Set Up Your Company in SPC Free Zone.
From AED 5,750.

SPC Free Zone stands for Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. It was established in 2017 under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and is operated by the Sharjah Book Authority — the organisation behind the Sharjah International Book Fair, the largest book fair in the Middle East. SPC was the world’s first free zone dedicated exclusively to print, publishing, and creative industries, but has since expanded to support over 1,500 business activities across media, technology, e-commerce, consulting, and general trading. It is located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Sharjah, 10 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

SPC Free Zone company formation starts from AED 5,750 per year for a zero-visa standard licence — one of the lowest entry costs of any significant UAE free zone. A one-visa business package begins from approximately AED 9,500, and the dual licence package (combining a free zone and Sharjah mainland licence) starts from approximately AED 13,500. Additional costs include the Establishment Card (approximately AED 500 to AED 2,000 depending on package), investor visa fees from AED 3,500, and medical and Emirates ID fees of approximately AED 2,250. KDHA PRIVE provides a fixed written quote with all costs itemised before any payment is made.

The SPC Free Zone dual licence is a unique product that combines a standard free zone company registration with a Sharjah mainland company licence, issued by a single authority through one registration process. SPC Free Zone itself acts as the Sharjah LLC local sponsor, holding the required local shareholding on behalf of the expatriate owner. This eliminates the need to register two separate companies with two different authorities — and removes the need for a personal local sponsor arrangement for mainland operations. The dual licence is available exclusively through SPC Free Zone and is not offered by any other UAE free zone authority. It is particularly suited to e-commerce businesses, general traders, and service companies that need to operate both internationally and directly within the UAE mainland market.

SPC Free Zone is one of the fastest free zones in the UAE for company registration. The trade licence is typically issued within 1 to 2 working days from the date of complete document submission. Initial name and application approval often comes the same working day. SPC’s in-house immigration centre is a significant advantage for visa processing — the full process from licence issuance to visa stamping and Emirates ID can be completed in as little as 5 to 7 working days for applicants in the UAE. Mashreq Neo bank account applications can be initiated digitally with approval in as little as 48 hours for qualifying SPC businesses.

SPC Free Zone operates its own immigration centre on-site — one of the very few free zones in the UAE with this capability. This means that investor visa applications, entry permits, medical screening scheduling, Emirates ID biometrics, and visa stamping can all be processed within the SPC Free Zone premises rather than requiring visits to external GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) offices. The result is significantly faster visa processing timelines, less administrative complexity for clients, and fewer coordination steps between different government authorities.

Yes. SPC Free Zone company registration is fully digital and can be completed remotely without visiting the UAE. The entire licence registration process — from name reservation to document submission, approval, and licence issuance — is handled online. Physical presence in the UAE is only required for residence visa steps involving biometric data collection for the Emirates ID, which must be done in person in the UAE. Bank account opening at most UAE banks also requires an in-person meeting, though Mashreq Neo offers a fully digital onboarding process for eligible SPC applicants.

SPC Free Zone supports over 1,500 approved business activities across a wide range of sectors. Core categories include publishing and print (book publishing, magazine publishing, e-publishing, audiobooks, print-on-demand), digital media and advertising (content creation, social media management, podcast production, video production), technology (software development, mobile apps, web development, SaaS), e-commerce (online retail, dropshipping, marketplace selling), professional services (management consulting, IT consulting, training, HR, translation), and general trading (import, export, wholesale, distribution). Up to two activities are included in the standard licence, with additional activities available for a supplementary fee.

SPC Free Zone has a published corporate bank account approval rate of approximately 88% — one of the highest among Sharjah-based free zones. SPC works with nine partner banks, including Mashreq, Wio Bank, RAKBANK, and Emirates NBD. Mashreq Neo, SPC’s headline banking partner, offers a fully digital corporate account opening process with approval in as little as 48 hours and zero minimum balance requirements for qualifying SPC businesses. This strong banking recognition makes SPC a more reliable choice for entrepreneurs who prioritise smooth banking access over a Dubai address.

Yes. SPC Free Zone permits 100% foreign ownership for standard free zone licences — no local Emirati sponsor or partner is required. You retain full ownership and control of your company. For the dual licence structure, SPC Free Zone itself holds the local shareholding required for the Sharjah mainland component of the licence on behalf of the expatriate owner, meaning you still retain effective control without a personal local partner. There is no personal income tax in the UAE, and profits and capital can be fully repatriated.

SPC Free Zone offers three main legal structures. An FZE (Free Zone Establishment) is a single-shareholder entity where the same individual can act simultaneously as shareholder, director, and person-in-charge. An FZC (Free Zone Company) accommodates multiple shareholders, up to seven, comprising individuals, corporate entities, or a combination. A Branch allows an existing foreign company to establish a registered SPC presence as a branch of its parent entity. The FZE is the most common structure for solo founders and individual entrepreneurs. No minimum paid-up share capital is required for standard SPC licence types.

