Mainland Sector

Business Setup In SAIF Zone

The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) is one of the UAE’s most established and cost-competitive free zones, purpose-built for trading, light industry, logistics, and services.

We manage your SAIF Zone setup end to end from company structure and license selection to registration, visas, and corporate bank account introduction working directly with the zone authority.

Why Choose SAIF Zone

Cost-competitive
Affordable packages suited for SMEs and startups.

100% foreign ownership
Full ownership with no local partner required.

Airport-adjacent
Fast air freight and re-export support.

Established
One of the oldest free zones with a large business community.

Tax efficiency
0% corporate tax on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person.

Legal Structures and Ownership

We manage the end-to-end setup process on your behalf.

Free Zone Establishment (FZE)

Free Zone Company (FZCO)

Branch Company

Licenses & Facilities

Flexible structures to support varying business needs.

Commercial License Import, export, distribution, and general trading.

Industrial License Light manufacturing, processing, and assembly.

Facilities Executive offices, warehouses, and land plots.

Strategic Partners

Estimated Timeline

3 to 7 Business Days

Incorporation: 3 to 7 business days.
Visas/Emirates ID: 2 to 3 additional weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Sharjah generally offers lower operating costs than Dubai, making it an economical option for cost-sensitive businesses.

A free zone company trades freely outside the UAE and within the zone. To sell directly in the UAE mainland, it works through a local distributor or a mainland branch.

SAIF Zone offers a Free Zone Establishment for a single shareholder, a Free Zone Company for two or more shareholders, and a Branch Company for an existing UAE or foreign entity. All structures carry 100% foreign ownership with no local partner required.

SAIF Zone issues a Commercial License for import, export, distribution and general trading, and an Industrial License for light manufacturing, processing and assembly, alongside a broad range of executive offices, warehouses and land plots to match your operational needs.

Incorporation is typically completed within 3 to 7 business days once documents are in order. Visa and Emirates ID processing usually takes an additional 2 to 3 weeks after the license has been issued.

SAIF Zone offers a comprehensive range of facilities including desks, executive offices, warehouses and land plots, giving businesses from small traders to light-industrial operators the flexibility to choose a setup that matches their scale.

Yes. SAIF Zone permits full foreign ownership with no local partner required. A company that qualifies as a Qualifying Free Zone Person can also benefit from 0% corporate tax on its qualifying income.

A SAIF Zone company can sponsor an Investor or Partner visa for its shareholders and Employment visas for staff, with Legacy Partners managing the end-to-end visa application process on your behalf.

Yes. SAIF Zone has attracted SMEs, traders and light-industrial businesses since the 1990s thanks to competitive operating costs and a comprehensive range of facility options. It is one of the UAE's longest-running and most established free zones.

Yes. SAIF Zone is airport-adjacent, supporting fast air freight and re-export for trading and light-industrial businesses. This location advantage, combined with competitive costs, is one of the main reasons SMEs choose the zone.

Business Setup In SAIF Zone

About SAIF Zone