SAIF Zone Company Formation

Sharjah International Airport Free Zone (SAIF) is located in the Emirate of Sharjah. With an area of 2.590 sq. km, Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the UAE; it is situated 10 km off Dubai and an hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi.

Due to its geocentric location, the emirate is an important business centre both domestically and internationally, including key markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The proximity to the main trade routes, highly developed urban and social infrastructure, and a relatively low cost of rent, utilities and living made this emirate attractive for business and life, and also increased its reputation as the world’s eleventh most attractive international destination for direct foreign investment.

Key Specifics of Business Setup in SAIF

• quick company registration in SAIF;
• possibility to create substance in the country of registration;
• possibility to obtain a residence visa for the company’s shareholders and employees;
• mandatory audit;
• lots of options in regard to offices and warehouses;
• special infrastructure for jewelry business;
• no requirement to prove the payment of the authorized capital to register a company;
• only one class of shares of equal par value can be issued.

Registration Procedure in SAIF Free Zone

1. Choose a company name to be checked for availability (at least 2 names)
2. Define a company structure (director, shareholders, and manager)
3. Define the company’s license type aligning with its activities
4. Choose your office type: Flexi desk, E-Office, Executive office
5. Providing documents for directors / shareholders / attorneys (either originals or notarized copies)
6. Pay all the necessary fees
7. Sign the corporate documents
8. Get the originals and the company seal

Types of Office in Sharjah International Airport Free Zone

Upon registration the company and the Free Zone authority sign an office lease agreement; the address of such office is considered the official registered office address of the company.

SAIF offers various office packages depending on the needs of clients in terms of type and number of licences, number of visas, the need for substance and placement in the Free Zone: from flexi desk and flexi office (a separate room or cell in the open space of first-class business centres) to warehouses and land plots.

SAIF Zone Company Registration Period

10 days

Types of Licenses Issued in the SAIF Free Zone

• Service licence – allows the holder to provide the type of services specified in the licence.
• Trading licence – allows the holder to import, export, sell, distribute and store goods specified in the licence.
• Industrial licence – allows the holder to import raw materials for production, processing and / or assembly of specified products. Finished products can be exported outside the UAE.

To Register a Company in SAIF:

The director can be an individual (min – 1).

The manager can be an individual (min – 1), can be the same person as director.

Both individuals and legal entities can be shareholders (min – 1, max – 50).

No requirements as to the residence of director, manager, secretary or shareholder(s).

The company’s name should be unique.

Registration is executed in the English language.