SPC Free Zone vs SHAMS
Licence fees, visas, office rules and setup time for both zones in one table, then the cases where each one is the better choice. On the lowest listed prices SPC Free Zone starts AED 10 lower, but the licence fee is only the first line of the budget.
| SPC Free Zone | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 5,750 | AED 5,760 |
| Visa allocation | unlimited | up to 50 |
| Activities | 2,000+ | 5 per licence |
| Office | not required | not required |
| Setup time | 1–2 business days | 1 business day |
| Emirate | Sharjah | Sharjah |
SPC vs SHAMS: two Sharjah licences at almost the same price
Both zones sell a narrow entry package and a general one at almost identical prices. According to their own calculators (checked on 23 September 2026), SPC Free Zone charges AED 5,750 for e-commerce and publishing activities and AED 6,875 for other activities, while SHAMS charges AED 5,760 for its Media package and AED 6,885 for its Standard package with any five activities. Neither entry price includes a visa, and neither zone requires you to lease an office.
So the useful question is where two near-identical Sharjah licences differ: which activities the cheap package covers, how visas scale, mainland access and banking. Both sit in Sharjah’s free zones, with a lower cost base than any Dubai zone.
What each zone is built for
SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) lists 2,000+ activities, issues licences in about 45 minutes and states that visas on a flexi‑desk are not capped. It also offers a dual licence that pairs the free zone company with a Sharjah mainland licence, which makes it the stronger pick if you want to invoice customers onshore without setting up a second company.
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) licenses media, content and freelance activities and suits agencies and small consultancies. Its cheapest package covers media activities only; other work needs the Standard package. A licence can be issued in under an hour, and one licence can carry up to 50 visas. UAE banks assess the file rather than the emirate, so a SHAMS company opens an account on the strength of a clear activity description and expected transactions.
The differences that decide it
| SPC Free Zone | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest package covers | E-commerce and publishing (AED 5,750) | Media activities only (AED 5,760) |
| General licence | AED 6,875 | AED 6,885 (Standard, any 5 activities) |
| Mainland reach | Dual licence with Sharjah mainland | Free zone only |
| Prices include VAT | Not stated | Yes |
SPC or SHAMS: which to choose
Pick SPC Free Zone if you need activities outside media, want the widest list for the money, or may need to invoice customers on the Sharjah mainland: the dual licence keeps that option open without a second setup.
Pick SHAMS if you are a freelancer, creator, agency or consultancy in media, marketing or content, and your activities fit its Media or Standard package.
Because the licence costs are nearly identical, decide on fit. Read the full SPC Free Zone card and the SHAMS card, then run both through our setup-cost calculator with your real visa count and activities.
When each one wins
SPC Free Zone: A low-cost Sharjah zone with instant licence issuance, a dual-licence option with Sharjah mainland and a broad activity list. AED 5,750 covers e-commerce and publishing activities; other activities cost AED 6,875, and e-book or audio-book publishing AED 4,999. One licence takes up to five activities, and visas on a flexi‑desk are not capped.
SPC Free Zone full card →SHAMS: A low-cost Sharjah licence popular with freelancers and content businesses. The AED 5,760 Media package covers up to five media activities with no visa; the Standard package for any five activities costs AED 6,885 (both include VAT). A licence can issue in under an hour and carry up to 50 visas. Banks ask for more documents than with Dubai zones.
SHAMS full card →This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.