Form a company in Abu Dhabi's premier free zones — from ADGM (English common law, financial services) to KIZAD (industrial & logistics) to twofour54 (media) and Masdar City (cleantech). UAE's capital, global capital markets access.
Industries thriving in Sharjah free zones
Abu Dhabi operates four flagship free zones — each anchoring a strategic sector of the UAE's capital. From the financial powerhouse of ADGM (the UAE's only English common-law jurisdiction) to the heavy industry of KIZAD to media at twofour54 and cleantech at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's free zone ecosystem is built for capital-intensive, long-horizon business.
Abu Dhabi accounts for over 60% of the UAE's GDP and houses the federal government, sovereign wealth funds (ADIA, Mubadala), and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Free zone companies enjoy 0% corporate tax (within free zone qualifying income), 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, and access to a deep institutional and capital-markets ecosystem unmatched anywhere else in the UAE.
Active companies
Specialised free zones
From Dubai International
Tax holiday
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE — home to sovereign wealth funds, the federal government, and the Khalifa Port deep-water terminal serving global shipping routes.
Industrial scale, dual-coast logistics, and premium banking acceptance — at SME-friendly entry prices.
ADGM is the only UAE jurisdiction to apply English common law directly — preferred by international investors, family offices, and financial firms.
Direct access to ADGM's capital markets, the ADX exchange, sovereign wealth funds (ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ), and the deepest institutional ecosystem in the UAE.
Khalifa Port is one of the most advanced deep-water terminals in the region; KIZAD's 410 sq km industrial park sits directly beside it for seamless export logistics.
Masdar City is the global benchmark for sustainability free zones — purpose-built for renewables, cleantech, sustainable mobility, and ESG-focused ventures.
twofour54 hosts CNN, Sky News Arabia, BBC, and major regional studios — the UAE's most production-mature media free zone with full crew & equipment infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi is the capital and the economic anchor of the UAE — backed by sovereign wealth, AA-rated debt, and a uniquely stable long-term regulatory environment.
All Sharjah free zones permit full foreign ownership — no local sponsor required.
0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income. Personal income remains 0%. 50-year tax holiday guaranteed.
Most packages include 1–6 visas. Family sponsorship available for shareholders post-investor visa.
Four specialised zones, each engineered for a specific industry and price point.
Abu Dhabi Global Market — the UAE's only English common-law jurisdiction. Home to family offices, asset managers, fintechs, banks, and capital-markets firms regulated by the FSRA.
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi — 410 sq km adjacent to Khalifa Port. Heavy industry, manufacturing, logistics, food processing, polymers, metals, and integrated supply chains.
HFZA — one of the UAE's largest heavy industrial zones with direct port access. Petrochemicals, oil & gas services, steel, manufacturing.
SPC — the world's first publishing free zone. Publishers, translation agencies, IP rights agencies, and educational content businesses.
Each Sharjah free zone issues licenses aligned with its industry focus — common categories include service, trading, industrial, and media.
For consulting, advisory, fintech, financial services, and professional firms. ADGM is the premium option for finance/legal/advisory; twofour54 for media services.
For import-export, e-commerce, and trading operations. KIZAD pairs with Khalifa Port for sea freight; Abu Dhabi International Airport for air cargo.
For manufacturing and processing — primarily issued in Hamriyah Free Zone with direct port logistics and heavy industrial infrastructure.
For broadcasting, content production, agencies, and freelancers — issued primarily by SHAMS at the lowest pricing in the UAE.
Our 6-step process gets your license issued in 3–5 working days across any of the four Sharjah free zones.
Match activity to SHAMS / SAIF / Hamriyah / SPC
Pick legal form (FZE / FZC) & activities
Reserve trade name with the FZA
Application, KYC & sector approvals
FZA issues trade license & establishment card
Visa stamping & bank account opening
Documentation is straightforward across Sharjah's free zones. SHAMS and SPC support fully digital onboarding; Hamriyah and SAIF Zone require additional sector approvals for specific activities.
Personal presence in the UAE is required only for visa biometrics (1 day) and bank account opening (1–2 days).
Get Document ChecklistEvery business is different — your jurisdiction, visa needs, banking requirements, and timeline shape the final cost. Tell us about your plans and we’ll send a transparent, all-in quote within one business day.
Sharjah's four free zones have radically different fee structures, banking acceptance, and approval workflows. SHAMS is fast and cheap. Hamriyah requires sector clearances. Fairway picks the right zone the first time and keeps your setup on the fastest path.
Talk to a SpecialistDirect SHAMS portal — license issued within 72 hours.
We map activity to optimal Sharjah free zone — no costly amendments later.
Pre-vetted channels at SIB, RAKBank, ENBD, Mashreq for Sharjah free zones.
Renewals, amendments, PRO, and accounting under one engagement.
SHAMS at AED 5,750 sounded too good to be true. Fairway walked me through the trade-offs, set it up in three days, opened my Mashreq NeoBiz account in two weeks. Two years later I've upgraded to a visa package — same license, same bank, zero friction.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Have a different question? Just WhatsApp us.
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) was deliberately designed as an affordable entry-point free zone targeting freelancers, content creators, and digital SMEs. The zone uses a modular pricing structure where shareholders pay a base licensing fee (AED 5,750) and add visa packages separately. The license itself carries the same 0% qualifying tax and 100% ownership benefits as more expensive free zones.
Primarily, but SHAMS' activity list is broader than the name suggests — it covers media, content, advertising, e-commerce, IT services, consulting, design, and several digital-business categories. Pure trading and physical-goods businesses fit better at Hamriyah or SAIF Zone.
Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) — one of the UAE's largest heavy industrial zones. Direct port access via Hamriyah Port, established petrochemical and oil-and-gas service ecosystem, and large industrial plot allocations. SAIF Zone is better for light manufacturing closer to the airport.
Both are airport-adjacent free zones — DAFZA is in Dubai (DXB), SAIF Zone is in Sharjah (SHJ). DAFZA is more premium-positioned, more expensive, and dominant for high-value air cargo. SAIF Zone is meaningfully cheaper, suited to general logistics and SME aviation services. Sharjah Airport is the UAE's #3 cargo hub, so SAIF still moves significant volume.
SHAMS issues licenses in 3–5 working days. SAIF and Sharjah Publishing City take 5–7 days. Hamriyah's industrial licenses requiring sector approvals take 10–14 days. Visa stamping adds another 10–14 days.
Yes — Sharjah free zones are well-recognised by all major UAE banks. SIB (Sharjah Islamic Bank), RAKBank, ENBD, ADCB, Mashreq, and ADIB all open accounts for Sharjah free zone companies. Banking acceptance is on par with most Dubai free zones (excluding marquee zones like DMCC and DIFC).
Yes. Each Sharjah free zone offers visa packages — SHAMS bundles up to 6 visas, SAIF Zone up to 9, and Hamriyah supports unlimited based on warehouse/office size. Family sponsorship is available for shareholders post-investor visa issuance.
For B2B services and digital products — yes, with VAT compliance. For physical goods sold direct-to-consumer in the UAE mainland, you'll typically work through a distributor or open a mainland branch. Fairway designs the right channel mix during setup.
Tell us your setup preferences and our consultants will calculate a transparent, all-in quote within one business day. No spam, no high-pressure sales — just a clear path to your setup.
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