SPC Free Zone company setup, costs and visas
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 in numbers
Last verified: 23 Sep 2026. Checked against the zone’s own published tariff.
Who SPC fits
SPC Free Zone began as Sharjah Publishing City, a publishing and media cluster, and its activity list now runs past 2,000 codes. It fits solo consultants, e-commerce sellers, marketing and IT service firms and small traders who want a real licence at a low entry price and can work without a Dubai address.
It does not fit everyone. If you need warehousing or light-industrial space, SAIF Zone or RAKEZ are built for that and SPC is not. If a Dubai address matters for your clients, look elsewhere. Stock-heavy or showroom businesses should skip this zone.
What AED 5,750 covers, and what sits beyond it
The AED 5,750 in the table above is SPC’s licence price for e-commerce and publishing activities, taken from the calculator on spcfz.ae (checked on 23 September 2026). Other activities cost AED 6,875, and e-book or audio-book publishing AED 4,999. A licence takes up to five activities. On top sit the establishment (immigration) card once you sponsor visas, the per-visa costs (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and status change) and, once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 over 12 months, VAT registration.
On corporate tax, you still register and file even if the income qualifies for 0%. The licence price does not remove that obligation.
Visas, office and the dual-licence route
SPC issues licences on a flexi‑desk, so no physical office is needed to hold the licence, which keeps the entry cost down. SPC states that there is no cap on visas on a flexi‑desk. Each visa is still paid for separately: SPC’s calculator lists the employment visa at AED 3,700, plus the medical test and Emirates ID.
The dual licence with Sharjah mainland sets SPC apart from most budget zones. You hold a free zone licence and a mainland licence in one structure, so you can invoice and serve UAE clients directly. For corporate tax, the 0% QFZP rate depends on real substance in the zone.
SPC vs SHAMS vs IFZA
The real comparison is with its Sharjah neighbour SHAMS and the Dubai-based IFZA. SPC and SHAMS are close on price: AED 5,750 and AED 5,760 for their narrow packages, AED 6,875 and AED 6,885 for general activities. SPC’s edge is a longer activity list and the mainland dual licence; SHAMS leans towards media and freelancers. IFZA costs about AED 12,900 on market quotes and buys a Dubai address that some clients and banks prefer.
| Zone | Emirate | Licence from | Activities | Visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPC | Sharjah | AED 5,750 (e-commerce, publishing) | 2,000+ | No cap on a flexi‑desk |
| SHAMS | Sharjah | AED 5,760 (Media package) | 5 per licence | Up to 50 |
| IFZA | Dubai | About AED 12,900 (estimate) | 2,000+ | By package |
If banking optics and a Dubai address matter, pay the IFZA premium. If cost and activity range matter more, SPC is the stronger choice.
How to set up a company in SPC Free Zone
Activities and trade name
Choose the licensed activities and reserve a trade name. The activities decide which approvals you need, how banks read your file and whether your income can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
Documents and KYC
Passports, application forms and a clear account of where the money comes from. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, so no local sponsor is needed.
Licence and establishment card
The zone issues the licence (typically 1–2 business days). The immigration establishment card comes next and opens visa processing.
Visas and bank account
Each visa holder needs an entry permit, a medical test and an Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is opened in parallel and is usually the slowest step.
SPC Free Zone: questions founders ask
How much does an SPC Free Zone licence really cost?
Can I get a Dubai address or Dubai visa with SPC?
What is the SPC dual licence with Sharjah mainland?
How many visas can I get with SPC?
How fast is the “instant licence” at SPC?
Is the “from AED 5,750” price the official tariff?
Does 0% corporate tax apply here?
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.