Yes. SPC Free Zone licence holders are eligible to apply for UAE investor and employee residence visas, typically valid for two years and renewable. Investor visa fees are approximately AED 4,000 and employee visas from AED 3,500, with Emirates ID and medical fees of approximately AED 2,250 charged separately. SPC’s in-house immigration centre processes visas faster than most UAE free zones, reducing the typical timeline from licence to stamped visa to as little as 5 to 7 working days for applicants in the UAE. Once your investor visa is issued, you can also sponsor UAE residence visas for eligible family members.

Standard SPC free zone companies are restricted to trading within the free zone or internationally and are not authorised to conduct direct business with UAE mainland companies without additional arrangements. However, SPC’s unique dual licence product allows businesses to hold both a free zone licence and a Sharjah mainland licence simultaneously through SPC, enabling direct mainland UAE trading without a separate DED application or personal local sponsor. For businesses needing only occasional mainland invoicing for services, standard free zone practice of billing mainland clients remotely is generally acceptable. KDHA PRIVE advises on the most appropriate structure for your specific commercial requirements.

No. Despite being named Sharjah Publishing City, SPC Free Zone is not limited to publishing or media businesses. Since its establishment, SPC has expanded to support over 1,500 business activities across four licence categories: Service, Trading, Industrial, and Holding. Technology companies, software developers, consultants, e-commerce businesses, digital marketers, general traders, and holding structures are all actively registered and operating within SPC. The publishing brand reflects the free zone’s origins and operator heritage — today it functions as a fully general-purpose, affordable free zone with one unique structural advantage over all others: the dual licence.

SPC and SHAMS are both Sharjah-based free zones with similar entry-level pricing starting from AED 5,750. SPC’s key advantages over SHAMS are its in-house immigration centre (faster visa), its 88% bank approval rate (higher than SHAMS), the unique dual licence option (not available at SHAMS), and its Mashreq Neo banking partnership with 48-hour digital account opening. SHAMS’s advantages over SPC are its higher activity limit per licence (up to 5 versus SPC’s 2 standard), unlimited visa quota without additional office space requirements, and its wider brand recognition among the general startup community. For businesses prioritising banking speed and dual licence access, SPC is the stronger choice. For businesses needing multiple activities or unlimited team visas, SHAMS is more flexible.

SPC Free Zone offers multi-year licence packages — typically 2 and 3-year options — at discounted rates compared to annual renewal. Multi-year packages lock in the current licence fee, eliminate annual renewal administration, and align the visa validity period with the licence term so both are renewed together. This is particularly beneficial for businesses committed to long-term UAE operations who want to minimise recurring costs and administrative overhead. KDHA PRIVE can prepare a clear cost comparison between annual and multi-year SPC packages for your specific setup.

For a standard SPC FZE or FZC registration, the required documents are a valid passport copy for each shareholder and director, a recent passport-sized photograph, and a completed SPC application form. UAE residents should provide a copy of their UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. For corporate shareholders, additional documents are required including a Certificate of Incorporation, a board resolution authorising the SPC setup, and an Ultimate Beneficial Owner Declaration. For the dual licence structure, additional Sharjah DED-related documentation is required. All foreign-language documents must be translated into English or Arabic. KDHA PRIVE confirms the exact checklist for your specific structure before you begin.

The UAE applies a 9% corporate tax on taxable profits above AED 375,000. SPC Free Zone is a designated free zone under UAE Corporate Tax Law, and SPC companies meeting the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income — generally from international trade, other free zone businesses, and qualifying activities. Non-qualifying income from UAE mainland clients must stay below the de minimis threshold of 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million. VAT at 5% applies once the mandatory registration threshold is reached. KDHA PRIVE manages corporate tax registration, VAT registration, and ongoing compliance for SPC clients.

Yes. SPC Free Zone is a strong choice for e-commerce businesses, particularly those that also need mainland selling capability through the dual licence. The standard e-commerce licence covers online retail, dropshipping, marketplace selling, and cross-border digital commerce. SPC’s Mashreq Neo banking partnership with 48-hour digital account opening is particularly valuable for e-commerce operators who need a working UAE corporate bank account quickly. For e-commerce businesses selling physical goods into the UAE mainland market through third-party logistics, the dual licence removes the need for a separate mainland registration. KDHA PRIVE advises on the optimal SPC structure for your specific e-commerce model.

SPC Free Zone is operated by the Sharjah Book Authority — the same organisation that produces the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), the largest book fair in the Middle East and one of the most prestigious international publishing events in the world, attracting over 2 million visitors annually. SPC businesses benefit from this association with one of the region’s most respected cultural institutions, and publishing and media companies registered in SPC gain access to the SIBF ecosystem, networking opportunities, and the intellectual property and publishing infrastructure that the Sharjah Book Authority has built over decades. For publishing, content, and creative businesses, this affiliation adds meaningful industry credibility that no other UAE free zone can offer.

Yes, company migration to SPC from another UAE free zone or mainland jurisdiction is possible, though it typically requires incorporating a new entity in SPC and winding down the existing company rather than a direct licence transfer between authorities. Businesses migrating to SPC to take advantage of the dual licence, faster visa processing, or Mashreq Neo banking should factor in the timeline and cost of closing the existing entity, transferring assets or contracts, and any outstanding licence or visa obligations. KDHA PRIVE advises on the most efficient migration approach and manages the full transition to minimise disruption.