SHAMS Business Licence (Sharjah Media City)
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) is a low-cost, mostly remote media and creative free-zone licence: 100% ownership, shared-desk visa packages advertised up to a dozen visas. Evergreen. Apply on shams.ae. This is for media, content, production, and adjacent services — not a fintech story. If you are a trading company or a bank, pick another zone. If you make things people watch or read, SHAMS is one of the cheaper honest options.
DESK TAKE
Use it if you are actually in media. A “media licence” for a crypto desk is how people get messy renewals.
ELIGIBILITY
Sharjah's media-and-creative free zone — the budget-friendly, fully online option for content, media and digital businesses. - Aimed at creative entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and freelancers; established 2017 by Emiri Decree as a dedicated media and creativity free zone - 100% foreign ownership; shareholders are not required to be physically present in the UAE to incorporate - Wide range of business activities permitted on the same licence; allocation of up to 12 visas on a shared-desk facility - Quick, fully online registration with a free official cost calculator to price your setup before committing - Based in Al Messaned, Sharjah — 10 minutes from Sharjah International and 30 minutes from Dubai International — with on-site media facilities (podcast room, filming locations, training)
QUESTIONS
Is a Sharjah licence a problem in Dubai?
You can operate; some counterparties still prefer Dubai paper. Know your buyers.
Do I need to live in Sharjah?
The product is sold as remote-friendly. Visas and visits still follow UAE rules.