Sharjah Publishing City or Shams
Compare two Sharjah free zones often shortlisted for lean service and media businesses: Sharjah Publishing City, built around publishing and print, and Sharjah Media City (Shams), aimed at media freelancers and service licences.
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 Publishing City Free ZoneFree zone | Sharjah Media CityFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone AED 14,345 12 months · calculator output | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Lowest package price | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone AED 5,760 12 months · calculator output | Sharjah Media City AED 6,875 starting price |
| Licence issued in | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Same day | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone 5 business days The authority advertises UAE residency in five working days. | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Not published: Not published | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Publishing, Printing, Related media | Sharjah Media City Media, Freelance, Services, E-commerce |
| Facility options | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Office, Publishing facilities | Sharjah Media City Flexi desk, Office |
| Visa options | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Not published: Not published | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Yes | Sharjah Media City Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Not published: Not published | Sharjah Media City Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone | Explore Sharjah Media City |
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 guideSharjah 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
Are both in Sharjah?
Yes. Both licences carry a Sharjah address, so the emirate does not separate them. Activity lists, visa allocations and package inclusions do.
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 Publishing City Free Zone 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.