Sharjah
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone: real costs, licences and review
An established trading and light-industrial zone at Sharjah Airport.
FromAED 14,500
Typical, 1 visaAED 29,000
Timeline5–15 days
Our rating7.8/10
Our view
SAIF Zone has operated since 1995 and hosts thousands of companies in trading, light manufacturing and logistics. It offers warehousing and industrial units at prices well below Dubai, with airport adjacency, and is a sensible middle option for a trading business that needs physical space without JAFZA economics.
Key facts
| Emirate | Sharjah |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 14,500 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 29,000 |
| Issuance time | 5–15 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Commercial, Industrial, Professional / service |
| Established | 1995 |
Official source: www.saif-zone.com
Honestly
What works
- Warehousing far cheaper than Dubai
- Established zone with long track record
- Sharjah Airport adjacency
- Unlimited visas with space
What doesn't
- Sharjah banking friction
- Dated facilities in parts
- Traffic into Dubai is punishing
- Less attractive for pure service businesses
Who this suits
- Trading with warehousing needs
- Light manufacturing
- Logistics operations
- Regional distribution
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.