AED 12,000+
Typical Year 1 cost for a Sharjah mainland commercial license, before rent and visas.
Cited to SEDD, not a guess
Sharjah Mainland Setup
Process, documents, and real cost, including the renewal fee formula and the current stimulus package most guides don't mention.
Checked against sedd.ae directly.
SEDD fee schedule, current as of publish date
Sharjah mainland setup
What does mainland setup involve?
Licensed by SEDD, typically AED 12,000 and up in year one. Renewal is charged as a percentage of your rent rather than a flat fee.
AED 12,000+Typical license cost, Year 1
8% / 13%Renewal fee, UAE national vs other
1 day-6 wksInstant-eligible vs regulated activities
Start here
What a Sharjah licence costs to hold
At a glance
8% / 13%
The renewal fee split. UAE national partners pay 8% of rent; other nationalities pay 13%.
16 Sept 2026
When the current SEDD stimulus package's fee discounts are set to expire.
100%
Foreign ownership available on most mainland activities since the 2021 reforms.
Why Sharjah
Why entrepreneurs choose Sharjah mainland
Cost efficiency and industrial depth, without giving up full UAE market access.
48%
of UAE industrial output comes from Sharjah's own industrial areas.
Ready to see if Sharjah fits your activity?
Talk to a specialistLower setup and renewal costs
Meaningfully cheaper than Dubai or Abu Dhabi across nearly every license category.
Dual-coast port access
The only emirate on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, useful for logistics.
A real industrial base
Sharjah Industrial Areas support manufacturing at a scale few other emirates match.
Close to Dubai
Direct access to Dubai's market and talent pool, without Dubai's overhead.
100% foreign ownership
Available on most mainland activities since the 2021 Commercial Companies Law reforms.
A straightforward visa process
No restriction on visa count, tied to your office size and activity instead.
Choose your structure
Which legal structure fits?
Sharjah mainland supports four main structures. Find yours below.
The process
How to set up, step by step
Eight stages for a Sharjah mainland licence, from the activity choice to paying the fees and collecting the licence.
8 stages1 day - 6 weeksAED 12,000+ typical
- 1
Choose your business activity
Day 1Select from SEDD's approved activity list. This decides your license type and which approvals you'll need later.
Activity confirmed - 2
Select your legal structure
Day 1-2LLC, Sole Establishment, Civil Company, or Branch Office, based on shareholders and liability needs.
Structure confirmed - 3
Reserve your trade name
Day 1-2Through the SEDD portal or a Tasheel center. The name must be unique and end with the correct legal suffix.
Trade name reserved - 4
Get initial approval
Day 2-3SEDD confirms your activity and trade name are accepted before you commit to a lease.
Initial approval certificate - 5
Draft and notarize the MOA
Day 3-5Required for LLCs and partnerships. Not required for a Sole Establishment or the instant-license Year 1 route.
Notarized MOA - 6
Secure your office and Tasdeeq attestation
Day 5-10A tenancy contract attested by Sharjah Municipality is mandatory for standard licensing. This step cannot be skipped.
Attested tenancy contract - 7
Clear any external approvals
VariesRegulated activities need sign-off from bodies like Civil Defense, Ministry of Health, or the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
External approvals - 8
Pay fees and collect your license
Day 7-14+Once approvals clear, pay the applicable fees and receive your trade license from SEDD.
Trade license issued - Eligible activities: as fast as 1 day
License issued and active
Trade license in hand, ready for visas, banking, and operations.
What you'll need
Documents required
The paperwork SEDD needs is largely the same whether you're a solo founder or a group of corporate shareholders.
Per shareholder
Identity documents
Passport copy
Clear scan, valid 6+ months, every shareholder.
UAE visa or entry stamp
Current residence visa or visit-entry stamp page.
Passport-size photo
Recent, white background.
About the company
Business details
Trade name options
Three choices, in order, following SEDD naming rules.
Business activity list
The activities you intend to license.
Legal structure choice
LLC, Sole Establishment, Civil Company, or Branch.
Corporate shareholders
Parent-company file
Certificate of Incorporation
Attested copy of the parent company's registration.
