UAE Free Zone

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SHAMS vs SPC for content creators: licence, permit and cost

SHAMS and SPC compared for content creators: creator licence types, published package prices, visa add-ons and the separate Advertiser Permit you need.

UAE Free Zone editorial desk Published 23 October 2026 7 sources, checked 23 October 2026 6 min read

Short answer

SHAMS is the more direct fit if you want a packaged, creator-specific licence. SPC can be cheaper on paper and lets you add visas one at a time, but its packages are general, so confirm your activity first. With either zone you also need the federal Advertiser Permit if you post paid or gifted promotions.

Shams and SPC Free Zone at a glance
ShamsSPC Free Zone
EmirateSharjahSharjah
Best forContent creators, media freelancers and small service businesses wanting a low-cost, fully online setup.Publishers, e-commerce sellers and consultants wanting a low-cost Sharjah licence.
Office and facilitiesFlexi-deskFlexi-desk, Co-working
Set up remotelyYesNot stated
Published entry priceNot a single package price; see belowAED 5,750
Last verified23 October 202623 October 2026

From each zone's own website. Estimates: zones change prices and run offers. Compare other zones.

If you want a packaged, creator-specific product, SHAMS is the more direct fit: it publishes a Media package and Freelancer packages with media activities built in. SPC can be cheaper on paper and lets you add visas one at a time, but its published packages are general, so you need to confirm your exact creator activity with the zone. With either zone, the licence is only half the job. If you post paid or gifted promotions, you also need the federal Advertiser Permit.

All prices below come from each zone's own website, last verified 23 October 2026. Treat them as estimates. Zones change prices and run time-limited offers, and your final quote depends on activities, visas and add-ons.

What licence do content creators get at SHAMS and SPC?

Both zones are in Sharjah. Both issue a free zone trade licence that lets you invoice clients for media and content work. They package it differently.

SHAMS (Sharjah Media City)

The SHAMS packages page lists two routes that suit creators:

  • Media package. Three media activities, a lease agreement, multiple shareholders allowed. Zero-visa and with-visa versions exist.
  • Freelancer package. Up to three activities from trading, services or consultancy, plus one mandatory media activity. Zero-visa and one-visa versions exist.

SHAMS also publishes multi-year prices for each package, which bring the yearly cost down if you commit for two to ten years.

SPC (Sharjah Publishing City)

SPC's package list shows three starting points: E-Publishing, E-commerce and Standard (professional, commercial and general trading). The base package includes up to five activities, a flexi-desk and pay-as-you-go visa allocation with no fixed quota.

SPC's ePublishing licence announcement covers online publishing of e-books, audiobooks and electronic content, plus online sound recording services. It does not mention social media or influencer work. SPC's own creator article talks about content production and social media marketing activities in general terms, but does not tie them to a priced package. So if you are mainly a social media creator, ask SPC which activity and which package your work falls under before you compare prices.

How much does each zone cost in year one?

These are the zone's own published figures. They are not a full total. Medical tests, Emirates ID, health insurance and any consultant fees can sit on top.

SHAMS published prices (1-year licence)

Package Visas Published price (AED) What the page says is included
Media package 0 5,750 3 media activities, lease agreement
Media package with visas From 1 From 7,350 Page gives no breakdown of visa costs
Freelancer 0 7,745 3 activities + 1 media activity, lease agreement
Freelancer 1 15,415 Investor visa (2 years), immigration card, e-channel; excludes medical and Emirates ID

The SHAMS page is not fully consistent. A separate table on the same page lists the one-visa freelancer option at AED 15,786 and says Emirates ID is included. Ask SHAMS which figure applies on the day you sign.

SPC published prices

Item Published price (AED)
E-Publishing package (from) 4,999
E-commerce package (from) 5,750
Standard package (from) 6,875
Visa allocation, per visa 1,600
Establishment card (2 years) 640
E-channel registration 2,280
Investor visa incl. Emirates ID 2,530
Change of status inside the UAE 700
Medical test, per person 365

SPC says its package prices exclude government fees. Adding the listed one-visa items to the Standard package gives a rough estimate of about AED 14,290, or about AED 14,990 if you are already in the UAE and need a change of status. That is our sum of SPC's published line items, not a quote from SPC. Health insurance (SPC lists it from AED 450 a month) is extra.

