Meydan FZ vs SHAMS
Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) or Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) (Sharjah)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose Meydan FZ for…
- More activities on one licence (up to 10)
- A smoother banking track record
- Private office options
- A Dubai address on your licence
- Popular with consultants
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai free zone run from the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba, close to Downtown Dubai. It works well for service businesses, online sellers and holding structures that want a central Dubai address and a mostly digital process. Licences start from around AED 12,500 a year without visas, and its Fawri service can issue a licence in about an hour for eligible solo founders.
Choose SHAMS for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 6,952 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 2 vs 3 working days)
- Virtual office options
- Popular with freelancers and content creators
- Popular with media and marketing agencies
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) is a Sharjah government free zone that grew from media licensing into one of the UAE's most popular low-cost company setups. It suits freelancers, content creators, small agencies, consultants and online sellers who want a real UAE company without paying for an office. Licences are advertised from about AED 5,750, and a package with one residence visa typically lands around AED 14,000 to 15,000 before personal visa costs. Licences are often issued within a few working days, fully online.
Meydan FZ vs SHAMS side by side
| Meydan FZ | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Sharjah |
| Packages from | AED 12,875 | AED 5,923 |
| Renewal from | AED 12,875 | AED 5,923 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~2 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office | Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Shared office |
| Activity areas | Trading, Consultancy, E-commerce, Tech & IT, Media, Holding / SPV | Media, Freelance, E-commerce, Consultancy, Trading, Tech & IT |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2009 | 2017 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
Meydan FZ in brief
Picture a free zone that lives inside a horse-racing stadium. Meydan Free Zone has its offices in the Meydan Grandstand, the long building beside the racecourse that hosts the Dubai World Cup each spring. The legal basis goes back to Dubai Law No. 5 of 2009, which set up Meydan City Corporation, but the zone only became a serious name in company formation after it relaunched with low-cost digital packages a few years ago.
Strengths
- Central Dubai address near Downtown and Business Bay
- Fawri licence can be issued in about an hour for solo founders
- Mostly paperless process with an online cost calculator
- Wide activity list with up to three groups per licence
Watch out for
- No warehouses and not a VAT Designated Zone, so poor fit for goods traders
- Flexi-desk visa limits push growing teams into paid office upgrades
- Package quotes often exclude immigration fees, which surprises first-time buyers
SHAMS in brief
Sharjah Media City, known by its Arabic acronym SHAMS, was created by an Emiri decree in 2017 to give Sharjah a home for publishers, broadcasters and digital media. Within a few years it became better known for something else: an inexpensive, almost entirely online way for individuals and small teams to own a UAE company.
Strengths
- Among the lowest entry and renewal prices for a UAE free zone company
- Zero-visa option for founders who already hold residence or live abroad
- Mostly online process with e-signatures and fast licence issuance
- Broad activity list covering media, consulting, IT, education, e-commerce and trading
Watch out for
- Sharjah address, which some clients and tenders see as less prestigious than Dubai or Abu Dhabi
- Small, new SHAMS companies can find bank onboarding slow
- Larger visa quotas require paid workspace, raising the cost
Meydan FZ vs SHAMS: common questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan FZ or SHAMS?
On our current packages, SHAMS starts lower at around AED 5,923, against AED 12,875 for Meydan FZ. Compare renewal too: Meydan FZ renews from about AED 12,875 and SHAMS from about AED 5,923. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, Meydan FZ or SHAMS?
Meydan FZ allows up to 6 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, Meydan FZ or SHAMS?
SHAMS is typically quicker at around 2 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a Meydan FZ licence valid for business in Sharjah?
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 Meydan FZ to SHAMS 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.
Meydan FZ or SHAMS? 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
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place