Sharjah Media City (Shams) was launched in January 2017 to act as a catalyst for creative and media businesses to grow and thrive. Aiming to be a world-class media hub for innovative facilities and services, Shams covers a wide range of business activities available for those wishing to embark on their entrepreneurial journey in the UAE.

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Sharjah represents a safe and progressive environment for company formation, offering foreign investors benefits, such as zero corporate, import and export taxes, in addition to other advantages. The UAE is well-recognized the world over as a trading hub, boasting a large non-oil sector that contributes to nearly 70% of the GDP – 45% of which is contributed by Sharjah’s trading activities. Join the thousands of entrepreneurs who have successfully completed the business formation process and are now part of this thriving community.

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• Wide range of business activities available on the same business license

• All company documents issued within days

• 100% foreign ownership permitted

• Shareholders are not required to be physically present in the UAE to incorporate a new company

• Companies will have limited liability

• Ability to appoint Corporate Directors and Corporate Managers for your company

• 100% repatriation of capital and profits

• 0% corporate or personal income tax

• Quick and simple online registration process

• Deposits are not required by Shams

• Allocation of up to 6 visas on a shared desk facility

• Located 5 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport

 

TYPES OF SHAMS COMPANIES

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1. Shams limited liability company (LLC) is an independent entity whereby the company structure separates the owners and shareholders from the company. Hence the liabilities of the company, whether arising in contract or otherwise, are the company’s liabilities and not the personal liabilities of the shareholders. Equally the company’s assets are the company’s assets and not the personal assets of the shareholders.

 

• Independent operating entity

• Entitled to obtain a license

• Entitled to sponsor employee(s)

• Entitled to open a business bank account

2. Shams branch is an entity belonging to an existing parent company. All profits, benefits, gains and other returns of the branch shall be profits, benefits, gains and other returns of the parent company. Equally, all costs, expenses, debts and other liabilities of the branch are costs, expenses, debts and other liabilities of the parent company.

 

• Entitled to obtain a license

• Entitled to sponsor employee(s)

• Entitled to open a business bank account

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BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

 

1. Media:

• Manufacturing

• Information and communication

• Professional, scientific and technical activities

• Arts, entertainment and recreation

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2. Wholesale and Retail:

• Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

• Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

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3. Services and Consultancy:

• Financial and insurance activities

• Real estate activities

• Professional, scientific and technical activities

• Administrative and support service activities

• Education

• Arts, entertainment and recreation

• Other service activities

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LICENSES 

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1. Service License: It allows for production, re-production, transformation and distribution of services. Service license includes rendering services as a primary objective and utilizing goods to provide them.

 

2. Trading License: Selling goods within Shams or importing and exporting of goods. It includes movement of goods, wholesale and retail sale of goods and rendering of services related to the sale of these goods.

 

3. Industrial License: It allows for production, re-production, transformation and manufacturing of goods.