Parent company MOA
Translated and attested where issued abroad.
Board Resolution
Approves the new entity and names a representative.
Power of Attorney
Appointing the company's local representative.
Local documentation SEDD requires
Beyond your personal and company documents, SEDD needs your Tasdeeq-attested tenancy contract, Ejari registration, initial approval certificate, and trade name reservation before it will issue anything. If a local sponsor or service agent is involved, a No Objection Certificate may be required too.
Confirm activity before you lease. Some activities need external approvals that affect where you can operate.
Attest the lease before you submit. An unattested tenancy contract will stall your application at SEDD.
Ask about the instant-license route. Eligible office-based activities may skip the MOA and lease requirement entirely in Year 1.
Transparent pricing
Sharjah mainland costs, line by line
Every figure below traces to SEDD's own fee schedule or a verified 2026 source, including the renewal formula most guides skip entirely.
AED 30,350
Standard LLC setup · 2 shareholders
Annual renewal
AED 11,000
Liability
Limited
You get every line item, including the real renewal formula, before you commit.
Itemized breakdownAmount
Trade name reservation
SEDD naming approval, per 2026 schedule
Commercial license fee
8%/13% of lease value, SEDD formula
Investor/employee visa
Per person, category-dependent
Office or flexi-desk, Yr 1
Small office, SEDD-approved options
Drafting & legal review
AED 30,350
Government fee · at costDMCS service · fixed
Renewal cost shown honestly
8% of rent for UAE national partners, 13% for other nationalities, minimum AED 11,000, every year.
Current relief factored in
Micro-license and food/pharma industrial discounts are active through 16 September 2026, we confirm eligibility.
Government vs. service fees separated
You see exactly what SEDD charges and what we charge. Nothing bundled to hide the split.
Who regulates your setup
SEDD handles licensing directly. A handful of other bodies get involved only if your specific activity needs them.
| Authority | What they do | When you meet them | Key output |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEDD | Handles trade names, approvals, licensing, and renewals directly. | Every step of setup | Trade license |
| Sharjah Municipality | Confirms your lease is genuine before SEDD will issue your license. | Securing your office | Attested tenancy contract |
| Civil Defense | Signs off on premises safety for eligible activities. | External approval stage | Safety approval |
| Ministry of Health | Reviews health-sector licenses before SEDD finalizes them. | External approval stage | Health sector approval |
| FTA | Handles corporate tax registration once your license is issued. | After incorporation | Tax registration |
- SEDDIssues, renews, and regulates every Sharjah mainland license.You meet them:Every step of setup
- Sharjah MunicipalityAttests your tenancy contract through Tasdeeq.You meet them:Securing your office
- Civil DefenseApproves activities with fire or safety requirements.You meet them:External approval stage
- Ministry of HealthApproves clinics, pharmacies, and health-related activities.You meet them:External approval stage
- FTANow electronically linked to SEDD as of mid-2026.You meet them:After incorporation
Stay compliant
Tax rules and the current 2029 relief window
One rule is permanent. One is time-limited, act accordingly.
One deadline is fixed. The other one isn't.
Corporate tax rules stay. The 2026 discounts don't, past mid-September.
Federal corporate tax
Rate0% up to AED 375,000; 9% above, same as every emirate
Governed byFederal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022
Risk: Registration is mandatory regardless of revenue, once your license is issued
ActionRegister on EmaraTax promptly, SEDD and the FTA now share data directly
SEDD's 2026 stimulus package
Window16 June 2026 through 16 September 2026, three months only
What's discounted50% off micro-licenses & food/pharma industrial licenses, 25% off others
Risk: These discounts expire 16 September 2026, this is not a permanent SEDD policy
ActionConfirm current status with SEDD directly before relying on any of these figures
Avoid these
The mistakes that turn a straightforward setup into a stalled application.
Compliance
Assuming a lease alone is enough
SEDD requires the tenancy contract to be Tasdeeq-attested by Sharjah Municipality first. An unattested lease stalls your file immediately.
Do this instead: get Tasdeeq attestation before you submit, unless you qualify for the Year 1 instant-license exemption.
