Who should choose SPC Free Zone?
SPC Free Zone suits founders who want a low-cost Sharjah licence, flexible visas and an online setup they can start from abroad. It was created for publishing under the Sharjah Book Authority, and SPC calls itself the world's first publishing free zone. Today its licences also cover trading, IT, marketing and other service businesses.
In August 2026, SPC reported more than 20,000 companies from 173 countries.
SPC is a good fit for:
- Consultants and agencies in professional, IT, marketing or administrative services
- Online stores and e-commerce sellers, which get a cheaper licence tier
- Publishers, authors, content studios and media businesses
- Small general trading companies that do not need a large customs warehouse
SPC may not suit you if:
- Your clients expect a Dubai address. SPC sits on the E311 road in Al Zahia, Sharjah.
- Your trading model relies on VAT Designated Zone treatment for goods. SPC's own pages do not claim Designated Zone status, so check the Federal Tax Authority's list before you commit.
- You will mostly sell face to face to UAE mainland customers. SPC says direct local retail needs a distributor or its dual licence, so a mainland licence may suit you better.
- Your activity needs approval from another authority. SPC says some activities need extra approvals, which can add time and cost.
How much does SPC Free Zone company setup cost in 2026?
SPC Free Zone company setup costs from AED 6,875 for SPC's Standard licence, or AED 5,750 for a Publishing or E-commerce licence, with no visa. Adding one investor visa brings SPC's own fees to AED 14,290 on the Standard licence and AED 13,165 on the Publishing or E-commerce licence.
Ofin's SPC page quotes the same AED 6,875 starting figure, which is SPC's own Standard licence fee. Ofin's service fee is quoted separately, and Ofin shares a full cost breakdown before you pay.
These are SPC's published fees, checked on 22 October 2026:
| Item | AED | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard licence (one year, up to 5 activity groups, co-working lease) | 6,875 | At setup and each renewal |
| Publishing or E-commerce licence | 5,750 | At setup and each renewal |
| ePublishing licence (online publishing activities only) | 4,999 | At setup |
| Each shareholder beyond the first 7 | 1,000 | Once |
| Establishment card | 640 | Once, before the first visa |
| E-channel registration | 2,280 | Once, before the first visa |
| Visa allocation | 1,600 | Per visa |
| Investor or partner visa with Emirates ID | 2,530 | Per visa |
| Medical test | 365 | Per person |
| Change of status (applicant already in the UAE) | 700 | Per person, if needed |
| Dependent visa (spouse, child or parent) | 5,000 | Per person |
| Extra activity beyond your 5 activity groups | 2,200 | Per activity |
| Banking assistance | 2,000 | Optional |
What a typical first year costs
- Each further investor or partner visa: about AED 4,495 (allocation, visa with Emirates ID and medical), plus AED 700 if the person changes status inside the UAE.
- Each employee visa: from AED 5,665, according to SPC's cost calculator.
- Standard licence with two investor or partner visas: about AED 18,785 in SPC fees.
What is included and what is extra
SPC's licence fee covers the licence, Certificate of Formation, Memorandum of Association, Share Certificate and a lease or co-working agreement. It does not cover visas, the establishment card, e-channel, medical tests, Emirates ID, health insurance, banking assistance, a private office or a service provider's fees.
SPC lets you split payments into 3, 6 or 12 monthly instalments through Tabby or Tamara. Under its pay-as-you-go model, you can buy the licence first and add visas later without an amendment fee. Paying for several years at once costs less: SPC's calculator shows 10% off a 2-year licence, rising to 20% off a 10-year licence.
Which licence types and business activities does SPC offer?
