Compare SPC Free Zone and SAIF Zone by Year 1 cost, renewal cost, visa options, banking difficulty, activity fit and best use case for UAE free zone company setup in 2026.
Quick verdict
Choose SPC Free Zone for a Sharjah publishing, e-commerce or service licence with transparent official pricing and a clear 1-visa all-in package. Choose SAIF Zone if you need a Sharjah-based industrial, trading or logistics zone with bundled multi-visa packages — noting that SAIF Zone’s AED 10,800 starting package includes 3 visa slots, not 1.
Cost comparison table
| Factor | SPC Free Zone | SAIF Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | AED 13,165 (1-visa all-in: licence AED 6,875 + visa + govt fees — official, spcfz.ae confirmed 2026). Publishing licence from AED 5,750 (official 0-visa licence only) | AED 10,800 (starting package — 3-source confirmed, 2026). IMPORTANT: this package bundles 3 visa slots, not 1. Per-visa effective cost ~AED 3,600 of total. Single-visa pricing not separately published — confirm with SAIF Zone. |
| Renewal cost | AED 11,720 (1-visa; 2-source estimate — renewal is lower than Year 1 all-in) | Indicative — confirm current renewal pricing with SAIF Zone directly |
| 3-year total | AED 36,605 (Year 1 AED 13,165 + Yr2 AED 11,720 + Yr3 AED 11,720 — based on official Year 1 and 2-source renewal) | Quote-based — confirm renewal before calculating 3-year total |
| Visa options | 0-visa from AED 5,750 (Publishing); 1-visa all-in AED 13,165 (Standard); higher quotas available | 3-visa bundle in starting package (AED 10,800). Single-visa option not separately confirmed — verify with SAIF Zone |
| Banking difficulty | Medium | Medium (industrial/logistics activity mix — confirm banking readiness for your specific activity) |
| Price confidence | Official (Year 1 from spcfz.ae); 2-source estimate (renewal) | 3-source confirmed (AED 10,800 package, 3 visas); indicative (renewal) |
| Source type | spcfz.ae official package page (confirmed 2026) | emirabiz.com, aurionuae.com, freezonematch.com cross-confirmed (2026) |
Decision factors
| Choose SPC Free Zone if | You need a Sharjah licence for publishing, e-commerce, services or consulting with 0 or 1 visa and transparent, officially confirmed pricing. SPC’s renewal is lower than Year 1 — a clear advantage for 3-year planning. |
|---|---|
| Choose SAIF Zone if | You need a Sharjah industrial, trading or logistics zone with 3+ visas from the outset, and where the AED 10,800 bundled 3-visa package makes sense for your team size and activity. SAIF Zone is a port-proximate industrial free zone — not a flexi-desk service zone. |
| Package scope note | SPC’s AED 13,165 covers 1 visa. SAIF Zone’s AED 10,800 covers 3 visas — comparing headline numbers without noting this difference produces a misleading per-company cost comparison. Choose based on visa count needed. |
| Office/workspace | SPC: flexi-desk and office options. SAIF Zone: industrial plots, warehouses, offices and workshops — confirm facility type required for your activity and visa quota. |
| Hidden costs — both zones | Establishment card, medical exam, Emirates ID, health insurance, amendments and cancellation fees apply. For SAIF Zone, confirm facility lease, utilities and any port-access fees separately. |
| Documents required | Passport, photo, shareholder details, activity description. SAIF Zone industrial activities may require project documentation or business plan. |
Source notes
SPC Free Zone Year 1 pricing is confirmed from spcfz.ae official package pages (2026): Standard Licence AED 6,875 (0-visa), Publishing Licence from AED 5,750 (0-visa), 1-visa all-in AED 13,165. Renewal AED 11,720 is a 2-source estimate. SAIF Zone AED 10,800 starting package is cross-confirmed by three independent sources (emirabiz.com, aurionuae.com, freezonematch.com) and includes 3 visa slots — this is a 3-visa bundle, not a single-visa price. A single-visa price was not separately confirmed; contact SAIF Zone directly if 1 or 2 visas are needed. Renewal pricing for SAIF Zone was not confirmed — obtain a renewal quote before committing to a 3-year plan. UFZC treats every price and visa count on this page as a planning input until a current written quote confirms it.
SPC Free Zone official pricing source | SAIF Zone official source
Best alternatives
SPC Free Zone | SAIF Zone | SHAMS | IFZA | RAKEZ | Cheapest UAE free zones
FAQs
| Is SAIF Zone cheaper than SPC? | SAIF Zone’s AED 10,800 is lower than SPC’s AED 13,165 in headline terms — but SAIF Zone includes 3 visas in that package. On a 1-visa basis, SPC at AED 13,165 may be more cost-effective. On a 3-visa basis, SAIF Zone at AED 10,800 is clearly lower. Compare based on your actual visa count requirement. |
|---|---|
| Which is better for banking? | Both are rated medium difficulty. SPC’s publishing and service focus is well understood by UAE banks. SAIF Zone industrial activity applicants should confirm their specific activity and documentation readiness before applying for a UAE business account. |
| Can I do e-commerce from SAIF Zone? | SAIF Zone permits e-commerce and trading activities. However, it is an industrial zone — if you do not need warehouse or logistics infrastructure, a more cost-efficient service zone like SPC, SHAMS or IFZA may be a better fit for a digital-only e-commerce setup. |
Internal links
SPC Free Zone profile | SAIF Zone profile | Cost calculator | Methodology | Hidden costs | Banking checker | RAKEZ vs SPC | IFZA vs SPC | IFZA vs SAIF Zone | RAKEZ vs SAIF Zone
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Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team
Reviewed by: UAE Business Setup Research Team
Last reviewed: August 2026
Prices and fit notes are reviewed using public authority information, available package pages, fee schedules, partner quotations and manual research. Pricing can change based on activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure and authority approval.