What is the minimum number of directors required for setting up a company in Sharjah? Is a resident director required for a company in Sharjah?

In Sharjah, a corporation needs to have at least one director. This director does not have to live in Sharjah.

What is the minimum capital required to establish a company in Sharjah Free Zone?

The minimum capital needed to establish a FZE or FZC is AED 150,000, or US $41,000; however, no minimum capital is needed to establish a branch of a foreign or local company in Sharjah.

What is the tax levied on a company in Sharjah?

Corporate tax is not required for businesses operating in Sharjah. Furthermore, Sharjah businesses are allowed to repatriate all earnings and capital from the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, a 5% custom duty is applied to distributors who want to sell in the United Arab Emirates.

Is a company in Sharjah required to submit annual tax returns and/or financial statements?

According to corporate law, all foreign businesses that operate in Sharjah are required to file yearly returns and have their financial accounts audited every year.

Can a company in Sharjah be completely foreign-owned? Is a resident director required for company formation in Sharjah?

If a business has been established in the Sharjah Airport Free Zone, it is permitted for it to have 100% foreign ownership in Sharjah. No, establishing a corporation in Sharjah does not require a resident director.

What is the minimum capital for a company in Sharjah Free Zone? How long does it take to establish a company in Sharjah?

To set up a business in the Sharjah free zone, around AED 150,000 would be required. The process of registering a business in Sharjah typically takes 13 weeks

How much is a business license in Sharjah?

The cost of acquiring a mainland license for Sharjah ranges from AED 15,000 to AED 30,000. The type of business, office rent, visa fees, and other related government expenses all affect this pricing.

What is the cheapest business license in Sharjah?

Establishing a business in Sharjah might cost anything from AED 5,000 to AED 30,000 or more. The overall cost will vary depending on several variables, including office rent, visa processing fees, and other startup-related costs. With an initial cost of AED 6,000, the e-commerce license is the most economical option offered in Sharjah.

Do I need a local sponsor for a mainland business setup in Sharjah?

Yes, in order to establish a company in Mainland Sharjah, a local sponsor is needed.

What documents are required for business setup in Sharjah Mainland?

Copies of the shareholders' passports, a NOC from the sponsor (if any), a memorandum of association, a lease agreement, and other pertinent papers are the required documents to setup a business in Sharjah.

How long does it take to obtain a business license in Sharjah?

Depending on your business's structure and the authorities' processing speed, the time frames vary. In general, it may require a few weeks or several months to obtain a business license in Sharjah

Sharjah Mainland License and Company Setup with UGS

10+ years of experience

1,000+ projects done

100+ happy clients

Mainland company formation sharjah

A Sharjah mainland license lets your company trade across the UAE, with up to 100% foreign ownership for most activities. It is issued by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD). Unicorn Global Solutions (UGS) prepares and submits your application and follows it through to licence issues.

Company setup in Sharjah handled end to end, including for clients outside the UAE
Clear split between our service fee and the government fees, so you know the real total before you start
Advice on the right licence type and activity, before you apply
After setup, we also offer corporate tax, VAT and accounting as separate services

Why set up with UGS?

When you compare business setup consultants in Sharjah, look at three things: clear fees, honest advice and support after the licence.

Clear, upfront fees

Other services after your licence

Support for founders abroad

Right location from the start

Is a sharjah mainland license the right choice?

Sharjah Mainland

Licence from SEDD
Trade with customers anywhere in the UAE and abroad
Up to 100% foreign ownership for most commercial and industrial activities; some activities stay restricted
Usually needs a lease for your premises (the Instant Licence waives this for the first year, see below)

Free Zone

Licence from the free zone authority (in Sharjah, for example SHAMS)
Can be fully foreign owned
A free-zone company can conduct business from its free zone under its licence. Selling goods or providing services directly into the mainland may require the appropriate mainland licence, permit, distributor arrangement or other legally permitted structure, depending on the activity and applicable rules.
Office can be a flexi-desk, depending on the zone and package

Offshore

Registered through a registry, not a UAE trading licence
An offshore entity is generally used for holding assets or structuring international activities rather than conducting ordinary trading operations in the UAE. It should not be treated as a substitute for a UAE mainland or free-zone operating licence.
Suited to holding assets or international structures, not to trading with UAE customers Not sure which one fits? Tell us what you plan to sell and to whom, and we will recommend one.

You can also compare business setup in Dubai, company setup in Abu Dhabi, business setup in Ajman mainland, business setup in Ras Al Khaimah or business setup in Umm Al Quwain.

What we do for your company setup in sharjah

Plan

Apply

Issue

After the licence

Sharjah licence types

SEDD lists these licence routes for starting a business:

1. Traditional licence (standard)

Industrial, professional or commercial activities from physical premises. This is the usual route for LLCs and companies with staff and stock.

2. Instant Licence

SEDD’s Instant Licence is designed for eligible activities that do not require external approvals and can be issued within one working day. The applicable requirements, including premises and other conditions, depend on the activity and legal form

3. Electronic Trading Licence

For eligible online sales and social-media businesses. SEDD describes this licence as allowing online activities without a physical location, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.

4. Accreditation licence

For several activities run from home.

5. Birq licence

Designed for young UAE nationals. Which one you can use depends on your activity, your nationality and your plans. We check this before you pay for anything.

How a sharjah company registration works

Free consultation

you tell us your activity, owner & location. We confirm best licence route. (UGS)

Trade name

Reserved name & activity approved through SEDD. (UGS with SEDD)

Contract & premises

MOA signed & lease arranged. Instant Licence skips both in Y1. (You sign, UGS coordinates)

Extra approvals

Approval needed from external authorities first. (UGS applies)

Fees & licence

SEDD issues licence once all fees are settled. (UGS submits)

Next steps

Corporate tax registration, VAT & bookkeeping support. (UGS if required)

What does a sharjah mainland license cost?

