By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Summary
Company formation in SAIF Zone, the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, gives you 100% foreign ownership, an FZE or FZC, and a base right beside Sharjah International Airport. A trade or service licence with a SAIF Desk costs about AED 13,500 to 15,000 a year, general trading about AED 21,000, and licences can be issued within a working day once documents are complete.
What Is SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, set up in 1995 and run by the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority (SAIFZA). According to SAIF Zone, it hosts more than 8,000 companies from around 160 countries.
The zone sits next to Sharjah International Airport, about 20 to 30 minutes from Dubai, with road links to Sharjah’s ports on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. That mix of air cargo, sea freight and Dubai access is why traders, manufacturers and logistics firms keep choosing it. Many people search for “SAIF Zone Dubai”, but the zone is in Sharjah, which is part of its cost advantage.
Why Choose SAIF Zone Business Setup?
- 100% foreign ownership of FZE and FZC companies
- Airport side location with direct air cargo access
- Real facilities: desks, offices, warehouses and land in one zone
- Fast licensing, often within a day for complete files
- Customs benefits on goods stored and re-exported
- Large activity list, with more than 1,500 approved activities reported
- Visa quotas that grow with space, from a desk to large warehouses
- Lower running costs than many Dubai free zones for warehouse heavy businesses
Types of Business Licences in SAIF Zone
| Licence | Who it suits | Typical activities |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence | Traders in related product groups | Import, export, re-export, distribution |
| General trading licence | Traders in many unrelated products | Multi-category trading |
| Service licence | Consultants and service firms | Consultancy, IT, logistics services, marketing |
| Industrial licence | Manufacturers and assemblers | Production, processing, packaging |
| E-commerce activity | Online sellers | Online trading with warehouse fulfilment |
If you are comparing trading options across emirates, our guide to the general trading license in Dubai explains how the activity differs on the mainland. Online sellers can also read about the e-commerce license.
SAIF Zone vs Other Sharjah and Dubai Free Zones
| Factor | SAIF Zone | SHAMS | SPC | DAFZA (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Trading, logistics, industrial | Media, freelancers, services | Publishing, services | Premium airport based trading |
| Physical facilities | Desks, offices, warehouses, land | Mainly desks | Mainly desks | Offices and warehouses |
| Entry licence cost | About AED 13,500 with desk | Packages from about AED 5,750 | Low cost packages | Usually higher |
| Airport cargo access | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Location | Sharjah International Airport | Sharjah city | Sharjah | Dubai International Airport |
Service businesses that only need a desk often pay less at SHAMS or SPC. If you move goods, SAIF Zone usually gives better value than DAFZA. East coast traders can also compare Fujairah Free Zone company formation.
Company Types in SAIF Zone
- FZE (Free Zone Establishment): one shareholder, individual or corporate
- FZC (Free Zone Company): two to five shareholders
- Branch: of a UAE or foreign company, carrying the parent’s name and activities
Share capital of about AED 150,000 is commonly declared for an FZE, and it is usually not blocked in a bank. Confirm the current rule for your structure.
Office and Warehouse Facilities in SAIF Zone
Your facility decides both your cost and your visa quota:
- SAIF Desk: the entry option, usually linked to about 2 visas
- SAIF Office (from about 12 sq m): usually up to about 5 visas
- Warehouses (400 sq m and above): 8 or more visas, plus storage and loading
- Land plots: for companies building their own factory or warehouse
If storage is central to your plan, compare costs with our guide to a warehouse license in Dubai.
How to Set Up a Company in SAIF Zone: Step by Step
- Choose your activity and licence type: trade, general trading, service or industrial.
- Pick a facility that matches your visa needs.
- Reserve a trade name with three options and submit for pre-approval.
- Receive pre-approval, often within one working day for clean files.
- Sign the memorandum of association and lease with SAIFZA.
- Pay the fees and collect your licence.
- Complete immigration registration and apply for visas.
- Open a corporate bank account with help from our bank account opening team.
- Register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority within the deadline.
Our PRO services team can handle steps 3 to 7 for you.
