Shams or Ajman Media City
Compare two media-focused free zones in neighbouring emirates: Sharjah Media City for media freelancers and service licences, and Ajman Media City for media, freelancers and online businesses.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose 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 | Sharjah Media CityFree zone | Ajman Media City Free ZoneFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone AED 12,999 12 months · published package |
| Lowest package price | Sharjah Media City AED 6,875 starting price | Ajman Media City Free Zone AED 4,999 12 months · published package |
| Licence issued in | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone AED 4,999 Business Club annual renewal is AED 4,999. |
| Licence types | Sharjah Media City Media, Freelance, Services, E-commerce | Ajman Media City Free Zone Media, E-commerce, Services |
| Facility options | Sharjah Media City Flexi desk, Office | Ajman Media City Free Zone Flexi desk, Office |
| Visa options | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | Sharjah Media City Yes | Ajman Media City Free Zone Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Ajman Media City Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore Sharjah Media City | Explore Ajman Media City Free Zone |
Check before choosing
Sharjah Media City
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Sharjah Media City guideAjman Media City Free Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Ajman Media City Free Zone guideAsk an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Which suits a freelancer or creator?
Both target media professionals and online businesses. Compare the activity lists, the freelance permit options and what each package includes for visas and office space.
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, Sharjah Media City or Ajman Media City Free Zone?
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.