The ugs fee is our service fee only. It is not the total cost. Government fees are extra.

Sharjah mainland company setup

What makes up the total cost

SEDD licence fee: SEDD publishes the licence fee as 8% of the lease value or site area for UAE national partners, and 13% for partners of other nationalities, depending on the activity.
Premises: the rent of your office or site, if your licence needs one. Rent often becomes the biggest part of the first-year cost.
Other government fees: trade name, commercial register and approval fees depend on your legal form and activity.
Visas: residence and employment visas are not part of our service (UGS offers golden visa services only), so budget for visas separately if you need them.
Official fee tool: SEDD offers a Fee Calculator in its digital services that gives an estimated cost for starting or renewing a business, so you can check government costs yourself.

Documents you will need

Passport copies of all shareholders (and Emirates ID or residence visa copy, if you live in the UAE)
Your proposed trade name and business activity
Initial approval receipt (we obtain this for you)
Memorandum of association, attested where required
Lease contract for your premises (not needed in year one on the Instant Licence)
Approvals from other authorities, if your activity needs them
Local service agent contract, only where your licence type still lists one

How long does it take?

Route	Timeline
Instant Licence	Within one working day (SEDD), for eligible office activities
Standard licence	Depends on your activity, approvals, MOA signing and lease. We give you a realistic timeline after reviewing your case

Most delays come from the activity approval, the lease and signing, not from the final issue step.

Included and not included

Included in the UGS service

Licence and activity advice
Trade name and initial approval application
Application preparation, submission and follow up
Coordination of signing and approvals
A clear written quote with government fees shown separately

Not included

What our clients say

I had a great experience with their service , very punctual and reliable! Everything was done exactly as promised and on schedule, which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. What impressed me even more was their affordable pricing compared to others in the market, without compromising on quality. Highly recommended for anyone looking for efficient and cost-effective service in the UAE!

Top-notch service! Quick turnaround, high accuracy, and competitive rates. They are honest, trustworthy, and completely hassle-free. Highly recommended!

Tax and compliance after setup

Corporate tax: UAE companies pay 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. New companies must register within 3 months of incorporation, and late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty.
VAT: registration is mandatory when taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in 12 months. The VAT rate is 5%.
Records: keep proper accounting books from day one. UGS offers accounting and bookkeeping from AED 199.
UGS can handle corporate tax registration (AED 149), corporate tax return filing (from AED 199) and VAT registration (AED 149).

Start your sharjah mainland company setup

Sources:

Sharjah Economic Development Department, https://sedd.ae/en/web/sedd/home (licence types, licence fee percentages, digital portal), checked 6 October 2026
WAM and Al Etihad, SEDD launches Instant Licence, 29 June 2025, https://en.aletihad.ae/news/uae/4586311/sedd-launches–instant-licence–service, checked 6 October 2026
Gulf Today, Sharjah approves 100% foreign ownership, 2 June 2021, https://gulftoday.ae/Business/2021/06/02/Sharjah-approves-100-foreign-ownership-of-commercial-industrial-companies, checked 6 October 2026
UAE Government portal, Full foreign ownership of commercial companies and Steps to start a business on the mainland, u.ae, checked 6 October 2026
Ministry of Finance, Corporate tax and taxable income threshold, mof.gov.ae, checked 6 October 2026
Federal Tax Authority, Corporate tax registration timeframes and VAT registration, tax.gov.ae, checked 6 October 2026

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Sharjah mainland license cost?

The total depends on your activity, legal form and premises. It is made up of the UGS service fee (AED 999 + government fees), SEDD licence fees (8% or 13% of the lease value or site area, depending on partner nationality and activity), rent and any approvals. Ask for a free quote and we will show each part separately.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Sharjah?

In most cases yes. Since June 2021 Sharjah has allowed foreign investors to own 100% of commercial and industrial companies, with no specific capital or extra fees required of foreign investors. Some strategic activities stay restricted, so we check your activity first.

Do I need a local sponsor or service agent?

Not necessarily. Foreign investors can own 100% of most eligible mainland businesses in Sharjah without a UAE shareholder. Whether a service agent is required depends on the legal form and activity. Branches of foreign companies can operate without a foreign-company branch service agent under SEDD’s current rules.

Do I need an office to get a Sharjah mainland license?

Usually yes, a lease for your premises is part of a standard licence. The SEDD Instant Licence is the exception: it needs no signed lease or company contract in the first year, for eligible office activities with up to three employees.

Is the UGS fee the total cost?

No. The UGS fee is our service fee only. Government fees and rent are extra, and we show them in your quote.

Which Sharjah licence type do I need?

Most companies with premises, staff or stock use the traditional (standard) licence. The Instant Licence suits office activities that need no approval from other authorities, with up to three employees, and the Electronic Trading Licence is for trading online without a physical location.See the Sharjah licence types.

How long does it take to get a trade license in Sharjah?

SEDD can issue an Instant Licence within one working day for eligible activities. A standard licence takes longer because of activity approvals, the company contract and the lease. We give you a timeline once we know your activity.

Can I set up a Sharjah company from outside the UAE?

UGS can handle the full setup for clients abroad. Whether any step needs you in person depends on your activity, and we tell you at the start.

What is the difference between Sharjah mainland and a free zone?

A mainland licence lets you trade directly across the UAE. A free zone company can be fully foreign owned but needs a distributor or a mainland branch or company to sell on the mainland. Compare mainland, free zone and offshore.