01 / TRADE
Trade Licence
Covers approved commercial activities involving functions such as import, export, distribution, consolidation, storage and warehousing.
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
SAIF Zone Company Formation in Sharjah
Set up your SAIF Zone company with a formation plan built around your actual business activity, legal structure, facility, visa requirements and the steps needed after licence issuance.
100% foreign ownership
Trade, service & industrial licences
Office, warehouse & land options
FZE, FZC & branch structures
Sharjah · UAE
SAIF
ZONE
ZONE
100%
Foreign ownership permitted for SAIF Zone companies.
1 hour*
SAIF Zone promotes rapid licence and permit delivery through its single-window process.
3–8 visas*
Published quota across SAIF Office, Executive Office and SAIF Suite options.
*Authority processing claims and published office quotas do not mean every complete company setup,
immigration process or specialist approval will be completed in the same timeframe.
Start with the business model
Is SAIF Zone the right free zone for your company?
SAIF Zone can be particularly relevant when the business needs more than a low-cost company licence. Its combination of airport proximity, commercial licences, industrial activities, warehouses and land makes the operating model especially important.
Trading and distribution
For approved import, export, distribution, storage and related commercial activity.
Logistics and freight
Useful where warehousing, cargo movement or airport connectivity forms part of the operation.
Manufacturing and processing
Industrial licensing and physical facility options can support production-led businesses.
Professional and service businesses
Service licences and office options are available for approved service activities.
SAIF Zone should not be chosen simply because it is a free zone.
If your priority is a Dubai address, a very lean digital setup, or a business model that points towards a mainland licence, compare the alternatives before committing to the jurisdiction.
Business Setup
Built for
business
operations
business
operations
Licence and structure
Build the licence around what the company will actually do
SAIF Zone currently publishes three core licence routes. The activity wording and any required external approvals matter more than simply selecting a licence because its name appears suitable.
02 / SERVICE
Service Licence
Used for the approved service specified on the licence, including suitable consultancy, service, freight-forwarding or e-commerce activities where permitted.
03 / INDUSTRIAL
Industrial Licence
Supports approved manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging and related industrial operations. Additional environmental or technical clearance can apply.
FZE
A Free Zone Establishment with one natural or juridical shareholder.
FZC
A Free Zone Company formed with more than one shareholder.
UAE Company Branch
A branch route for an eligible company already registered in the UAE.
Foreign Company Branch
A route for an eligible parent company incorporated outside the UAE.
Facilities
Office.
Warehouse.
Industry.
Warehouse.
Industry.
Facilities and visas
Your premises can determine more than where you work
Facility choice can affect practical operations, visa capacity and the total cost of the setup. Confirm what the company genuinely needs before comparing packages.
SAIF Office
3 visas
SAIF Executive Office
5 visas
SAIF Suite
8 visas
- Pre-built warehouses are available for trading, logistics and manufacturing requirements.
- Published warehouse sizes include 125, 250, 400 and 600 square metres.
- Land plots are available from 2,500 square metres for eligible custom facility requirements.
- Container parking, labour accommodation and specialist facilities are also published by the authority.
Visa quota and visa-processing cost are separate questions. Confirm both before deciding which facility package is appropriate.
Formation process
From business plan to licence and operational setup
SAIF Zone promotes a streamlined authority process, but a complete company formation still begins with getting the activity, ownership, facility and supporting documents right.
STEP 01
Define the activities
Identify what the company will actually sell, provide, trade, process or manufacture and match that to the permitted activity scope.
STEP 02
Select the legal structure
Confirm whether the application should use an FZE, FZC, UAE branch or foreign-company branch structure.
STEP 03
Plan facilities and visas
Choose the workspace, warehouse or industrial facility against the real operating and residency requirements.
STEP 04
Prepare the application
Gather shareholder, manager and company information together with any structure-specific or activity-specific documents.
STEP 05
Submit and complete authority steps
Complete the application, approvals, facility arrangements and authority payment requirements applicable to the chosen setup.
STEP 06
Move beyond licence issuance
Continue with visas, Emirates ID, banking preparation, tax, bookkeeping and other operational requirements where they apply.
Application documents
Prepare the right file for your shareholder structure
The exact document list varies between an individual-owned company, corporate shareholder and branch. Regulated activities or more complex ownership can create additional requirements.
Individual shareholders
- Passport and identity information
- UAE residence information where applicable
- Proposed company-name information
- Selected activities and ownership details
- Manager or authorised-signatory information
Corporate shareholders
- Parent-company incorporation documents
- Constitutional documents
- Ownership and beneficial-owner information
- Corporate resolutions where required
- Legalisation or attestation where applicable
Branches and specialist cases
- Parent-company corporate documentation
- Branch-authorisation documentation
- Authorised representative information
- Activity-specific approvals where required
- Additional authority documentation where requested
SAIF Zone cost
There is no useful single setup price without the business requirements
A low advertised licence figure can be misleading when your company also requires visas, a larger facility, additional activities or external approvals.
Compare itemised quotations.
Ask what is included, what is optional and what will recur at renewal.