SPC offers more than 2,000 business activities, and you can add any 5 activity groups to one licence at no extra cost. Its activities fall into six licence categories:
- General Trading
- Professional Services
- IT Services
- E-Commerce
- Administrative Services
- Marketing Services
The licence price depends on the tier your activities fall into:
| Licence tier | Starts from (AED) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ePublishing | 4,999 | Up to 4 online publishing activities, such as e-books and audiobooks, with up to 5 shareholders and 6 visas |
| Publishing or E-commerce | 5,750 | Media, publishing and e-commerce activities |
| Standard | 6,875 | Trading, consulting, commercial and other activities |
If you mix publishing or e-commerce with other activities, confirm with SPC which tier applies before you pay.
Dual licence for the Sharjah mainland
SPC offers a dual licence that lets an SPC company also operate on the Sharjah mainland. It was launched in 2018 under an agreement with the Sharjah Economic Development Department, which issues the mainland approval. SPC's price list does not show a fee for it, so ask for the cost in writing.
How do visas and office options work at SPC?
SPC states that you can get unlimited investor, partner and employee visas, each needing a paid visa allocation of AED 1,600. The ePublishing licence is capped at 6 visas, and some older SPC articles mention 20, so get your quota confirmed in writing.
Visa basics
- Before the first visa, the company needs an establishment card and e-channel registration. SPC processes both on site.
- Each applicant then takes a medical fitness test and gives Emirates ID biometrics. SPC offers a VIP medical option for faster processing.
- SPC's FAQ says a residence visa typically takes 5 to 10 working days. SPC also sells a faster 3-day residence visa package, charged separately.
- A shareholder with a significant stake usually takes an investor visa. Additional shareholders take partner visas, and staff take employee visas.
- Once you hold a residence visa, you can sponsor your spouse, children or parents. SPC processes these visas for AED 5,000 each, and its FAQ gives 7 to 9 working days.
Office options
Every SPC licence comes with a lease agreement, usually a co-working or flexi-desk lease. You do not need to rent a private office to get a licence. If you need physical space, SPC publishes these starting rates:
| Space | From (AED per sq m) |
|---|---|
| Unfurnished office | 750 |
| Furnished office | 900 |
| Shell and core | 550 |
| Retail space | 480 |
| Storage | 480 |
| Warehouse | 480 |
What ownership, share capital and legal forms apply at SPC?
SPC allows 100% foreign ownership with no paid-up share capital requirement. You do not need a UAE national partner or sponsor.
SPC registers three legal forms:
- FZE-LLC: one shareholder, either an individual or a company.
- FZC-LLC: two or more shareholders, who can be individuals, companies or a mix.
- Branch: an extension of a UAE or foreign parent company, with no separate legal identity.
An Indian company can own an SPC FZE-LLC as a subsidiary. It can instead register a branch if it wants the UAE office to remain part of the Indian company.
One licence can have up to 100 shareholders. SPC's cost calculator includes the first 7 in the licence fee and charges AED 1,000 for each additional shareholder. The ePublishing licence allows up to 5.
Any individual who owns or controls 25% or more of the company must be declared as an ultimate beneficial owner (UBO). Anyone with effective control must be declared too.
How do renewal and ongoing compliance work?
You renew an SPC licence every year through SPC's online portal. SPC's licence guide lists renewal at the same rate as the licence: from AED 6,875 for Standard and AED 5,750 for Publishing or E-commerce. SPC says investor and partner visas and the establishment card are usually issued for 2 years, so they renew on their own cycle.
SPC warns that late renewal can lead to fines, suspension and eventually cancellation.
Corporate tax
Every SPC company must register for UAE corporate tax, even if it expects to pay 0%.
- Companies incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 must register within 3 months of incorporation. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty.
- Returns are due within 9 months of the end of each tax period.
- Standard rates are 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above.
- A Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income.
- Small Business Relief treats a company with revenue of AED 3 million or less, in the current and all earlier tax periods, as having no taxable income. It applies to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, and a QFZP cannot claim it.
To be a QFZP, the company must keep adequate substance in the free zone, earn qualifying income, not elect for the standard rates and follow transfer pricing rules. Non-qualifying revenue must stay within 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower, and the accounts must be audited.
