IFZA or Shams
Compare IFZA's Dubai multi-activity licences with Sharjah Media City's media and service licences. The questions are the emirate on the licence, the activity list and what each package includes.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, Dubai address not needed. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose IFZA if a Dubai address matters, or Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
No like-for-like starting price is published for Sharjah Media City, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | IFZAFree zone | Sharjah Media CityFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | IFZA AED 20,650 12 months · current package | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Lowest package price | IFZA AED 12,900 12 months · current package | Sharjah Media City AED 6,875 starting price |
| Licence issued in | IFZA 3–5 business days | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | IFZA 1–2 business days | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | IFZA AED 12,900 No visa; AED 17,100 with one visa, AED 19,100 with two (card included) | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | IFZA Commercial, Professional, Industrial | Sharjah Media City Media, Freelance, Services, E-commerce |
| Facility options | IFZA Flexi desk, Smart office, Office | Sharjah Media City Flexi desk, Office |
| Visa options | IFZA Investor or partner visa against the licence for shareholders 3 moreShow less
| Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | IFZA Yes | Sharjah Media City Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | IFZA 823 | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Start with IFZA | Explore Sharjah Media City |
Check before choosing
IFZA
- The lowest possible first-year cost, where Ajman is materially cheaper
- Warehouse, land or industrial operations that need real premises
- Activities carrying a third-party approval before licence issuance, which breaks the fast timeline
Sharjah Media City
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Sharjah Media City guideAsk an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
What separates IFZA from Shams?
IFZA is a Dubai free zone for trading, services and consultancy; Shams is a Sharjah free zone focused on media and service licences. Activity coverage and the emirate on the licence usually decide.
How are the prices compared?
Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side.
Which costs less on published figures, IFZA or Sharjah Media City?
No like-for-like starting price is published for Sharjah Media City, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.