One of the reasons why free zones in the United Arab Emirates are popular among foreign investors and businesspeople is because of the many benefits they offer, and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone is not the exception. However, before setting up your business here, you must learn about this location.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about SAIF free zone, including the benefits it offers to you, the regulations and laws that were established for companies, and some recommendations that you should follow when you start setting up your company in this advantageous free zone. Let’s observe:

1. What is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone about?

2. Benefits you can get when you set up your business in the SAIF free zone.

3. Types of companies that can be set up in this free zone.

4. Types of facilities that you can apply for in the SAIF free zone.

5. Types of licenses that are available in the SAIF free zone.

6. Documents required during the business setup process.

7. How can Connectfz help you set up your business in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone?

1. What is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone about?

Also known as SAIF free zone, this location was established in 1995 to become a reliable free trade zone for local and foreign companies from all around the world. Back in the day, there were only around 55 companies established in the free zone, and nowadays, it is home to more than 8000 firms from around 165 countries, which have reached success in a matter of time since the moment they were incorporated in the country.

It is located at the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. From this point, it would take you 10 minutes to get to the Sharjah City Centre, 20 minutes to Dubai, and 90 minutes to Abu Dhabi.

The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone is known for being the world’s first ISO Certified Airport Free Zone. This free zone has been recognized as the most dynamic free trade zone and one that is dedicated to serving with excellence and quality. Besides, its versatility has allowed it to expand the range of benefits and flexible norms that boost every company situated in it.

Therefore, if you plan to open your company in a UAE free zone, and specifically in the SAIF free zone, here we will show everything you need to know regarding the benefits, facilities, licenses, documents, and many other details about this special free zone.

2. Benefits you can get when you set up your business in the SAIF free zone.

Setting a free zone company in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone can bring you a lot of advantages to making your business grow in no time and help it keep growing for a long time. Here are some of the benefits that you can obtain in the SAIF free zone when you complete the incorporation process of your company:

• Full repatriation of profits and capital.
• As a foreign investor, you can avail 100% of foreign ownership of the company.
• Exemption from income and corporate taxes.
• You will get your license issued within 24 hours after applying for it.
• Due to the geographical localization of the free zone, it is a strategic location between the west and the east.
• It provides you with multi-purpose state-of-the-art warehouse facilities tailored to your needs.
• The lease period can be elongated to 25 years.
• The flexibility of onsite labor accommodation can be provided.
• There is no restriction regarding hiring foreign workers and professionals.
• You will obtain unlimited work support, including easy sponsorship and Sharjah free zone employment visa for your staff (you can learn more about sponsor in Dubai and UAE companies and how to find a reliable sponsor for your business in the United Arab Emirates).
• You will be provided with a 24/7 hotline and emergency service.
• There is easy access to Arabian Gulf ports and the Indian Ocean.

You can also read our top reasons why you should consider setting up your business in the UAE free zones to learn more details about the UAE free zones and the benefits that you can receive in any of these locations.

3. Types of companies that can be set up in this free zone.

If you want to set up your business in this location, you must be aware of the types of companies that are allowed to establish in the SAIF free zone, which are also the only types of business that you will find in the Sharjah SAIF zone company list. These companies allowed in the free zone are:

• Free Zone Establishment (FZE): one person is enough to establish this type of business in the SAIF free zone, along with only one shareholder.
• Free Zone Company (FZC): at least two people are necessary to operate this type of business in this location and with a maximum of 5 shareholders.
• Branch of a UAE company: any company that has been already established in any location of the country has the right to expand its branch office in the SAIF free zone, and the name of the branch must be the same as the parent company’s name.
• Branch of a foreign company: any company that has been already established outside the UAE can register and incorporate a branch office in this free zone.

4. Types of facilities that you can apply for in the SAIF free zone.

The key to making your company more comfortable and capable of performing its business activities and operations is getting the most suitable facility. The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone offers you many different options regarding this affair, and the experts in the free zone can also help you pick the right choice if it is necessary.