Qualifying activities are listed in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, issued on 28 August 2025. They include manufacturing, trading of qualifying commodities, logistics and headquarter services to related parties. Transactions with individuals are an excluded activity, with narrow exceptions such as fund and wealth management. A consultancy billing mainland or overseas clients, or an online store selling to consumers, should not assume 0%.
A company that fails a QFZP condition loses the status for that tax period and the following four.
VAT
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 in 12 months, and optional from AED 187,500. The standard UAE VAT rate is 5%.
Accounting and audit
Keep proper books from day one. SPC's finance arm offers bookkeeping, VAT registration support and audits.
How does SPC compare with Shams and IFZA?
SPC and Shams are both in Sharjah and publish similar entry prices, while IFZA gives you a Dubai address. Figures were checked on 22 October 2026.
| Point | SPC Free Zone | Shams (Sharjah Media City) | IFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Al Zahia, Sharjah | Al Messaned, Sharjah | Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai |
| Published entry price | AED 5,750 (Publishing or E-commerce), AED 6,875 (Standard) | AED 5,760 (Media Package), AED 6,885 (Standard Package) | See our IFZA guide |
| Main focus | Publishing, e-commerce and general SMEs | Media and creative businesses | Commercial, professional, general trading and branches |
| Activities on one licence | Up to 5 activity groups | Up to 5 | Up to 3 on a standard licence, more on request |
Choose SPC for Sharjah costs plus a mainland dual licence, Shams for media work, and IFZA for a Dubai address. See our guides to Shams, IFZA and Ajman Free Zone, or compare all UAE free zones.
How do you set up an SPC company from India?
Indian founders can set up an SPC company online, but need to follow India's overseas investment rules and attest any corporate documents.
Documents and attestation
Documents issued in India for a corporate shareholder, such as its certificate of incorporation, must first be attested by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The UAE Consulate General in Mumbai or the UAE Embassy in New Delhi then attests them digitally, and the result is also certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The original physical document is needed, and the memorandum and articles of association are attested separately.
FEMA and overseas investment rules
An Indian resident who invests in an SPC company makes an overseas direct investment (ODI) under India's Overseas Investment Rules, Regulations and Directions of 2022.
- All transactions for the investment go through one designated authorised dealer (AD) bank.
- Form FC is filed with that bank, to get a Unique Identification Number, on or before the first investment.
- Resident individuals invest within the Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit of USD 250,000 per financial year.
- Resident individuals can make ODI only in an operating foreign entity.
- An Annual Performance Report is due each year. Where no statutory audit applies, a chartered accountant certifies it.
An Indian company follows the same rules through its AD bank.
Opening the UAE bank account
Banks decide on accounts using their own checks. SPC offers banking assistance for AED 2,000 and states that accounts can be set up within 3 working days of the licence. You must be present in person at certain stages, such as signing with the bank.
Tax residency
Indian tax law can treat a foreign company as resident in India if its place of effective management (PoEM) is in India. That means key management and commercial decisions are, in substance, made in India. The PoEM rules do not apply to a foreign company with turnover of ₹50 crore or less. Take India and UAE tax advice before you start trading.
How Ofin helps with SPC Free Zone setup
Ofin's UAE desk handles SPC setup from the first call to the visa, and can work with you remotely from India. Ofin Legal has a 4.9★ Google rating and has served 5,000+ clients since 2019.
What Ofin does for SPC clients:
- Starts with a free consultation, then picks the licence tier and activity groups
- Prepares the application, name request and Memorandum of Association
- Handles the establishment card, visas, medical and Emirates ID steps
- Supports your corporate bank account application
- Registers the company for corporate tax and VAT, and provides accounting and PRO services
- Arranges attestation of Indian documents and advises on FEMA and India and UAE tax
See the step-by-step process and document checklist below. To get a quote, call or WhatsApp Ofin's UAE desk on +971 50 523 5779.
