SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone)
An established, trade-oriented zone beside Sharjah International Airport.
What SAIF Zone is actually known for
SAIF Zone has been operating since 1995 and sits directly alongside Sharjah International Airport, which gives it something unusual: air cargo access at northern-emirates cost. It is one of the older and larger free zones in the country, with several thousand companies, and its strength is the combination of light-industrial and warehouse space with a runway next door — a middle ground between DAFZA's premium airside position and RAKEZ's pure industrial economics.
Established in 1996, SAIF Zone is one of the UAE's oldest and most established free zones, beside Sharjah International Airport with fast access to sea, air and road links. It's trade- and logistics-oriented, offering furnished offices, pre-built warehouses and land, and is valued for stability, reputation and cost advantages over Dubai.
Key benefits
- 100% foreign ownership; 0% personal and qualifying-income corporate tax
- Full repatriation; exemption from import/export duties
- Adjacent to Sharjah International Airport — strong air-cargo access
- No restriction on a 100% expatriate workforce
- Ready facilities: furnished offices, warehouses and land
- License often issued the same day
Business activities & licenses
SAIF Zone supports a range of license types and activities, including:
- Trading / commercial & general trading
- Service / professional
- Industrial & light manufacturing
- Logistics & warehousing
The clusters that exist here
Activity lists look similar across every free zone. What differs is which industries have genuinely concentrated in one — the counterparties, the suppliers and the people you end up sitting next to.
- Light manufacturing and assembly
- Pre-built warehouses and industrial units suited to assembly, packaging and light production.
- Trading and distribution
- Import, storage and re-export using both Sharjah's airport and its road links to Dubai's ports.
- E-commerce fulfilment
- Warehousing at a cost that works for order fulfilment, within reach of the whole northern UAE population.
- Automotive and spare parts
- A long-established cluster serving regional aftermarket demand.
- Building and construction supplies
- Materials distribution serving the UAE construction market from a central location.
Infrastructure and institutions
The things SAIF Zone has that a competing zone would have to build from scratch:
- Direct adjacency to Sharjah International Airport and its cargo terminal
- Pre-built warehouses, light-industrial units and land plots
- Temperature-controlled and general storage options
- Labour accommodation available within the zone
- Road access to Dubai, Jebel Ali and the northern emirates
Ownership & visas
100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor required.
A common Trading/Service entry package with a flexi-desk is eligible for around 3 residence visas; larger quotas via bigger offices/warehouses.
Cost & timeline
SAIF Zone does not publish a complete current public tariff. We obtain a written quote from the authority for your specific activity, visa allocation and workspace.
Important: No current standard public licence tariff is published. The official FAQ states FZE/FZC minimum capital of AED 150,000, with no minimum for a branch of a foreign or local company. That capital requirement is not a licence fee and must not be added to setup cost without confirming whether it must be deposited and how it can be used.
Source: saif-zone.com
Get a written quoteTypical timeline: License often issued the day of application; visas add days to weeks.
Is SAIF Zone right for you?
Trading, logistics, warehousing and light-industrial companies wanting an established, reputable Sharjah base with airport proximity and a generous entry-level visa allowance.
Choose SAIF Zone if
- You need warehousing with air cargo access but DAFZA's pricing doesn't work
- You do light assembly, packaging or fulfilment
- Your market is the UAE and wider GCC and central positioning matters
- You want an established zone with a long operating track record
Look elsewhere if
- You need sea freight at container scale — Jebel Ali or Hamriyah serve you better
- You are a service business with no physical goods
- You need a Dubai commercial address
What people get wrong about SAIF Zone
The things that surprise founders after they have already signed — worth knowing before you do.
- No published tariff
- SAIF Zone does not publish a complete current fee schedule. Pricing depends on facility type and size, so any figure quoted without a written offer is an estimate.
- Facility availability moves
- Warehouse and unit availability in specific size bands fluctuates. If you have a firm space requirement, check availability before you commit to the zone.
- Airport proximity is for cargo, not passengers
- Sharjah airport is a low-cost and cargo hub. If your business depends on frequent long-haul passenger connections, Dubai is a different proposition.
What makes SAIF Zone different
- One of the UAE's longest-established free zones (since 1996).
- Entry-level trading package includes eligibility for ~3 visas.
Compare alternatives
How SAIF Zone compares
| Free zone | Emirate | License from* | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAIF Zone This page | Sharjah | Quote required | License often issued the day of application; visas add days to weeks | Trading · Logistics |
| SHAMS → | Sharjah | AED 5,750/yr | Registration in as little as 24 hours; add visa processing time | Cheapest · Freelancers |
| SPC → | Sharjah | AED 5,750/yr | Often same-day to a few working days for the license | Cheapest · Dual license |
| DAFZA → | Dubai | Quote required | ~2–4 weeks | Import/export · Logistics |
* Published entry prices from each authority, verified 1 August 2026 — not quotes, and not directly comparable products. Compare all 17 zones
SAIF Zone — frequently asked questions
01How much does it cost to set up in SAIF Zone?＋
SAIF Zone does not publish a complete current public tariff, so pricing is quotation-based and depends on your activity, visa allocation, shareholder structure and workspace. Incorporate Dubai obtains a written quote from the authority rather than quoting an unverified starting price.
02Can I own 100% of my SAIF Zone company?＋
100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor required.
03How many visas can I get with SAIF Zone?＋
A common Trading/Service entry package with a flexi-desk is eligible for around 3 residence visas; larger quotas via bigger offices/warehouses.
04How long does SAIF Zone setup take?＋
License often issued the day of application; visas add days to weeks. Timelines depend on document readiness, visa processing and bank onboarding.
05Who is SAIF Zone best for?＋
Trading, logistics, warehousing and light-industrial companies wanting an established, reputable Sharjah base with airport proximity and a generous entry-level visa allowance.
06How does SAIF Zone compare with DAFZA?＋
Both put you next to an airport. DAFZA is beside Dubai International, with far higher throughput, more long-haul freighter capacity and pricing to match. SAIF Zone is beside Sharjah International at a fraction of the cost. If your goods are ultra-high-value or need Dubai's freighter network, DAFZA earns its premium; for most regional distribution, SAIF Zone does the same job cheaper.
07What does SAIF Zone cost?＋
SAIF Zone doesn't publish a complete current tariff, so cost depends on the facility you take — an office licence, a small warehouse and a land plot are entirely different budgets. We get the written quote from the authority for your specific requirement rather than quoting an estimate.
08Is SAIF Zone suitable for e-commerce fulfilment?＋
Yes, and it is a common use. Warehouse cost is well below Dubai levels, the location reaches Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates within a normal delivery radius, and airport cargo access helps for inbound stock. The trade-off is that last-mile partners charge more for Sharjah pickups than Dubai ones.