Sharjah Publishing City or Dubai mainland
Compare a Sharjah Publishing City free-zone company with a Dubai mainland company licensed by DET. Start from the activity and where you will operate; the published figures on each side have different scopes.
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.
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone and Dubai Mainland; 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 Publishing City Free ZoneFree zone | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone AED 14,345 12 months · calculator output | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone AED 5,760 12 months · calculator output | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Same day | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone 5 business days The authority advertises UAE residency in five working days. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Publishing, Printing, Related media | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Office, Publishing facilities | 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 Publishing City Free Zone 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 Publishing City Free Zone Yes | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone guideDubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
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FAQ
What separates the two routes?
Sharjah Publishing City licenses free-zone companies in Sharjah. A Dubai mainland licence from DET is built for onshore trading and premises in Dubai. Activity, premises and where you work decide the route.
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 Publishing City Free Zone or Dubai Mainland?
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone and Dubai Mainland; 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.