Sharjah Business Districts — Industrial Area, Hamriyah and Business Hubs 2026
Sharjah has multiple distinct business districts beyond Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF Zone) and Sharjah Media City (Shams). This guide covers Sharjah’s key business districts for manufacturing, industrial, and commercial activity in 2026.
In this guide:
Sharjah Industrial Area (SIA)
- Location: Sharjah mainland; multiple areas numbered 1-18
- Character: traditional industrial area; light and medium manufacturing; workshops; warehousing; vehicle repair
- Regulatory body: Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD)
- Popular with: small manufacturers, workshops, building materials companies, vehicle businesses
- Cost: lower warehouse and factory unit costs than Dubai Industrial City; very competitive manufacturing base
Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA)
- Location: Hamriyah port area, Sharjah north coast
- Character: port-based heavy industrial and manufacturing free zone
- UAE’s 3rd largest port: deep-water port with direct access to Gulf
- Best for: heavy manufacturing, petrochemicals, oil and gas equipment, ship building/repair, large-scale storage
- Land availability: large plots for heavy industry; factory shells; warehouses
- Visa allocation: up to 50+ visas for large facilities; no visa cap for major industrial operations
Sharjah Waterfront City
- New development: mixed-use waterfront development on Sharjah’s Arabian Gulf coast
- Business focus: commercial offices, hospitality, retail; targeted at light commercial businesses
- Complements Sharjah’s residential growth corridor
Sharjah Heritage Area — Old Sharjah (Rolla)
- Traditional trading area: gold souk, textile souk; longstanding trading community
- Licensing: Sharjah DED (mainland trading licences); traditional retail and wholesale
- Character: authentic Arabian trading atmosphere; significant Emirati-owned and SME commercial activity
Why Choose Sharjah for Manufacturing?
- Lower cost than Dubai: warehouse and factory rents in Sharjah are 30-50% lower than equivalent Dubai locations
- Proximity to Dubai: Sharjah borders Dubai; 15-30 minute drive to Dubai industrial areas
- Airport access: Sharjah International Airport; 3rd largest cargo hub in Middle East
- Port access: Khalid Port and Hamriyah Port; dual coast access (Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman via UAQ/Khor Fakkan)