Sharjah Media City Freezone (SHAMS)
Your business future awaits you in Sharjah Media City which operates under the name SHAMS. SHAMS launched its operation as the Freezone in January 2016 when His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi who serves as the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah established it by issuing Emirati Decree No. 10 of 2016. SHAMS serves as a free economic zone based in the cultural capital of the UAE which is the emirate of Sharjah. The establishment of Sharjah Media City as a development happened in 2017 to support regional creativity and media operations. SHAMS exists to promote business expansion through creative entrepreneurial approaches throughout the region. People within the SHAMS community live and co-create under an active environment which fosters great innovation and learning. SHAMS provides assistance to those who want to launch their business operations.
SHAMS services set the standard for people who want to start their business with specialized facilities for the creative media industry. Sharjah Media City is a world-class free zone specifically designed for innovation. SHAMS is a dynamic initiative that ensures a strong connection with talented people. The facilities at Sharjah Media City attract entrepreneurs who offer smart services combined with a holistic, community-oriented approach. Although the Free Zone is governed by UAE and Sharjah laws, it is legally independent in terms of licensing and media regulations. The SHAMS support localized content and motivate entrepreneurial talent within the deserving community. If you prefer to have a registered capital, SHAMS will provide a bank letter to open a bank account in the name of the proposed business entity. Once the license is issued, you can use the capital amount for operational purposes. If you choose the capital option, the incorporation process may take longer.
In certain cases, a managing director must be appointed who requires a residence visa for the company under the auspices of the Free Zone Authority. To validate the visa, the manager should enter the country at least once every six months.
Benefits of Company Setup in SHAMS
- Allow allocation of up to 6 visas on shared desk facility
- They don’t require initial deposits
- Get investor visas with no age limitations
- Get the ability to appoint corporate directors
- The companies will have limited liability
- Get 100% repatriation of profits and capital
- Get complete foreign ownership
- Free from corporate or personal tax
- Strategically located, 5 minutes from Sharjah Airport and 25 minutes from Dubai airport.
Facilities in Sharjah Media City (SHAMS)
Sharjah Media City offers four set-up options, including a shared desk, a dedicated office, a dedicated desk and a shared office space tailored to clients’ needs. The SHAMS community will fulfil their needs and requirements once the community is developed.
A shared workspace facilitates collaboration in SHAMS. For start-ups, it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Shared workspaces encourage collaboration!
Structuring of Business Operations in the Freezones
The business operations in a Free Zone can be structured in either one of the following ways:
SHAMS LLC (with one or up to 50 shareholders)
Part or branch of a foreign company
Part of a locally incorporated company
Features of Company Setup in SHAMS
- Sharjah media city can be incorporated with one or maximum 50 shareholders
- The shareholder can be either individual or corporate entity
- Capital requirement for SHAMS LLC is around AED 100,000. The capital contributed for SHAMS LLC can be used to run their operations. Initial deposit of capital amount is optional.
- Sharjah media city LLC need not file its audited annual accounts to the free zone authority.
- The companies in SHAMS LLC are regulated by the rules and regulations of the free zone authority.
Features of Branch Office
- Branch is usually an extension of the parent company
- They don’t require any minimum capital
- The audited financials are not required to be submitted to the FZ authority.
- The branch office has no special implementation rules and regulations in the free zone.
- The branch requires only a single manager
Government Departments
We can help you with the processes in the following government departments
