Quick answer: SPC Free Zone and SHAMS both publish named annual licence packages at AED 6,875, but they are not identical offers. SPC’s Pay-As-You-Go package is a modular zero-visa licence with separately priced immigration and support services. SHAMS’s Standard package includes a flexi-desk and lease agreement, and SHAMS publishes fixed-renewal wording for the business, subject to its terms. Choose by activity fit, visa plan, renewal evidence and required add-ons rather than the headline price alone.
Evidence check: Official SPC and SHAMS package pages were checked on 27 July 2026. Prices and inclusions can change. Confirm the exact activity, package, visa allocation, immigration costs and renewal terms before payment.
SPC vs SHAMS at a glance
| Decision | SPC Free Zone | SHAMS | Practical verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named package compared | Pay-As-You-Go, one-year licence, zero visas | Standard annual package | Compare the inclusions, not only AED 6,875 |
| Better fit for | Modular setup, publishing, professional services, e-commerce and companies that may add services later | Media, creative, consultancy and service businesses that value a flexi-desk and published fixed-renewal wording | Activity and operating model decide the better fit |
| Activity allowance | Up to five activities from more than 2,000 options on the named package | Any five business activities on the Standard package; external approval may apply | Both are flexible, but exact activity wording must be checked |
| Visa approach | Zero-visa base package; visa allocation and immigration services are separately priced | Standard package does not list a visa; SHAMS also publishes a separate visa-inclusive package | SPC is more visibly modular; SHAMS publishes a bundled alternative |
| Office evidence | Flexi-desk is referenced for visa availability; paid facility options are also published | Flexi-desk and lease agreement are included in the Standard package | SHAMS has the clearer office inclusion for this comparison |
| Renewal evidence | Current renewal amount is not published on the Pay-As-You-Go page | SHAMS publishes fixed-renewal wording, subject to terms | SHAMS has stronger public renewal evidence |
Official package cost comparison
| Cost factor | SPC Free Zone | SHAMS | Confidence and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 licence | AED 6,875 for the Pay-As-You-Go one-year, zero-visa licence | AED 6,875/year for the Standard package | High: official authority package pages |
| Renewal | Quote-based – confirm the current renewal for the same configuration | AED 6,875 planning figure if the same Standard package and published fixed-renewal terms continue | SPC requires verification; SHAMS high with terms: official fixed-renewal statement |
| Three-year planning total | Quote-based because renewal is not published | AED 20,625 calculated as three unchanged AED 6,875 annual periods | Calculated planning figure: not a separate authority quote |
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 add-on | Not listed as included in the Standard package | High for SPC: official add-on table; SHAMS requires package selection |
| Establishment / immigration | AED 640 establishment card plus AED 2,280 e-channel registration | E-channel is charged separately where applicable; confirm the current amount | High for SPC amounts; SHAMS quote-based: official pages |
| Investor visa path | AED 2,530 investor visa with Emirates ID; medical and status change are separate | SHAMS separately advertises a visa-inclusive package; confirm current Standard-package add-ons | Package-specific: do not combine unlike configurations |
| Banking help | AED 2,000 optional banking assistance | Bank-account assistance is available as a separate service | Assistance only: neither option guarantees bank approval |
Public price disclaimer: final pricing may vary by activity, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, authority updates and advisory or support services. Request a current itemised quote before payment.
What the AED 6,875 packages include
| Inclusion | SPC Pay-As-You-Go | SHAMS Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Licence term | One year | One year |
| Visa in base price | No – zero-visa licence | No visa is listed in the Standard-package inclusion summary |
| Activities | Up to five from more than 2,000 options | Any five business activities, subject to approval |
| Shareholders | Official page lists up to 100 shareholders under one licence | Confirm the permitted structure and shareholder count for the application |
| Flexi-desk / lease | Flexi-desk is referenced for visa availability; confirm the base-package document | Flexi-desk and lease agreement are listed as included |
| External approvals | Activity-dependent | Official package page says external approvals may apply |
| VAT | Confirm treatment on the current invoice | Official package page says listed prices are inclusive of VAT |
SPC visa and service add-ons
SPC’s main advantage is a public modular add-on table. These amounts belong to the named Pay-As-You-Go route and should not be treated as a complete all-inclusive total without confirming every required item.
| Published add-on | Official amount | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 | Creates allocation; it is not the full applicant visa process |
| Establishment card | AED 640 | Confirm validity and renewal |
| E-channel registration | AED 2,280 | Immigration-file requirement |
| Investor visa with Emirates ID | AED 2,530 | Medical and status change are listed separately |
| Change of status | AED 700 | Relevant to eligible inside-country applicants |
| Medical test | AED 365 | Authority page amount; service level may affect final cost |
| Banking assistance | AED 2,000 | Application assistance, not approval |
| Company stamp | AED 250 | Optional operating item |
Visa, office and banking comparison
Visa planning
SPC exposes a zero-visa licence and separate immigration charges, which can help founders see how costs build. SHAMS Standard is a licence-led package, while its separate all-inclusive package is designed around one investor quota and a two-year visa. Do not compare SPC’s zero-visa licence directly with SHAMS’s visa-inclusive package without adding the equivalent immigration services on both sides.
