Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) — Complete Business Guide 2026
Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) is the world’s first free zone dedicated to the publishing, printing, and knowledge industry. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
In this guide:
SPC at a Glance
- Location: Sharjah emirate (Sharjah is the “Cultural Capital” of UAE)
- Established: 2017
- Focus: Publishing; printing; book distribution; e-publishing; knowledge industry
- Event: Sharjah International Book Fair (world’s 3rd largest book fair) held adjacent
SPC Business Types
- Publishers: Book publishers; academic publishers; magazine publishers
- Printers: Commercial printing; book printing; packaging printing
- E-publishing: Digital content; e-books; online publishing platforms
- Distribution: Book and media distribution; fulfilment
- Creative services: Editorial; translation; design for print
SPC Costs (2026)
- Trade licence: AED 8,000-14,000/year
- Virtual office: AED 5,000-8,000/year
- Flexi-desk: AED 6,000-9,000/year
SPC Strengths
- Niche specialization: World’s only publishing-focused free zone; unique positioning
- Sharjah Book Fair: Annual access to one of world’s largest publishing events
- Affordable: Competitive pricing vs Dubai-based creative free zones
Who Uses SPC?
- Regional publishers: Arabic and English language publishers
- Printing companies: Commercial and specialized printers
- Educational content: Academic and educational material publishers