Licence and activities
Trade, service or industrial licensing and the activities that must appear
on the licence.
Legal structure
FZE, FZC or branch requirements and the number or type of shareholders involved.
Facility
Office, executive office, suite, warehouse, land or another facility suitable
for the activity.
Visas and immigration
The number of people requiring residency and which immigration-related steps
are included in the proposal.
Corporate documentation
Attestation, legalisation, resolutions and additional paperwork where the
shareholder is a company or an existing business is opening a branch.
External approvals
Specialist, technical, environmental or regulated activities may need
additional approvals outside the standard formation file.
Post-formation requirements
Banking preparation, PRO work, tax registration, bookkeeping and other
operational support can sit outside the formation package.
Annual renewal
Compare first-year costs with recurring licence, facility, visa and
administration expenses rather than assessing only the initial payment.
Sharjah comparison
SAIF Zone vs other Sharjah free zones
There is no universally best Sharjah free zone. Compare the jurisdiction against activity, location, facilities, visas and the way the company will operate after incorporation.
| Free zone | Particularly worth considering for | Operating model to review |
|---|---|---|
| SAIF Zone | Trading, logistics, freight, warehousing, manufacturing and service businesses. | Strong physical facility options and proximity to Sharjah International Airport. |
| SHAMS | Media, creative, consultancy and service-led businesses. | Consider when digital registration and a lighter service-oriented setup better match the company. |
| SPC Free Zone | Publishing, media, e-commerce, service and businesses needing a broad activity choice. | Review the available activity combinations, visa needs and office requirements. |
| Hamriyah Free Zone | Industrial, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and operations requiring larger physical facilities. | Compare industrial infrastructure, land, warehouse requirements and full operating cost. |
Choosing between free zones?
Start with your intended activities, customer locations, visa count, physical space and whether having a Sharjah or Dubai-based company address matters to the business.
After formation
Licence issuance is the start of the operational setup
A company can be incorporated but still need immigration, banking, accounting, tax and administrative work before its operating structure is complete.
Corporate banking preparation
Prepare the company structure, business model, expected transactions, ownership information and supporting evidence for the bank's own KYC process. Bank approval remains independent.
Corporate bank account support →Corporate Tax
Free-zone status does not automatically mean all company income is taxed at 0%. Qualifying Free Zone Person treatment and Qualifying Income conditions must be considered against the company's actual activities.
Corporate Tax registration support →Visas and immigration
Investor, shareholder and employee residence requirements should be planned against the available facility quota and the people who genuinely need UAE residency.
Renewal and company maintenance
Plan ahead for annual licence and facility renewal, visa renewals, company amendments, accounting records and continuing compliance obligations.
Client feedback
“Setting up my business in the UAE was seamless with First Elite Global. Their expert team handled everything efficiently, from legal structure selection to paperwork. Their knowledge of UAE regulations made the process stress-free. Highly recommended!”CEO of Fashion Design Company
Questions before you set up
SAIF Zone company formation FAQs
What is SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone in the Emirate of Sharjah. It provides company-formation routes for trading, service and industrial businesses together with office, warehouse and other facility options.
How quickly can a SAIF Zone licence be issued?
SAIF Zone promotes delivery of licences and permits within one hour through its single-window process. That authority claim should not be interpreted as a promise that every complete formation, external approval, immigration step or banking requirement will also finish within one hour. Timing depends on the application.
What licence types are available in SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone publishes Trade, Service and Industrial licences. The appropriate licence depends on the activities the company intends to carry out and any approvals attached to those activities.
How many visas can a SAIF Zone company obtain?
SAIF Zone currently publishes a quota of three visas for a SAIF Office, five for a SAIF Executive Office and eight for a SAIF Suite. Other facility and staffing arrangements should be confirmed against the specific proposed setup. Visa quota does not necessarily mean the actual visa-processing costs are included in the company package.
How much does SAIF Zone company formation cost?
There is no single useful price for every company. Cost changes according to the licence, activities, legal structure, shareholder profile, facility, visas, documentation and any specialist approvals. Request an itemised first-year quotation and expected renewal costs based on your actual setup.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a SAIF Zone company?
Yes. SAIF Zone permits full foreign ownership, so a UAE national shareholder is not required simply because the owner is foreign.
Does a SAIF Zone company automatically pay 0% Corporate Tax?
No. The UAE free-zone Corporate Tax regime provides a 0% rate on Qualifying Income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person that meets the applicable conditions. Taxable income that does not qualify can be subject to the standard 9% rate. The company's actual tax position should be assessed against its activities and income.
Should I choose SAIF Zone, SHAMS, SPC or Hamriyah?
Choose based on the business rather than the name of the free zone. SAIF Zone is particularly relevant where trading, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing or airport connectivity matter. SHAMS can suit media, creative and service-led businesses; SPC offers a broad activity mix; and Hamriyah deserves consideration for industrial and warehouse-heavy operations.
Build the right setup
Get a SAIF Zone proposal based on how your business will operate
Share your activities, shareholders, expected visa requirements and facility needs. First Elite Global can help structure the formation route before you commit to the licence and associated setup costs.
