Off-hours — we reply first thing at 9:00 local. Vy is always on.
Sharjah Media City licenses creative and media work on packaged terms, with no minimum capital and a desk-based address. It is a common first licence for creators, small agencies and consultancies. We file the licence, run KYC and handle the visa.
SHAMS is one of the cheapest routes to a real UAE licence, with a media-led activity list and packaged pricing that suits founders working on their own.
Packaged pricing keeps the entry cost at the lower end of the UAE free zones, which matters for a first licence.
Content, publishing and creative categories are licensed directly rather than adapted from a general list.
There is no minimum share capital requirement, so cash is not tied up to satisfy the register.
A desk address covers the licence requirement without an office lease on day one.
Full foreign ownership with no local partner requirement, as across the UAE free zones.
Qualifying Free Zone Person status keeps corporate tax at 0% on qualifying income when the structure and activity support it.
SHAMS issues media, consulting and commercial licences on packaged terms with a desk-based address and no minimum capital. Banking generally takes more preparation from a Sharjah address than from a central Dubai one, and we plan for that from the start.
SHAMS suits creators and small service businesses that want a UAE licence at the lowest sensible cost — and can work with a Sharjah address.
Content production, publishing and independent creator businesses.
Small agencies, freelancers and marketing service providers.
Consultancy and professional service activities on the same licence.
Online retail and digital-service businesses.
Day 1–5
Diagnostic, KYC, activity scoping, SHAMS name reservation.
Week 2–4
Filing, MOA, initial approval.
Week 5–6
Licence issuance, establishment card, eSignature.
Week 7–9
Investor visa: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID.
Week 8–12
Corporate bank account (varies by bank).
Final cost depends on the zone, activity and visa count.
| Feature | Sharjah Media City |  Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone |   International Free Zone Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal framework | UAE Civil Law | UAE Civil Law | UAE Civil Law |
| 100% foreign ownership | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 0% on qualifying income | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 100% profit repatriation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flexi-desk included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum share capital | None | None | None |
| Emirate | Sharjah | Sharjah | Dubai |
| Location | Sharjah Media City | Sharjah Publishing City | Dubai Digital Park, Silicon Oasis |
| Best for | Creators, small agencies and content businesses | Publishing, consultancy and service businesses | Consultancies, e-commerce, trading, solo operators |
Bank suitability depends on your activity, ownership, documents and transaction profile.
Tell us the activity and headcount. We shortlist the zones that actually accept it.
No obligation. We tell you if it is not the right route.
Sonsoto quoted us a line-item budget for the licence, visas and the bank pack up front. Nothing crept in later. That alone was worth the fee.
I’d already been rejected by two banks. Sonsoto told me why, changed the pack, and we opened with WIO in three weeks. Straight answers, no theatre.
They caught a corporate-tax filing we were about to miss and re-scoped the renewals so we stopped paying twice for the same work. Now they run everything.
We’d spoken to four firms and got four different price sheets. Sonsoto was the only one that showed us where the extras came from — and we didn’t need them.
Golden Visa done, family visas done, licence renewed. Same team, same WhatsApp thread. I don’t chase PRO agents anymore.
They told me RAK was a better fit than Dubai for our margin. I’d already paid a deposit somewhere else. They still refunded my Sonsoto retainer and helped me exit.
More clients onboarded, higher payout.
Straight to the account.
More referrals unlocks higher payouts.