There is a wide range of alternatives that includes existing plots, customizable warehouses, land plots in multiple sizes, and more. It will all depend on two main elements; the nature of your business and the number of visas that you will require to fulfill your company’s needs. Among the available facilities you can choose for your business, you will find the following ones:

• SAIF offices: you can choose between three types of office space; SAIF suite (a fully furnished space that includes executive suite office with advanced telecommunications infrastructure), SAIF executive office (an unfurnished office space that is fully customizable, and also covers utility charges), and SAIF office (a fully furnished executive desk space, which includes telecommunications infrastructure on a non-sharing basis).
• Warehouses: you can find pre-built warehouses available in four different sizes (125sqm, 250sqm, 400sqm, and 600sqm). Warehouses in SAIF free zones can bring you many benefits, including multi-purpose warehouse space (which are perfect for manufacturing, trading, assembly, and logistics), ample power capacity to run heavy-duty equipment, built-in offices with lavatories and a pantry, and more.
• A plot of land: you have the opportunity to build your own business facilities for custom-build factories/warehouses on a choice of diverse land plots. The size of these plots of land can vary from 2500sqm and above. You will obtain security, utility supplies, and provision for on-site staff accommodation, plus these locations are suitable for manufacturing, trading, and service industry projects.
• Labor accommodation: you will be provided with well-maintained and fully-furnished spaces for your staff accommodation according to your needs. You have the choice of getting recreational facilities and also other amenities to fulfill your different requirements.
• Container parking: you will be able to find areas that were exclusively reserved and designed for parking containers.

5. Types of licenses that are available in the SAIF free zone.

It is essential to obtain the required business licenses in order to run a company in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone successfully. In this location, you will only find four available licenses for your business, which will allow you to perform your business activities properly. These four business licenses which you can apply for are the following ones:

• Commercial license: having this license will allow you to perform business activities such as the import, export, distribution, consolidation, storage, or warehousing of the items. The maximum limit is 3 similar product lines.
• General trading license: you can request and obtain this license under the commercial license. Its main function is to allow your company to cover more products during the import, export, re-export, distribution, and warehousing (or storage) processes.
• Industrial license: with this license, your company will be able to import raw materials, and also manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, and exporting the finished product. Take into consideration that clearance from the SAIF free zone Health and Environment Department will be required to obtain the industrial license.
• Service license: if your company’s business activities include carrying out a specific service, you will need to obtain the service license. With this license, all types of services will be allowed, unless the local authorities restrict them. This license includes services, business consultancy, e-commerce, shipping, and freight forwarding.

6. Documents required during the business setup process.

The registration and incorporation processes are the core procedures that the company setup process requires, along with the general documents that are usually required for the investor’s incorporation in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, which are:

• The investor’s passport document and a passport size photo.
• Residential address, email, and phone number of the owner.
• The application form and project summary.
• Certificate of incorporation / registration.
• Board resolution to open a branch in the free zone.
• The investor’s bank statement of the last three months.

The documents that the SAIF free zone issues after completing the company registration process:

• The certificate of incorporation.
• The Memorandum and Articles of Association.
• The requested licenses.
• Investment Service Agreement.
• Share certificate and lease agreement.

6.1. How to do the registration process in the SAIF free zone?

In order to register an incorporate your company into the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, you will have to follow three main steps, which are:

• The submission of the required documents and a basic summary of your project to the marketing and sales department.
• Once you receive the approval letter, you will need to pay the lease amount and sign the agreement.
• Collect your business license along with the lease agreement and keys for the facilities.

7. How can Connectfz help you set up your business in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone?

When you plan to set up a company in a UAE free zone, you can always request a helping hand from a professional business partner like Connectfz. Our experienced team members will help you find the best and most suitable free zones for you and your business, like the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone and many others.

You can request some guidance, recommendations, tips, or professional advice in case you need to know more details regarding the SAIF free zone or any other free zone in which you desire to establish your business, plus you can save a lot of time and money with the many services that we offer to our clients. You can also learn if it is possible for a free zone company to do business in Dubai Mainland, in case you are planning to expand your business.

Some of those services you might need when forming a UAE free zone company could be our UAE market entry services, tax advisory services, banking services, staff outsourcing services, and many others. In case you already have established your company in the country, you can still request services to improve your company’s efficiency regarding its operations, like the payroll and HR consultancy services.

Would you like to contact Connectfz to know more about company setup in UAE free zones such as Sharjah Airport International Free Zone? If you have any question, do not hesitate to call us on +97143316688 or email us at info@connectfz.ae, and you will talk to one of our representatives that will gladly answer all of your questions.