Register a company in Sharjah Publishing City

Yes, for the company itself. The application and renewals are online, and owning the company does not require UAE residence. Travel starts with the residence visa: the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics are done in person, and SPC's FAQ says banks need you present at certain stages.

Our registration work starts from $2,900; with a UAE bank account set up, from $5,400. Zone fees come on top: SPC publishes licences from AED 4,999 for e-publishing, AED 5,750 for e-commerce and AED 6,875 for standard professional, commercial and general trading activities, and the AED 5,750 one-year licence includes no visas. A residence visa for yourself is listed from AED 4,495, plus the AED 640 establishment card. The yearly renewal fee is not published, so we quote it with your first licence. The dirham is pegged at AED 3.6725 to the US dollar.

Possibly on part of its income, and only on conditions. Outside the free zone regime a company pays 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. The free zone 0% needs Qualifying Free Zone Person status: adequate substance, audited accounts, transfer pricing compliance and non-qualifying revenue within 5% of total revenue or AED 5,000,000, whichever is lower. Fees from mainland or overseas clients qualify only for activities on the federal list, and transactions with individuals are excluded, with narrow exceptions, so a consultancy with such clients or an online shop selling to consumers should plan on the standard 0% and 9% bands. Test your revenue mix against these rules before you rely on 0%.

The licence can come in as little as 24 hours on eligible packages, SPC says, and instantly for certain activities. A residence visa takes 5-10 working days by SPC's FAQ, a dependant visa 7-9 working days. Corporate tax registration is due within three months of incorporation, and the FTA processes it in 20 business days. The bank sets its own timetable.

SPC says its flexi desk is accepted for bank-account opening and that its partner banks open accounts within 3 working days. Banks still run their own review of source of funds, contracts and the business plan, and SPC's FAQ says physical presence is required at certain stages. Our second package builds that file and supports the meetings. The bank decides, and we tell you where you stand.

Not directly, and this is the caveat to weigh first. SPC says free zone companies may have restrictions on trading directly in the mainland market, and the federal portal says a free zone company must either work through a licensed mainland distributor or set up a mainland branch or company. Goods moved into the mainland become subject to customs duty, and income of a mainland branch is outside the free zone 0%. No mainland permit or dual licence appears on SPC's pages, so we plan that route separately.

SPC says the quota is unlimited for investors, partners and employees, on its flexi desk. Each visa is paid for: AED 1,600 allocation, AED 2,530 for an investor visa with Emirates ID and AED 365 for the medical; employment visas are listed from AED 5,665. Dependants cost AED 5,000 each, with an AED 3,025 deposit when an investor sponsors and a salary of at least AED 4,000 with accommodation. Health insurance starts from AED 450 a month per person.

Neither a minimum capital nor an audit filing with the zone appears on SPC's pages, so we confirm both before you apply. Federal rules still apply: a Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare audited financial statements, and so must any company with revenue above AED 50,000,000. Corporate tax records are kept for seven years after the tax period.

Six licence categories: general trading, professional services, IT services, e-commerce, administrative services and marketing services, plus publishing and e-publishing, from more than 2,000 activities. SPC's pay-as-you-go page allows five activities per licence and its FAQ says up to ten, so we confirm the count for your package. Some activities need an outside approval. Import or export traders also need a Customs Code, and customs clearance in Sharjah is run by the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zone Authority.

Renew the licence on the SPC portal before it expires; late renewal can lead to fines and suspension of the business, and SPC does not publish the amounts. Report ownership or control changes to SPC immediately and answer any inspection request within 14 days. File the corporate tax return within nine months of the year end. Federal e-invoicing reaches businesses under AED 50,000,000 of revenue on 1 July 2027, with a service provider appointed by 31 March 2027.