Sharjah Airport International Free Zone SAIF Zone 2026
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) is one of the UAE’s most established free zones, offering businesses direct access to Sharjah International Airport and competitive pricing versus Dubai-based alternatives. Established in 1995, SAIF Zone hosts 7,500+ companies from 163 countries.
SAIF Zone Advantages
- Airport adjacency: direct access to Sharjah International Airport cargo facilities
- Cost: 15–25% cheaper than comparable Dubai free zones
- Flexibility: wide range of activities permitted across trading, services, and light industry
- Track record: 29 years operating, well-known to UAE banks
- Proximity: 15 minutes from Dubai city
SAIF Zone Cost 2026
- Executive office licence: AED 14,000–20,000 per year
- Flexi-desk package: AED 9,000–13,000 per year
- Warehouse (500 sqm): from AED 45,000 per year
- Investor visa: AED 3,500–5,000
- Year 1 all-in: approximately AED 18,000–25,000
SAIF Zone Activities
SAIF Zone permits: general trading, import/export, services, consulting, IT, logistics and freight forwarding, light manufacturing, food trading and processing, and professional services. Over 1,500 activity codes available.
SAIF Zone vs JAFZA for Trading Companies
- SAIF Zone: airport access, Sharjah, lower cost, air cargo focus
- JAFZA: seaport access (Jebel Ali), Dubai, higher cost, sea cargo focus
For air freight-dependent traders and importers, SAIF Zone is an excellent cost-efficient alternative to JAFZA. For sea freight and heavy goods, JAFZA’s port access is superior.
SAIF Zone Banking
SAIF Zone companies are generally well-accepted by UAE banks given the zone’s 29-year track record. RAKBank, Mashreq, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) are active with SAIF Zone corporate clients. Emirates NBD and ADCB also accept SAIF Zone entities with standard due diligence.
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.