A creative identity with broader business options.
ITQAN helps assess activities, ownership, visas and post-licensing requirements before applying.
SHAMS is Sharjah Media City Free Zone. Its creative identity is relevant to content creators, production businesses, designers, advertising agencies and marketing professionals.
Its activity directory extends beyond media to consultancy, technology, e-commerce and selected commercial activities. This can suit founders building around digital delivery, professional knowledge or focused trade.
Production, publishing and eligible creator activities.
Design, advertising and marketing-related work.
Consulting, digital delivery and eligible IT activities.
Approved online selling or commercial activities.
Businesses needing large warehouses, industrial land, manufacturing facilities, port access or specialised infrastructure should compare SHAMS with SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone or another activity-led jurisdiction.
SHAMS currently offers Standard and Media package routes. Its official framework allows up to five eligible activities under a licence, using approved activity groups or classes.
The selected activities must match what the company will actually sell or deliver. Combining activities remains subject to authority rules, and pre-approval or post-approval activities need clearance from the relevant external authority.
Describe the actual revenue-generating work.
Confirm that selected activities can sit together.
Check how mainland work or goods will be handled.
Expect banking and record needs to reflect the activity.
SHAMS supports foreign ownership and individual or corporate shareholders, subject to its current incorporation checks. Packages may provide a flexi-desk and lease agreement for the registered address.
A company licence without a residence-visa allocation.
A package structured to support approved visa processing.
The immigration file generally required before company-sponsored visas.
Investor, partner or employee applications assessed separately.
Family sponsorship follows after the eligible sponsor completes residency.
Visa allocation depends on the selected package, establishment requirements and immigration approval. It is not guaranteed by licence issuance.
Define the business model and market.
Choose activities and licence route.
Set shareholders and visa needs.
Submit acceptable company names.
Prepare and submit the application.
Complete agreed post-licensing steps.
Visas, Emirates ID, banking, bookkeeping and tax assessment follow licensing where applicable.
Cost depends on the licence, activities, visas, establishment card, workspace, immigration, approvals and renewal.
ITQAN prepares a written, itemised quotation after confirming these requirements rather than relying on a headline price.
ITQAN can compare jurisdictions, check activities, prepare documents and coordinate the application. The scope may also cover visas, bank-account preparation, renewal and compliance.
ITQAN is independent from SHAMS and cannot control authority, immigration or banking decisions.
Jurisdiction and activity fit
Documents and application
Authority and visa steps
Banking and compliance readiness
No. SHAMS also lists activities across consultancy, trading, e-commerce, technology and other service categories. Availability and compatibility must be checked against the current activity directory.
Yes. Foreign ownership is available, subject to identity, ownership, due-diligence and activity checks. Residence is a separate immigration process.
SHAMS packages may include a flexi-desk and lease agreement. The appropriate registered address or workspace depends on the activity, package, staffing and operational needs.
SHAMS currently permits up to five eligible activities under one licence. Compatibility, licence structure and any external approval must be confirmed before application.
Visa-eligible packages are available, while zero-visa options do not include a residence allocation. Establishment-card and immigration approval requirements apply to visa processing.
It may provide approved services or use a compliant commercial route. A free-zone licence does not automatically permit every mainland trading or regulated activity.
The company may apply for banking, but each bank decides independently. VAT and Corporate Tax require separate assessment; free-zone status does not make the 0% Corporate Tax rate automatic.
Share your activities, ownership and visa needs. ITQAN can assess the route and prepare a written scope.
SHAMS activities, licence options, fees, visa allocations and processing periods remain subject to current authority and immigration requirements. ITQAN Business Solution FZE LLC provides business setup, document-preparation and coordination support. Government, immigration and banking approvals cannot be guaranteed.
