SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone) is one of the UAE’s longest-established free zones, offering competitive costs and strong logistics infrastructure. Here is the 2025 guide.
What is SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone was established in 1995 adjacent to Sharjah International Airport. It is one of the UAE’s busiest and most established free zones, home to 8,000+ companies from 100+ countries. SAIF Zone is owned and operated by the Sharjah government (SCTDA — Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority). SAIF Zone is particularly strong for: light manufacturing and assembly, trading and distribution, food processing and packaging, and logistics (air freight via Sharjah Airport).
SAIF Zone Costs 2025
Professional licence: from AED 10,000-15,000/year. Trading licence: from AED 12,000-18,000/year. Industrial licence (with warehouse/factory space): from AED 15,000-35,000/year. Warehouse units: from AED 15,000-50,000/year (250-2,500+ sqm). Office units: from AED 8,000-20,000/year. Visa slots: 2-6 per package depending on facility type.
SAIF Zone vs. Shams (Both Sharjah)
SAIF Zone: best for logistics, trading, and light manufacturing. Industrial and warehouse space available. Airport adjacency. Shams (Sharjah Media City): best for professional services, creative, media, and digital businesses. Much lower cost (from AED 5,500/year). No industrial/warehouse space. For Sharjah-based traders who need a warehouse: SAIF Zone is the better choice. For freelancers and professional services: Shams is more cost-effective.
SAIF Zone Location Advantage
Sharjah International Airport is one of the UAE’s most active cargo airports — particularly for air cargo from South Asia, Africa, and Central Asia. SAIF Zone companies with air freight import/export operations benefit from direct airport access. The Sharjah-Dubai road connection (Route 11) puts SAIF Zone within 30-40 minutes of Dubai city centre (outside peak traffic).
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAIF Zone | Warehouse Business Support offer | AED 10,800-18,000 for packages starting with 3+ visa allocation. Important: AED 10,800 starting price includes 3 visa slots, not 1 — single-visa pricing not separately confirmed. Confidence: Indicative public price |
Quote-based renewal - confirm facility, licence and current offer terms Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on facility and renewal terms Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Visa allocation and immigration costs require confirmation | Published warehouse options begin at 125 sqm | Indicative public price | Official SAIF Zone warehouse support offer page | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The official offer page publishes warehouse support amounts for 125, 250, 400 and 600 sqm units and describes manufacturing, trading, assembly and logistics use. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Exact licence scope, visas, immigration, utilities, deposits, insurance, environmental approvals, fit-out and advisory support unless the current quotation includes them. |
| Hidden-cost risk | This is a facility-led offer page, not a general SAIF licence-only price. Confirm current availability, inclusions, payment plan and renewal before committing. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium |
| Best fit | Trading, aviation-linked logistics and Sharjah airport-oriented companies. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.