Office and substance
SHAMS Standard clearly lists a flexi-desk and lease agreement. SPC references flexi-desk availability and separately publishes offices, retail space, storage and warehouses. A bank may still request evidence of real operations, contracts, invoices, website readiness, source of funds and an appropriate business address.
Banking difficulty
For ordinary low-risk service, media or e-commerce activities with clear documents, both routes usually merit a moderate planning score. Difficulty rises for high-risk trading, complex ownership, weak business evidence, non-resident shareholders, regulated activities or unclear expected transactions. Paid banking assistance is not a bank-account guarantee.
Which should you choose?
| Use case | Better first shortlist | Why | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publishing or multi-activity professional company | SPC | Publishing ecosystem, modular add-ons and up to five activities on the named package | Exact activity wording, renewal and required immigration services |
| Media, creator or creative services | SHAMS | Media-city positioning and a dedicated Media package alongside Standard | Whether the activity belongs in Media or Standard and the current visa package |
| Founder wants itemised add-ons | SPC | Official page publishes several immigration and service amounts | Complete usable total and renewal exposure |
| Founder prioritises public renewal evidence | SHAMS | Official materials publish fixed-renewal wording | That the same package and terms remain applicable |
| Trading or regulated activity | Neither by default | Activity and external-approval requirements matter more than the licence headline | Exact authority approval, customs/mainland route and banking risk |
Documents and checks before payment
- Passport and contact details for each shareholder and manager.
- Exact proposed activity wording and any external-approval requirement.
- Selected licence term, visa allocation and office or flexi-desk evidence.
- Itemised Year 1 invoice, renewal schedule and cancellation or amendment fees.
- Contracts, invoices, website and transaction plan for bank-account readiness.
- Confirmation of establishment card, e-channel, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and status-change charges.
Mainland note: a free-zone licence does not automatically remove mainland trading, customs, distributor or local-permit requirements. Confirm the operating route for physical goods or regulated services.
Common mistakes
- Treating both AED 6,875 packages as though they include the same services.
- Comparing a zero-visa licence with a visa-inclusive package.
- Assuming the Year 1 amount proves the SPC renewal amount.
- Ignoring establishment card, e-channel, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and status-change costs.
- Assuming banking assistance means approval.
- Choosing an activity label before confirming its exact authority wording and external approvals.
Alternatives worth comparing
Review the full SPC Free Zone profile and SHAMS profile before choosing. For other lower-cost service routes, compare ANCFZ, Ajman Media City and RAKEZ. For a Dubai address, review IFZA and Meydan Free Zone. You can also compare IFZA vs SHAMS, IFZA vs SPC and RAKEZ vs SHAMS.
Useful next steps: cost calculator, free-zone finder, banking difficulty checker, business activity directory, Cost Index and pricing methodology.
Official sources and confidence
SPC source: official SPC Pay-As-You-Go package page. SHAMS sources: official SHAMS packages page and official SHAMS cost calculator. The named SHAMS annual amount and fixed-renewal statement were also checked against the authority’s public setup material.
Confidence: High for the named Year 1 package amounts and listed inclusions. Medium for a future SHAMS renewal because terms and package continuity must be confirmed. Requires verification for SPC renewal and any complete visa-inclusive total.
Read how price confidence is labelled or report updated authority pricing. UAE Freezone Compare is an independent private comparison platform and is not SPC Free Zone, SHAMS or a UAE government authority.
SPC vs SHAMS FAQs
| Is SPC or SHAMS cheaper? | The named SPC Pay-As-You-Go and SHAMS Standard annual licence packages are both published at AED 6,875. SPC’s route is modular and zero-visa; SHAMS Standard includes a flexi-desk and lease. The cheaper usable setup depends on required add-ons and renewal. |
|---|---|
| Which is better for media or creators? | SHAMS is usually the more direct first shortlist because it is a media city and publishes a dedicated Media package. SPC can still support relevant activities, subject to exact wording and approval. |
| Which is better for several activities? | Both named packages publish up to five activities. Confirm whether the selected activities can be combined under one licence and whether external approval applies. |
| Does AED 6,875 include a visa? | No for the SPC Pay-As-You-Go package. SHAMS Standard does not list a visa in its package inclusion summary. Compare each authority’s visa-inclusive configuration separately. |
| Is the renewal the same as Year 1? | SHAMS publishes fixed-renewal wording, subject to terms, but the same package must still be confirmed. SPC’s Pay-As-You-Go page does not publish the current renewal amount, so it remains quote-based. |
| Which is easier for a bank account? | Neither authority can guarantee approval. Activity risk, shareholder residency, ownership, source of funds, website, contracts, invoices and expected transactions usually matter more than the licence headline. |
| Can either company trade on the UAE mainland? | Free-zone companies may need customs registration, a distributor, local permits or another mainland route depending on the goods or services. Confirm the operating model before licensing. |
Request a current SPC or SHAMS quote
Tell us your exact activity, visa count, shareholder count and office need. UAE Freezone Compare can request a current market quote and itemised comparison without charging you a service fee. Authority, bank and visa approval are not guaranteed.
Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team
Reviewed by: UAE Business Setup Research Team
Official sources checked: 27 July 2026