HFZA vs SAIF Zone
Hamriyah Free Zone (Sharjah) or Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) (Sharjah)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose HFZA for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 515 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Popular with heavy industry
- Popular with port-linked traders
Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) is a large industrial and port-side free zone on Sharjah's northern coast, set up in 1995. It suits manufacturers, oil and gas service firms, steel, chemical and food processors, and traders who need a seaport, land or warehouses. Small e-office licences start from roughly AED 5,500 without a visa and around AED 9,000 to 14,500 with one. A simple licence can be ready within days, while land and factory projects take months.
Choose SAIF Zone for…
- Faster setup (around 7 vs 10 working days)
- Popular with traders using sharjah airport
- Popular with light manufacturing
SAIF Zone is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, set up in 1995 right next to Sharjah's airport runway. It is best for importers, re-exporters, distributors and light manufacturers who need offices, warehouses or land with direct air-cargo access. Expect a starting package of roughly AED 10,800 to 13,000 before visas, and around AED 20,000 to 25,000 for a first year with one visa. Licences typically take one to two weeks once your documents are complete.
HFZA vs SAIF Zone side by side
| HFZA | SAIF Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | Sharjah |
| Packages from | AED 12,875 | AED 13,390 |
| Renewal from | AED 11,845 | AED 12,360 |
| Visa quota | Up to 10 | Up to 10 |
| Typical setup | ~10 working days | ~7 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse |
| Activity areas | Industrial, Trading, Logistics, Maritime | Trading, Logistics, Industrial, Consultancy |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 1995 | 1995 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
HFZA in brief
Hamriyah is where Sharjah puts big, heavy and bulky businesses. Set up by an Emiri decree in November 1995 and run by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, it covers many millions of square metres of coastal land, with sources quoting anything from about 10 to 30 million square metres depending on which phases they count. The scale is the point: steel mills, petrochemical storage, food plants and fabrication yards sit next to each other.
Strengths
- Own deep-water port and inner harbour next to tenant plots.
- Large land bank for heavy industry, with long renewable leases.
- Wide choice of facilities, from small e-offices to bulk storage yards.
- Strong cluster in steel, oil and gas, petrochemicals and food processing.
Watch out for
- Far from Dubai's business districts and residential areas.
- Prices mostly come through consultants, so quotes vary.
- Industrial projects involve many approvals and long build times.
SAIF Zone in brief
Think of SAIF Zone as a working trade estate rather than a business-card free zone. It was created by an Amiri decree in May 1995 on land bordering Sharjah International Airport, and its whole design assumes that tenants move physical goods. Warehouses, pre-built factory units and open plots make up a large part of what it rents out.
Strengths
- Airside cargo access: goods can move between aircraft and warehouse inside a customs-controlled area.
- Real industrial stock: warehouses, factory units and land, not just desks.
- Mature authority with three decades of operation and a large trading community.
- Visa quotas grow with genuine floor space, which suits labour-heavy operations.
Watch out for
- Higher entry cost than desk-only zones in Sharjah or Ajman.
- Prices are not published in an up-to-date way, so you depend on quotes.
- Industrial setting with little appeal for consultants or creative firms.
HFZA vs SAIF Zone: common questions
Which is cheaper, HFZA or SAIF Zone?
On our current packages, HFZA starts lower at around AED 12,875, against AED 13,390 for SAIF Zone. Compare renewal too: HFZA renews from about AED 11,845 and SAIF Zone from about AED 12,360. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, HFZA or SAIF Zone?
HFZA allows up to 10 visas, depending on the office you lease. Both zones allow a similar maximum, so the office type decides your real quota.
Which is faster to set up, HFZA or SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone is typically quicker at around 7 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a HFZA licence valid for business in the rest of the UAE?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from HFZA to SAIF Zone later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
More comparisons
HFZA or SAIF Zone? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
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