SPC Free Zone, the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, is a Sharjah licensing authority established in 2017 by decree of the Ruler of Sharjah and a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority. It sits on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Al Zahia and licenses free zone establishments (FZE), free zone companies (FZC) and branches, with up to five activities on one licence. SPC publishes its own prices: a one-year licence with no visa from AED 5,750, and AED 6,875 when the activities fall in its Standard category (SPC Free Zone published, checked 15 September 2026). Visas and any office cost extra. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
WhatsApp Amir for SPC licence options and a written cost breakdown
By First Idea Consultant. Reviewed by Amir Aslam, Founder. Updated September 2026.
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone at a glance
| Item | Details and source |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority (UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism profile) |
| Established | 2017, by Royal Decree of the Ruler of Sharjah (Ministry profile) |
| Parent body | A subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority (SPC about page); the Sharjah Book Authority presents it as its publishing free zone |
| Location | E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Al Zahia, Sharjah (SPC contact page) |
| Legal forms | FZE, FZC and branch (Ministry profile) |
| Activities | 2,039 on SPC’s activity list on 15 September 2026; up to 5 on one licence |
| Shareholders | Up to 100 under one licence (SPC pay-as-you-go page) |
| Facilities | Co-working space, furnished and unfurnished offices, shell and core, retail, storage, warehouse |
| Visas | Each visa needs a visa allocation; SPC says investor, partner and employee visas are unlimited and can be added at registration or later |
| Contact | spcfz.ae; 800 SPCFZ (77239); customer portal at portal.spcfz.ae |
The licence is issued by SPC Free Zone, not by First Idea. First Idea Consultant LLC prepares and files the application, handles the visa steps and prepares the bank file.
What SPC Free Zone costs: SPC’s fees and your written quote
| Item | SPC published fee | Notes | SPC page |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year licence with no visa | from AED 5,750 | SPC’s pay-as-you-go starting figure | Pay as you go |
| Licence, Electronic Publishing activities | AED 4,999 | Price column of SPC’s activity list | Business activities |
| Licence, Publishing activities | AED 5,750 | Price column of SPC’s activity list; 5 Publishing activities that also sit under Electronic Publishing show AED 4,999 | Business activities |
| Licence, Standard activities | AED 6,875 | Price column of SPC’s activity list; licence term confirmed in your quote | Business activities |
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 | Per visa, per SPC’s FAQ | Pay as you go |
| Establishment card | AED 640 | Pay as you go | |
| E-channel registration | AED 2,280 | Pay as you go | |
| Investor visa with Emirates ID | AED 2,530 | Pay as you go | |
| Employment visa with Emirates ID | AED 3,700 | For employee visas | Cost calculator |
| Change of status | AED 700 | Only if inside the UAE | Pay as you go |
| Medical test | AED 365 | Pay as you go | |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 | Cost calculator |
These are SPC’s fees, paid to SPC. They exclude First Idea’s professional service fee and they are not a first-year total, because the facility, the visa count and the activities change it.
First Idea prices SPC work on quotation: SPC’s fees and our professional service fee, itemised in writing. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Send your activity and visa count to Amir on WhatsApp
The bundle First Idea prices in writing is in Dubai: Premium, which is company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance, at AED 28,136 in Meydan Free Zone or AED 28,436 in IFZA. The same combination in SPC Free Zone is quoted in writing.
Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank’s requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
Every package and its rows are on our page on the cost of setting up a business in Dubai, and side by side in our Dubai company setup packages.
SPC licence types and business activities
SPC’s activity list sorts every activity into one of three categories, and the category sets the licence price.
| Licence group | What it covers | SPC’s published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Publishing | 8 activities, including book and e-book publishing, online sale of books and stationery, sound recording and music publishing, and film and video production | AED 4,999 | The National Media Authority is named as the approving body on 7 of the 8 |
| Publishing | 557 activities, including printing of books, newspapers, labels and packaging, and publishing related trading | AED 5,750 on 552 activities; AED 4,999 on 5 that also appear under Electronic Publishing | The National Media Authority is named on most printing activities |
| Standard | 1,474 activities outside the two publishing groups | AED 6,875 | Some name a third-party approval in the list |
SPC’s pay-as-you-go page allows up to five activities on one licence. Where your activities come from more than one category, your quote confirms which licence price applies.
Activities that need an outside approval, shown in the Third Party column of SPC’s list, take longer. Amir checks your activity against SPC’s list before any fee is paid.
Who SPC Free Zone suits, and when a Dubai free zone fits better
SPC suits:
- publishers, printers and distributors of books and stationery
- e-book, audio and music publishing, and media production
- e-commerce sellers, and marketing, content and advertising businesses
- consultancy and IT services that do not need a Dubai address
- founders who live in Sharjah or the northern emirates and are content with a Sharjah licence
A Dubai zone or another route fits better when:
- a client, bank or landlord asks for a Dubai licence or address: see Meydan free zone and IFZA free zone
- the business needs land, heavy storage or port and airport logistics: compare the other Sharjah free zones, such as SHAMS, SAIF Zone and SRTIP, before choosing
- the activity is commodities trading under a DMCC-regulated activity: see DMCC business setup
- the company must invoice mainland customers directly without a distributor: see Sharjah mainland license
SPC’s published licence fees are lower than First Idea’s Dubai package totals. The gap narrows once a visa, a facility and banking assistance are added, and the itemised quote shows the difference for your case.
