Written costs upfront
A written breakdown of government fees and our fee before you commit, with no surprises at renewal.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
SHAMS suits media and creative founders. Other zones fit trading, industry or a Dubai address.
UAE Free Zones Overview
How the UAE’s free zones compare on cost, activities, visas and tax. Start here to choose.
Read more
IFZA
Fast, cost-efficient consultancy and services licences. The usual first company for solo founders.
Read more
Meydan Free Zone
E-commerce and digital licences with a Dubai address and quick issuance.
Read moreRAKEZ
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. Low-cost industrial, trading and service licences.
Read moreSPC Free Zone
Sharjah Publishing City. Low-cost setup for publishing, media and services.
Read more
Ajman Free Zone
Cost-efficient trading, industrial and services licences with warehouse options.
Read more
SRTIP
Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park. Tech, R&D and industrial licences.
Read moreDMCC
Commodities and trading hub with strong bank acceptance. We advise on DMCC structures.
Read moreDIFC
Common-law jurisdiction for finance, funds and holding structures. We advise on DIFC setups.
Read moreWhat Clients Say
Feedback from founders who set up with TMFS.
SHAMS: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up a SHAMS company or freelance permit.
Is SHAMS only for media companies?
No. Media and creative activities are its focus, but SHAMS also licenses consultancy, technology, trading and other service activities.
Company or freelance permit?
A freelance permit suits an individual working alone. A company suits you if you plan to hire, take on partners or want a separate legal entity.
Do I need to live in Sharjah?
No. A SHAMS visa lets you live anywhere in the UAE.
How many visas can I get?
It depends on the package and office you choose. Flexi-desk packages come with a limited allocation; more visas need more space.
Will my SHAMS company pay 0% Corporate Tax?
Only on qualifying income, and only if it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions every year. Other income is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.
Can you open the company bank account?
Yes. We prepare the bank application alongside the licence and match it to the partner bank most likely to approve your profile.
Verification & independence
Checked against publicly available SHAMS and UAE federal sources in October 2026. Time Machine Financial Services is independent of SHAMS and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Sharjah or any UAE authority.
Activity lists, package prices, approvals and tax rules change. Confirm the current position for your activity with SHAMS and the Federal Tax Authority, or ask us, before acting on this page.
Get expert advice
Speak to a UAE setup specialist
Tell us what you need and a consultant will reply within one working day, with no obligation.
- The consultant you speak to stays on your file
- A straight answer on structure, cost and timeline
- A reply within one working day
- A free 20-minute consultation
Ready to Set Up in SHAMS?
Talk to a TMFS consultant about a SHAMS company or freelance permit, with banking and tax set up alongside.
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