Side-by-side summary

SHAMS SPC
Creator-specific package Yes: Media and Freelancer packages No named creator package; activity choice needed
Lowest published zero-visa price AED 5,750 (Media) AED 4,999 (E-Publishing, publishing activities only)
Activities in base package 3 (Freelancer adds 1 media activity) Up to 5
One-visa route Freelancer one-visa package, AED 15,415 Pay-as-you-go; about AED 14,290 by our sum of listed fees
Office Lease agreement included Flexi-desk included
Multi-year pricing published Yes, 1 to 10 years Not on the page we checked
Advertiser Permit included No No

For a full comparison of first-year costs across more zones, see what a free zone company costs in year one.

Do you still need a Media Council permit with either licence?

Yes, if you publish advertising content. The UAE Media Council introduced the Advertiser Permit in July 2025. Since December 2025 the council's functions have moved to the new National Media Authority, according to Gulf News, so you may see either name on forms and guidance.

According to Gulf News's explainer:

  • The permit covers advertising content on social media, paid or unpaid.
  • UAE residents need a trade licence that covers electronic media activity. A SHAMS or SPC licence can serve this purpose only if your licensed activity matches.
  • The permit is free for the first three years for citizens and residents, then AED 1,000 a year to renew.
  • Promoting your own products, or a company you own, through your personal account is exempt.

Neither zone's package includes the permit. You apply for it separately, and the zone does not apply on your behalf, based on what both websites say. The influencer licence guide explains the permit in more detail.

What happens if you advertise without it?

Cabinet Resolution No. 42 of 2025 sets the penalties. Publishing advertising content on social media without a permit carries a written warning for a first violation, then AED 20,000, then AED 50,000, with further repeats doubled. Practising a media activity with no licence at all is AED 10,000 for a first offence and AED 40,000 for a second.

Who should pick SHAMS and who should pick SPC?

SHAMS tends to suit you if:

  • You want a package built around media activities, with less back-and-forth about activity codes.
  • You are a solo creator and want the freelancer route with a visa bundled into one price.
  • You are willing to prepay two or more years to get a lower yearly rate.

SPC tends to suit you if:

  • Your work is mainly publishing: e-books, audiobooks, newsletters or online publications.
  • You want up to five activities on one licence, for example content plus e-commerce.
  • You want to start with no visa and add visas one at a time later.

Either can work if you are a social media creator who needs a trade licence plus the Advertiser Permit. In that case, the deciding factor is which zone confirms your specific activity in writing, and the total quote with your visa count.

If you need to invoice Dubai mainland clients often, read about the Dubai Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit. Note it is a Dubai scheme, so check whether it applies to a Sharjah-licensed company before relying on it. If you later want to switch zones, see moving a company between free zones.

What about tax?

Both are free zones, but 0% corporate tax is not automatic. Qualifying Free Zone Person status has conditions, including audited accounts. Income from individuals or mainland customers may not qualify. See the QFZP audit requirement and the de minimis rule examples, and confirm your position with a registered tax agent.

What to check before you act

  • Get the activity in writing. Ask each zone which activity covers social media content, sponsored posts and brand deals, and whether it counts as electronic media for the Advertiser Permit.
  • Ask for an itemised quote. Confirm what is in the package price and what is extra: medical, Emirates ID, insurance, change of status.
  • Check the date on the price. Offers change. The SHAMS page shows two different one-visa freelancer figures.
  • Plan the Advertiser Permit separately. Budget time for it after the licence is issued.
  • Do not assume a visa or bank account. Visas depend on immigration approval. Banks make their own decisions.

This site is independent and not linked to SHAMS, SPC or any government body. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice.

Before you pay a setup agent

  • Ask for the full year-one quote in writing: licence, desk, establishment card, each visa, medicals and Emirates ID.
  • Ask which exact activity name goes on your licence and check it covers what you will invoice for.
  • Ask whether the agent is paid by the zone, and whether a bank account is included or only an introduction.
  • Check the zone's own price page before you sign. We link to it on every zone profile.

General information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Free zone fees and rules change; confirm the current figures with the free zone authority before you commit. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Sources