Documents Required for SAIF Zone Company Registration
Individual shareholders
- Passport copy and passport photo
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copy, if resident
- No objection certificate from your sponsor, if you are employed in the UAE
- Business plan for some activities and for the bank
Corporate shareholders
- Certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of the parent
- Board resolution approving the SAIF Zone company or branch
- Certificate of good standing
- Power of attorney for the manager, attested where required
SAIF Zone Company Formation Cost
The figures below are approximate market rates for the first year. Your facility is usually 40% to 60% of the total, so choose space carefully.
| Cost item | Approximate cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Trade or service licence with SAIF Desk | 13,500 to 15,000 |
| General trading licence with SAIF Desk | 21,000 to 22,500 |
| Industrial licence with 400 sq m warehouse | From 32,000 |
| Registration, establishment card and e-channel | About 2,200 |
| SAIF Office (from about 12 sq m) | From 25,000 a year |
| Warehouse 600 to 1,250 sq m | From 48,000 a year |
| Residence visa per person | About 3,750 to 5,250 |
| Medical test, Emirates ID and insurance | About 1,000 to 2,500 per person |
A single owner trading company with one visa usually lands around AED 20,000 to 25,000 in year one. Renewals are generally charged on the same tariff, minus one time registration costs.
Visa Options in SAIF Zone
- Investor or partner visa for shareholders
- Employment visas for staff, within your facility quota
- Family visas for spouse, children and parents once salary and housing rules are met
- Visas are usually processed in 7 to 10 working days per applicant
Long term investors can also qualify for a Golden Visa while keeping their SAIF Zone company. Freelancers who only need a personal permit may prefer a Sharjah freelance visa.
How Long Does SAIF Zone Company Setup Take?
- Pre-approval: about 1 working day
- Licence: often within 24 hours of payment and complete documents
- Visas: 7 to 10 working days per person
- Bank account: about 1 to 3 weeks
Most clients are fully operational within 3 to 4 weeks.
Corporate Tax, VAT and Customs in SAIF Zone
SAIF Zone companies are not automatically tax free:
- Corporate tax: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% on qualifying income if it keeps adequate substance and meets the conditions. Our corporate tax service can assess your position with the Federal Tax Authority.
- VAT: 5%, with registration mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies. Our VAT consultants can register you.
- Customs: goods held in the zone are duty free, but 5% customs duty usually applies when they enter the UAE mainland.
- Mainland trading: selling directly to mainland customers usually needs a local distributor or a mainland branch.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Picking a desk package when you will need more than two visas in year one
- Assuming a free zone licence means no corporate tax
- Selling directly to mainland retail customers without a distributor
- Choosing a trade licence when your products span many unrelated categories
- Leaving bank account preparation until after the licence is issued
- Forgetting the corporate tax registration deadline
Expert Tip from Adil Ahmad
In the SAIF Zone files we handle, the smartest founders size their facility to the team they will have in 18 months, not today. Moving from a desk to a warehouse later means new lease paperwork and visa quota changes. If you know you will hold stock, starting with a small warehouse often costs less over two years than upgrading.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does SAIF Zone company formation cost?
A trade or service licence with a SAIF Desk costs about AED 13,500 to 15,000. With one visa, most single owner companies spend about AED 20,000 to 25,000 in year one.
2. Is SAIF Zone in Dubai or Sharjah?
Sharjah. It sits beside Sharjah International Airport, about 20 to 30 minutes from Dubai.
3. How long does it take to set up a company in SAIF Zone?
The licence can be issued within a day of payment. Visas and banking usually take 3 to 4 weeks in total.
4. Can I own 100% of my company in SAIF Zone?
Yes. FZE, FZC and branch companies allow full foreign ownership.
5. How many visas can I get in SAIF Zone?
A desk usually carries about 2 visas, an office up to about 5, and a 400 sq m warehouse 8 or more.
6. Do SAIF Zone companies pay corporate tax?
They can pay 0% on qualifying income as a Qualifying Free Zone Person. Other taxable income above AED 375,000 is taxed at 9%.
7. Can a SAIF Zone company trade in mainland UAE?
Yes, through a mainland distributor or branch, with customs duty paid on goods entering the mainland.
8. What is the official SAIF Zone website?
The authority’s site is saif-zone.com, and its FAQ page answers common questions on licences and visas. The Ministry of Economy free zone listing also profiles the zone.
Start Your SAIF Zone Company
Gulf Corporate Services handles SAIF Zone licensing, visas, bank accounts and tax registration in one file. See our SAIF free zone overview, compare the Ajman Free Zone and our wider free zone company setup guide, or plan ahead with moving a free zone company to the mainland. We also support business setup in Dubai and business setup in Saudi Arabia. Speak to our business setup consultants for a free consultation.
