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Overview
Sharjah is the place where you can see the cultural and historical side of the UAE, and it’s an ideal place for Indian entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses to grow and compete in the region. Among the many options available in the UAE, Sharjah Free Zone is the preferred choice for Indian businesses due to its location and policies.
Sharjah free zones are specialized economic zones within the emirate, designed to create a business friendly environment for trade, investment and entrepreneurship. These zones offer advanced infrastructure, cost effective setup options and industry specific facilities – perfect for Indian businesses looking to expand in the UAE.
Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah : Hamriyah Free Zone is the most affordable option for business setup in Sharjah. This zone offers competitive incentives, prime location near 3 seaports and 100% foreign ownership. Tax free environment, cost effective living and no currency restrictions or customs duties makes it perfect for Indian businesses. Industries thriving here are oil & gas, shipping, automotive, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
Warehouse options range from 276 sq.m to 614 sq.m, built to environmental and safety standards. Ample parking, IT ready infrastructure and various power capacities available.
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF) : Located next to Sharjah International Airport, SAIF Zone provides access to over 2 billion consumers in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Tax free benefits, 100% ownership and strategic logistics connectivity for Indian businesses.
Warehouse sizes similar to Hamriyah, modern amenities and IT ready setups, suitable for SMEs and larger enterprises.
Sharjah Media City : Also known as SHAMS Free Zone, it’s one of the youngest and fastest growing zones in Sharjah. While primarily focused on media businesses, SHAMS offers licenses for trading, professional services and holding companies. Ideal for Indian startups and freelancers, SHAMS requires only one shareholder.
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone A hub for paper, printing, distribution and publishing, this zone offers tax free privileges and full commercial licenses. Indian entrepreneurs in publishing and related industries can easily set up here.
The Sharjah Research Technology And Innovation Park Free Zone : SRTIP connects academia, government and industry in one location to foster innovation and R&D. Ideal for Indian businesses focused on technology, research and innovative solutions, this zone supports business growth with state of the art facilities and partnerships.
Sharjah Free Zones though not limited to media businesses are famous for nurturing creative talent. These zones are perfect for Indian entrepreneurs in the media sector, an environment conducive to innovation and skill development.
Cost-effective: Sharjah Free Zones offer one of the cheapest business setup in UAE. This is the reason why Indian startups and SMEs prefer low cost entry into the UAE market.
Complete ownership: Indian investors can have 100% ownership of their company without the need of local sponsor. You will also have full repatriation of capital and profits which is a big advantage for Indian entrepreneurs.
Scalable: Add up to 20 employee visas under a single trade license, perfect for growing Indian businesses.
Flexible: Indian investors don’t need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their current sponsor to become shareholders in a new company, simplifying the registration process.
Multiple Activities under One License: You can do 5 different business activities under a single license, providing flexibility and growth opportunities for diversified Indian enterprises.
Strategic Location: Sharjah has easy access to international markets in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, making it an ideal hub for Indian exporters and global businesses. It has well developed ports, airports and highways for smooth logistics and trade.
Sector-specific zones: Sharjah Free Zones cater to various industries, Sharjah Publishing City is the world’s first publishing dedicated free zone. Indian entrepreneurs can leverage these sector specific zones to benefit from customized infrastructure and networking opportunities..
Dubai International City has various business licenses to attract Indian entrepreneurs and investors to tap into the UAE market. Here are the main license types:
This license is for businesses involved in industrial and manufacturing activities. You need to have a physical office in Dubai International City to get a trading license. It covers activities like food products manufacturing, furniture production, and packaging solutions which are of interest to Indian manufacturers looking to expand in the UAE.
The commercial license allows businesses to buy and sell goods and services in Dubai International City. Activities under this license include import and export operations, retail stores, logistics and wholesale trading which offers huge opportunities for Indian traders and import-export businesses looking for global reach from the UAE.
This license is for businesses offering specialized services. It covers management consultancy, law firms, accounting and auditing, educational institutions, healthcare providers and other professional services. Indian professionals looking to set up in Dubai International City can use this license to access the service sector of UAE.
Start by understanding your business model and requirements. Which Sharjah Free Zone—Hamriyah Free Zone, SAIF Zone, SHAMS or SRTIP—fits your operational needs and sector. This is more important for Indian investors and entrepreneurs looking for the best fit for their expansion plans.
Create a business plan outlining your objectives, market strategy and financial projections. This will not only guide your business setup process but also help you to get approvals from Sharjah Free Zone Authority.
A business name that matches your brand identity is a must. The name should reflect your business activity, not already registered or in use and should not have prohibited or inappropriate words. This is more important for Indian business owners to establish a good presence in the UAE market.
You will need to complete the business setup formalities for Sharjah Free Zone by getting the shareholders to sign the documents and submit the required papers to the relevant authorities. This is more important for Indian business owners to ensure the company is registered properly as it meets both UAE and Indian regulatory requirements for a compliant and operational business.
There are so many Dubai free zones, but the following are widely used and very popular free zones.
Flyingcolour® helps with company registration in UAE. We provide services for Mainland, Free Zone or Offshore in all Emirates of UAE. We also help with opening bank accounts with all local banks. Our team works with UAE Government Departments and banks to make the business setup process easy for Indians.