# Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) > SPC Free Zone publishes 4 current packages, the lowest without stated conditions at AED 13,175 for year 1, offers up to 1 visa in a published package and states incorporation in 1 day (checked 2026-10-24). Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) is a general business and specialised free zone in Sharjah, licensed by Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) - acts as its own company registrar and supervisory authority, established in 2017. - Emirate: Sharjah - Licensing authority: Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) - acts as its own company registrar and supervisory authority - Official website: https://www.spcfz.ae/ - Also known as: SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) - Last checked: 2026-10-24 - Page: https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/spc ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Solo, no visa (year 1): one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity | AED 13,175 (License with 1 investor visa (selected activities)) — License with 1 investor visa (selected activities): the smallest published package covers 1 visa | | Founder + 1 visa (year 1): one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office | AED 13,175 (License with 1 investor visa (selected activities)) | | Team, 3 visas (year 1): three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office | Not published | | Lowest package of any size, without stated conditions (year 1) | AED 13,175 (License with 1 investor visa (selected activities)) | | Lowest licence fee | AED 5,750 | | Largest visa quota in a package | 1 | | Minimum office | Not published | | Licence types | General trading, Trading, Services / consultancy, E-commerce | | Minimum share capital | Not published | | Incorporation time (stated) | 1 day | | On the FTA VAT Designated Zone list | No | ## Packages | Package | Year 1 | Renewal | Visa quota | Office | Includes | Excludes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Business license only, 0 visa (selected activities) | AED 5,750 | — | 0 | — | one-year business license; company registration costs; up to 5 activity groups; lease agreement (facility type not stated); up to 7 shareholders | residence visas; value-added services; other one-time charges; AED 10 knowledge fee shown separately in calculator | | General trading license only, 0 visa | AED 6,875 | — | 0 | — | one-year business license; up to 5 activity groups | visas; value-added services | | License with 1 investor visa (selected activities) | AED 13,175 | — | 1 | — | business license; visa allocation AED 1,600; establishment card AED 640; e-channel registration AED 2,280; investor visa processing AED 2,895 incl. medical and Emirates ID | change of status AED 700 (if applicant is inside UAE); medical health insurance; value-added services | | General trading license with visa | AED 14,300 | — | 1 | — | general trading license; visa allocation | value-added services | ## Identity and legal basis - Official name (Arabic): المنطقة الحرة لمدينة الشارقة للنشر - Former, merged or alternative names: SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) - Licensing / regulating authority: Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) - acts as its own company registrar and supervisory authority - Zone type: General business, Specialised - Year established: 2017 - Official website: https://www.spcfz.ae/ - Online application portal: https://portal.spcfz.ae/frontend/login - Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars: Yes Physical locations / campuses: E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd, Al Zahia, Sharjah. [1] Public contact email: more@spcfz.ae. [1] Public contact phone: 800 77239 (800 SPCFZ); from overseas +971 800 77239. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/contact-us/) ## Business activities - Official approved activity list: https://www.spcfz.ae/business-activities/ - Licence types offered: General trading, Trading, Services / consultancy, E-commerce - General trading licence available: Yes Total number of approved activities: 2,034. [1] Activity categories offered: General Trading; Professional Services; IT Services; E-Commerce; Administrative Services; Marketing Services; Publishing. [2] Activities included in base licence: 5. [1] Fee per additional activity: AED 2,200. [1] Trading and services on one licence: yes. [3] Conditions for general trading: Licence-only price AED 6,875 (vs AED 5,750 for selected other activities); up to 5 activity groups; no warehouse lease required; no NOC required; selling into the local UAE market described as indirect via a registered local distributor. [4] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/) · [3] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/faqs/) · [4] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/business-activities/general-trading/) ## Cost - year one - Lowest licence fee (zero-visa): AED 5,750 Establishment / immigration card fee: AED 640. [1] Cost per visa: AED 4,495. [2] Visa fees: Visa allocation AED 1,600 per visa; investor visa with Emirates ID AED 2,530 + medical test AED 365 (processing 2,895); employee visa processing AED 4,065 (includes medical 365 and Emirates ID 330 per calculator); change of status AED 700 if inside UAE; one-time establishment card AED 640 and e-channel registration AED 2,280; health insurance not included; dependent visa AED 5,000 each. [3] Extras included: Lease agreement with every business license; Partner benefits advertised as worth AED 31,000+ (e.g. Zoho credits, website package, WhatsApp marketing plan, co-working trial); Up to 7 shareholders at no extra cost. [4] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/) · [2] [Calculated from the zone's figures (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) · [3] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) · [4] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/our-partners/) ## Cost - ongoing Multi-year licence discounts: 2-year licence 10% off, 3-year 15%, 5-year 17%, 10-year 20%; multi-year terms 'lock today's fees'. [1] Current promotions and expiry: Interest-free instalments over 3, 6 or 12 months (no end date shown); Refer-a-friend reward up to AED 1,500 (no end date shown). [2] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/) ## Visas and residency Visa quota rule: Unlimited visa quota advertised for investors, partners and employees, not tied to office size; each visa requires a AED 1,600 visa allocation. [1] How to increase quota and cost: Visas can be added at licence registration or later; each additional visa requires a AED 1,600 visa allocation. [2] Investor / partner visa available: yes. [3] Employee visa available: yes. [3] Dependant / family visa sponsorship allowed: yes. [4] Typical visa processing time: 5 days. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/faqs/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/) · [3] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) · [4] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/spouse-and-dependents-visa-processing/) ## Office and facilities - Office / facility types: Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Private office, Retail unit, Warehouse - Warehouse available: Yes Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: co-working space; meeting rooms; conference facilities; virtual receptionist service. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/) ## Legal structure and ownership - Entity types available: FZE (single shareholder), FZCO (several shareholders), Branch of a foreign company, Branch of a UAE company Minimum shareholders: 1. [1] Maximum shareholders: 100. [2] Corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [1] Foreign corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [1] Share capital must be paid in: no. [3] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/business-setup-in-sharjah/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/pay-as-you-go/) · [3] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/) ## Market access and customs Customs duty in the zone: No zone-specific customs duty relief stated by SPC. SPC's customs page says import clearance into Sharjah involves paying relevant duties and taxes, handled by Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zone Authority; SPC arranges customs codes (via ICB) for six UAE ports. SPC is not on the FTA VAT Designated Zones list (2021). [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/customs-code/) ## Tax status - VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list): No Help with corporate tax registration: yes. [1] Corporate-tax statements above come from the zone or from general FTA guidance. The schedule of Free Zones under Cabinet Resolution 54/2023 was not available to this research, and the FTA advises taxpayers to confirm their Free Zone or Designated Zone status with the Free Zone authority. The 0% rate applies only to the Qualifying Income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person that meets all conditions; other income is taxed at the standard rate. Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) ## Compliance and reporting - Beneficial-owner register filing required: Yes Activities needing anti-money-laundering registration: real estate; legal services; dealers in precious metals and stones; trust and company service providers; auditors. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/rules-regulations-and-policies/) ## Banking - Zone offers bank-account facilitation: Yes ## Setup process and speed - Typical incorporation time stated by the zone: 1 day - Direct application without an agent: Yes Documents for an individual shareholder: Passport copy of shareholders, directors and managers; UAE visa copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident); Proof of address (if applicable); Company documents for corporate shareholders/branches (MoA/AoA, certificate of incorporation, parent documents). [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/business-setup-in-sharjah/) ## Operations, ecosystem and flexibility Adding shareholders: At setup, up to 7 shareholders included; AED 1,000 per additional shareholder; maximum 100. [1] Multi-year licence options: 1 year; 2 years; 3 years; 5 years; 10 years. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/cost-calculator/) ## Freelancer and solo founder - Freelancer permit available: No ## Industry-specific regulation E-commerce platforms and partners: marketplace/fulfilment/payment partners: Amazon; Grow With Amazon; Aramex; FedEx; DHL Express UAE; Telr; Tap Payments; Network International; HyperPay. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.spcfz.ae/our-partners/) ## Notes and history - **Good to know:** The Sharjah Book Authority's website includes a page on Sharjah Publishing City, which describes it as covering 65,000 square metres with offices, pre-built warehouses and freehold property for sale and lease. [source](https://sba.gov.ae/?p=27) - **Good to know:** Acting as company registrar and supervisory authority, SPC Free Zone carries out inspections of its registered companies for beneficial-ownership and anti-money-laundering compliance under Cabinet Decisions No. 109 and No. 132 of 2023. [source](https://www.spcfz.ae/rules-regulations-and-policies/) - **Good to know:** The zone's home page states that a lease agreement is issued with every business licence. [source](https://www.spcfz.ae/) ## FAQ ### How much does a SPC Free Zone licence cost? The lowest package SPC Free Zone advertises is AED 13,175 for the first year (License with 1 investor visa (selected activities)). Packages differ in what they include, so check visas, office and fees before comparing. ### How many visas come with a SPC Free Zone package? The largest visa quota in a package SPC Free Zone publishes is 1. Larger quotas usually need more office space; ask the zone for the rule that applies to you. ### How long does SPC Free Zone company setup take? SPC Free Zone states about 1 day for incorporation. Visas take extra time after the licence is issued. ### Can I get a general trading licence in SPC Free Zone? Yes, SPC Free Zone offers a general trading licence. ### Is SPC Free Zone a VAT Designated Zone? SPC Free Zone does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones. ## Compare with - [SPC Free Zone vs SHAMS](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/shams-vs-spc) - [SPC Free Zone vs Meydan Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=meydan&z=spc) - [SPC Free Zone vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/spc-vs-uaq-ftz) Rules that apply to every zone: [corporate tax](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax.md), [VAT Designated Zones](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zones.md), [mainland access](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainland.md) --- Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice. --- Source: FreezoneGuide (https://freezoneguide.com/). AED, as published by each zone on its official channels. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.