Shams, the Sharjah Media City free zone, was set up for media and creative businesses and also licenses services and trading. We check your activity against Shams' official list and handle the application with you.
Shams (Sharjah Media City) was established in 2017 by Emiri Decree of the Ruler of Sharjah and is based in Al Messaned, Sharjah. It focuses on media, creative industries and content, with studios, workspaces and a podcast room on site.
Shams handles company setup through its own setup platform and describes the process as digital. It states that you can choose up to five business activities on one license, register as an LLC or a branch, and apply for visas based on your business needs.
Its official activity list covers media, services and consultancy, and wholesale and retail, and many activities name an approval from another authority. We check yours first and explain what that approval involves.
Setup planner
Search your activity to see whether Shams lists it and which approvals it names, then get a setup plan in 4 short steps. A consultant sends your quotation.
Content creators, production companies, agencies and publishers.
Founders whose activities fall under Shams' services and consultancy category.
People who prefer to register and pay online.
Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.
Shams sets its own document list; we confirm it for your activity before you apply.
Government fees, paid at cost
Set by Shams and paid at cost. Your consultant sends a written quotation with every fee before you pay.
Global Sky PRO service fee
Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.
Timing
Depends on your activity, any approvals and how quickly documents and attestations are ready. We give you a realistic plan once your activity is confirmed.
Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.
Share what you will do, where your customers are, how many visas you need and what workspace suits you.
We confirm your exact activity is on Shams's list, note any approval it needs and compare other zones if they fit better.
Your consultant sends a written quotation with every zone fee and our service fee. Send the documents on your checklist.
We type the application, check every document for consistency and submit the file to Shams.
Shams reviews the application, may ask for more information and decides whether to issue the license.
Once the license is issued, we guide you through the establishment card, residence visas and corporate tax registration.
Points from shams.ae and the Shams setup site, checked on 4 November 2026. We confirm the details for your activity before you apply.
Headline offers rarely tell the whole story. We answer these for your activity before you decide.
If this zone doesn't fit your activity, visas or budget, one of these may. Each guide is checked against the zone's own website.
Swipe to see all 7 zones
Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Uptown Dubai, with sector communities from gold and coffee to crypto and gaming.
A Dubai free zone with its business park in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
A digital setup process, including a route for founders who live outside the UAE.
Sharjah Publishing City: started with publishing, now licenses trading, e-commerce and services too.
Next to Ajman Port, with offices, warehouses, land and on-site accommodation.
Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone, set up for remote company formation.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, licensing free zone and non-free zone companies.
Logos and names are trademarks of their owners, shown only to identify each free zone. Facts are from each zone's own website, checked on 4 November 2026.
Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.
Yes. Shams is the name used by Sharjah Media City, a free zone in Al Messaned, Sharjah, established in 2017 by Emiri Decree. Company setup runs through the Shams setup website, which describes a digital process where you register, pay and receive your license online.
Source: Shams: Sharjah Media City
Often, yes. Shams' official activity list also covers services and consultancy, and wholesale and retail, alongside media. Many activities on the list name an approval from another authority, so we check that your exact activity is listed and what that approval involves before you apply.
Source: Shams: Sharjah Media City
Shams states that you can choose up to five business activities under one license. We check that your chosen activities can sit together, which package they fall under and whether any of them needs approval from another authority before Shams can issue the license.
Source: Shams: Sharjah Media City
It depends on your activities, the license term, your package and how many visas you need. Rather than a headline price that may not fit your plans, your consultant sends a written quotation with every Shams fee and our service fee shown separately, so you can compare before you pay anything.
Send your details and we'll reply with the documents you need and every fee involved.
Send your enquiry
Takes a minute. We reply with the next steps and every fee involved.
Licenses are issued by the relevant authority (DET for Dubai mainland, or the chosen free zone authority). Global Sky PRO prepares and submits your application. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.