Shams or Dubai mainland
Compare a Sharjah Media City free-zone company with a Dubai mainland company licensed by DET. The emirate, the activity and the premises you need come first; the two price scopes are not the same.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, selling abroad or in free zones. 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 | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | Sharjah Media City AED 6,875 starting price | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Sharjah Media City Media, Freelance, Services, E-commerce | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | Sharjah Media City Flexi desk, Office | Dubai Mainland Confirm the premises are suitable for the exact activity before signing a lease or paying for fit-out. Ejari registration alone does not establish activity approval. 2 moreShow less
|
| Visa options | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. |
| Remote paperwork | Sharjah Media City Yes | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore Sharjah Media City | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Sharjah Media City
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Sharjah Media City guideDubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
Ask an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Who should consider Shams over the mainland?
Media freelancers and service businesses that do not need onshore Dubai premises or direct local trading often look at Shams. Businesses that do usually need a mainland licence.
How are the prices compared?
The mainland column shows the official licence estimate, which excludes rent, visas and approvals, so it is never ranked against a free-zone package. Confirm the activity, premises and visa plan to get a like-for-like quote.
Which costs less on published figures, Sharjah Media City or Dubai Mainland?
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.