Summary
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) is one of the UAE’s best-value free zones, with a wide activity list well beyond media — consulting, marketing, e-commerce and IT. Ajman Free Zone offers one of the lowest licence prices in the UAE — from AED 5,565 zero-visa, or AED 13,141 with your first residence visa.
On published government fees, Ajman Free Zone has the lower zero-visa licence (about AED 5,565 vs about AED 5,750). Compare the whole package — visas, desk, renewal — not just the headline.
SHAMS vs Ajman Free Zone at a glance
| SHAMS | Ajman Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | Ajman |
| Authority | Sharjah Media City (Shams) Authority | Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) |
| Best for | Media, consulting & digital services | Multi-sector, trading & industrial |
| Location | Sharjah | Ajman, near Ajman Port and about 30 minutes from Dubai |
| Licence cost | From about AED 5,750–6,900 (zero-visa) · about AED 14,300 with one visa | From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa |
| Fee data | Published fees | Published fees |
| Setup time | A few working days | About one week |
| Visa allocation | Flexible; scales with package | One visa AED 13,141 all-in; two visas ≈ AED 17,181; three ≈ AED 23,242 |
| Banking ease (editorial) | Good | Moderate |
| Renewal | Annual licence and desk renewals; multi-year discounts often available | Annual licence and desk renewals; multi-year plans often discounted |
Which fits which situation
Consider SHAMS if…
- Consultants and freelancers
- Marketing, media and content businesses
- Budget-conscious online businesses
Its main considerations
- Licence says Sharjah, which matters to some clients and banks
- Published fees differ slightly between sources — confirm the live figure
Consider Ajman Free Zone if…
- Freelancers and solo founders
- Small traders and e-commerce sellers
- Budget-first start-ups
Its main considerations
- The licence does not say Dubai, which matters to some clients and banks
- Free zone companies cannot freely trade onshore in the UAE without an additional licence
SHAMS vs Ajman Free Zone: FAQs
SHAMS or Ajman Free Zone: which is cheaper?
On published government fees, Ajman Free Zone has the lower zero-visa licence (about AED 5,565 vs about AED 5,750). Compare the whole package — visas, desk, renewal — not just the headline.
Who is SHAMS better suited to than Ajman Free Zone?
SHAMS is associated with: consultants and freelancers; marketing, media and content businesses; budget-conscious online businesses. Ajman Free Zone is associated with: freelancers and solo founders; small traders and e-commerce sellers; budget-first start-ups. Match your activity and customers to those profiles and confirm the permitted-activity lists.
Can I change from SHAMS to Ajman Free Zone later?
Moving between free zones usually means cancelling one licence and applying for another, with new fees, and possibly new visas and bank details. Choosing carefully first avoids the extra cost.
Do either of them let me trade directly on the UAE mainland?
Generally not without a distributor, a dual-licence arrangement where the zone offers one, or a separate mainland entity. Confirm for your activity.
Read the full guides
Get a written quote for SHAMS or Ajman Free Zone
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.