Cost
Assuming the renewal fee is a flat rate
It's 8% of your rent for UAE national partners, 13% for other nationalities, minimum AED 11,000, not one number for everyone.
Do this instead: check which rate applies to your actual shareholder structure.
Naming
Using DED and SEDD interchangeably
SEDD, the Sharjah Economic Development Department, is the correct current name for Sharjah's mainland authority.
Do this instead: use SEDD consistently when referring to Sharjah's licensing body.
Documentation
Treating the MOA as a formality
For LLCs and partnerships, a vague MOA causes real problems later when shareholders disagree.
Do this instead: draft it properly, with real terms specific to your business.
Timing
Assuming every setup takes the same number of days
Eligible activities can get an instant license in a day; regulated activities needing external approvals can take weeks.
Do this instead: confirm your specific activity's realistic timeline before you plan around a fixed date.
Relief
Assuming stimulus discounts are permanent
The current 50%/25% fee discounts are a three-month window, not standing SEDD policy.
Do this instead: confirm the discount is still active with SEDD before budgeting around it.
Straight answers
Questions about Sharjah mainland setup
The real questions founders ask before registering.
Myth
Can I own a Sharjah mainland company fully?
Reality
Yes, for most activities, since the Commercial Companies Law reforms. A few strategic activities may still need a UAE national partner.
Myth
Do I need a local sponsor either way?
Reality
Only for specific restricted activities. Most investors own fully, though some professional licenses need a Local Service Agent.
Myth
How much does Sharjah mainland setup actually cost?
Reality
Typically AED 8,000-35,000 for Year 1 depending on license type, plus renewal at 8% or 13% of your rent every year after.
Myth
How does Sharjah mainland differ from free zone?
Reality
Mainland companies trade anywhere in the UAE with no restrictions. Free zone companies are generally limited to their zone and export activity.
Myth
How long does licensing actually take?
Reality
As little as a day for eligible office-based activities under SEDD's instant path. Regulated activities take several weeks.
Myth
Is the current fee discount permanent?
Reality
No. The 50%/25% stimulus discounts run from 16 June to 16 September 2026 only, confirm current status before relying on the figures.
Why choose us
Cited from SEDD's own schedule
We cite SEDD's own fee schedule
Every cost figure on this page traces to SEDD's current schedule or a verified 2026 source, including the 8%/13% renewal formula most guides skip.
We track the current stimulus window
The 2026 fee discounts expire 16 September. We confirm your eligibility before you count on a rate that might have changed.
We don't let Tasdeeq catch you off guard
An unattested lease is the most common reason a Sharjah mainland application stalls. We handle it before it becomes a delay.
One desk from activity selection to license
Structure, documents, approvals, and the trade license itself, the same team carries you through every step.
No obligation, no sales pressureEvery fee checked against SEDD's current scheduleWe flag time-limited relief before it expires
Ready to set up your Sharjah mainland company?
Tell us your activity and structure, and we'll confirm the real cost, including whether the current stimulus discounts apply to you before they expire.
No obligationTransparent pricing, zero hidden fees100% privacy guaranteed
Related reading
Explore structures, cost, and Sharjah free zones
Real results from our clients
What our clients say about working with us
Real Google reviews from founders we have set up and kept compliant on the Dubai mainland.
A
Abdul Sami3 months ago
Thank you to the team for supporting us with our company setup. Our case was not straightforward, especially the bank account opening, but they stayed committed and got it done.
P
Paolo Chua8 months ago
I had a great experience opening a corporate bank account. The process was smooth and efficient. The staff were friendly, professional, and explained everything clearly.
A
Amy Elliott Dunne4 months ago
The accounting and bookkeeping service has been exceptional. Attention to detail is impressive, and communication is always clear. Tasks are handled promptly.
R
Rashed Al Falasi5 months ago
They confirmed our activity grouping before filing and flagged an issue the bank would have raised. Licensed in under two weeks with no surprises on the invoice.
M
Marwa Khalil2 months ago
We came for a mainland LLC and stayed for renewals and PRO work. The same team answers the phone after the license is issued, which is rare here.
FAQ