# 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. - Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/shams-vs-ajman-media-city - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Publication: below the publication gate (No decision value beyond the activity name) - Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology ## Verdict 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 City (Free zone) | Ajman Media City Free Zone (Free zone) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | From, no visa | Not published | AED 4,999 (12 months · published package) | | From, one visa | Not published | AED 12,999 (12 months · published package) | | From, two visas | Not published | AED 17,999 (12 months · published package) | | Lowest package price | AED 6,875 (starting price) | AED 4,999 (12 months · published package) | | Licence issued in | Not published | Not published | | Residency visa in | Not published | Not published | | Renewal price | Not published | AED 4,999 (Business Club annual renewal is AED 4,999.) | | Licence types | Media, Freelance, Services, E-commerce | Media, E-commerce, Services | | Facility options | Flexi desk, Office | Flexi desk, Office | | Visa options | Not published | Not published | | Remote paperwork | Yes | Yes | | Activity guides catalogued | Not published | Not published | Each figure comes from the same source as its guide page. ### Not published - Sharjah Media City · From, no visa: Checked 2026-10-09: A multi-step cost calculator exists on startwith.shams.ae. In this browser test the dummy-data contact step did not advance or return a price, and the page displayed PHP warnings. AED 5,750 Media and AED 6,875 Standard are headline prices, not newly verified 0/1/2-visa totals. - Sharjah Media City · From, one visa: Checked 2026-10-09: A multi-step cost calculator exists on startwith.shams.ae. In this browser test the dummy-data contact step did not advance or return a price, and the page displayed PHP warnings. AED 5,750 Media and AED 6,875 Standard are headline prices, not newly verified 0/1/2-visa totals. - Sharjah Media City · From, two visas: Checked 2026-10-09: A multi-step cost calculator exists on startwith.shams.ae. In this browser test the dummy-data contact step did not advance or return a price, and the page displayed PHP warnings. AED 5,750 Media and AED 6,875 Standard are headline prices, not newly verified 0/1/2-visa totals. - Sharjah Media City · Licence issued in: No published company-formation or licence-issuance time was found. - Ajman Media City Free Zone · Licence issued in: No published company-formation or licence-issuance time was found. - Sharjah Media City · Residency visa in: No published residency-visa processing time was found for this zone. - Ajman Media City Free Zone · Residency visa in: No published residency-visa processing time was found for this zone. - Sharjah Media City · Renewal price: Marketing states a fixed lifetime renewal cost subject to terms, but no exact renewal total was found. - Sharjah Media City · Visa options: No visa options recorded for this jurisdiction. - Ajman Media City Free Zone · Visa options: No visa options recorded for this jurisdiction. - Sharjah Media City · Activity guides catalogued: We have not published authored activity guides for Sharjah Media City (Shams). Confirm the selected licence line and approvals with the authority. - Ajman Media City Free Zone · Activity guides catalogued: We have not published authored activity guides for Ajman Media City Free Zone. Confirm the selected licence line and approvals with the authority. ## Check before choosing ### Sharjah Media City Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case. [Read the Sharjah Media City guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/shams) ### Ajman Media City Free Zone Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case. [Read the Ajman Media City Free Zone guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman-media-city) ## Frequently asked questions ### 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. ## Related - [Sharjah Media City guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/shams) - [Ajman Media City Free Zone guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman-media-city) - [All comparisons](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare) ## Machine-readable - [Shams or Ajman Media City (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/comparisons/shams-vs-ajman-media-city.json) ## Citation Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional. Dubai Setup Index. “Shams or Ajman Media City.” Updated 2026-10-09. https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/shams-vs-ajman-media-city [Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/shams-vs-ajman-media-city). “Shams or Ajman Media City.” Updated 2026-10-09. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any use or transformation of the data carries: Source: Dubai Setup Index (dubaisetupindex.com), licensed CC BY 4.0. https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/shams-vs-ajman-media-city, updated 2026-10-09. Licensed CC BY 4.0: any use or transformation carries the attribution text, with its link and date. Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown. A figure sourced from a third party (Invest in Dubai, DET, a free zone authority or a partner's quote) keeps its source citation — the source named in the record, with its URL and checked date — alongside the licence attribution.