How SPC Free Zone company setup works, step by step
| Step | Who does it | What you provide |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Activity and name check | You and First Idea, using SPC’s activity list and SPC’s name check | Your activities and two or three name options |
| 2. Application and documents filed on SPC’s portal | First Idea | The documents in the table below |
| 3. SPC’s fees paid; SPC issues the licence and formation documents (its setup guide lists the business licence, certificate of formation, memorandum of association, share certificate and lease or co-working agreement) | SPC | Payment of SPC’s fees |
| 4. Establishment card and e-channel registration | First Idea with SPC | Signatures where SPC asks for them |
| 5. Residence visa: allocation, entry permit or change of status, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics | First Idea with SPC; you attend the medical test and biometrics | Passport, photo, and your presence in the UAE |
| 6. Business bank account file | First Idea prepares it after the Emirates ID is issued; the bank decides | The originals listed in the banking section |
SPC confirms timing for your activity. Activities that need an outside approval take longer.
| Document | Individual shareholder, manager or director | Corporate shareholder |
|---|---|---|
| Passport copy | Yes | For the authorised person, plus copies for all shareholders and managers |
| Entry stamp copy, or UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copies if resident | Yes | For the authorised person |
| Two passport photos | Yes, for the immigration card | For the authorised person |
| Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement) | If applicable | If applicable |
| Certificate of formation or incorporation | No | Yes |
| Certificate of incumbency or good standing | No | Where applicable |
| Memorandum of association and board resolution | No | Yes |
| Degree certificate | Where the activity requires it | Where the activity requires it |
Foreign corporate documents are normally attested before filing. First Idea confirms SPC’s current requirement for your country before collecting them.
Visas and facilities in SPC Free Zone
| Item | Fee | SPC page |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 per visa | Pay as you go; FAQ |
| Establishment card | AED 640 | Pay as you go |
| E-channel registration | AED 2,280 | Pay as you go |
| Investor visa with Emirates ID | AED 2,530 | Pay as you go |
| Employment visa with Emirates ID | AED 3,700 | Cost calculator |
| Change of status, if inside the UAE | AED 700 | Pay as you go |
| Medical test | AED 365 | Pay as you go |
SPC’s pay-as-you-go page and FAQ say investor, partner and employee visas are unlimited, and they can be added at registration or later. The visa count for your activity and facility is confirmed with SPC at application.
SPC also processes spouse and dependants visas. First Idea quotes that work in writing. Send your business activity and the number of visas you need on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
| Facility | From |
|---|---|
| Co-working space | Offered by SPC; no rate shown, confirmed in your quote |
| Furnished office | AED 900 per sqm |
| Unfurnished office | AED 750 per sqm |
| Shell and core | AED 550 per sqm |
| Retail | AED 480 per sqm |
| Storage | AED 480 per sqm |
| Warehouse | AED 480 per sqm |
SPC’s page does not say whether these rates are monthly or yearly, so the period is confirmed in your quote.
Opening a bank account for an SPC company
Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank’s requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
What a bank looks at for an SPC licence:
- the licensed activity
- shareholder nationality and residence
- source of funds
- expected turnover and counterparties
- whether the company has a co-working space or an office
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Company incorporation documents | Complete original set |
| Passport | Original |
| Emirates ID | Original, so the account comes after the residence visa |
| Bank statement | Stamped, 6 to 12 months, local or international |
| Tenancy contract | |
| Utility bill | Showing your address |
| CV | Updated |
| Business plan | With a list of potential clients inside or outside the UAE |
| Company stamp |
You attend the bank meeting in person. SPC’s banking page and FAQ say physical presence is required at stages such as the meeting with the bank representative, and that SPC does not allow authority to be given to its agents by power of attorney.
See our bank account opening assistance and our guide to choosing a business bank account in UAE.
Renewing an SPC Free Zone licence
No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
At renewal SPC charges for the licence, e-channel registration, the establishment card and the facility lease. Residence visas run on their own cycle. SPC quotes the renewal fees. SPC’s FAQ says renewal is submitted through the customer portal with the required documents and payment, and that late renewal can bring fines and possible suspension of business activities (SPC Free Zone FAQ, checked 15 September 2026). For the Dubai side, see trade license renewal Dubai.
Tax and yearly compliance
0% personal income tax. Corporate tax is 9% only on profit above AED 375,000, and registration is included in every package from Standard upward.
Standard and Premium are First Idea’s Meydan and IFZA packages. For an SPC company, corporate tax registration is itemised in your written quote. Check the corporate tax registration deadline for a new company.
Is SPC Free Zone legitimate?
Yes. You can check it on official sources rather than on reviews:
- The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism publishes a licensing authority profile for Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority, established in 2017 by Royal Decree of the Ruler of Sharjah.
- The Sharjah Book Authority presents Sharjah Publishing City as its publishing free zone and links to SPC’s website.
- SPC’s own about page describes it as a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority.
How to protect yourself with any consultant:
- ask for SPC’s fees shown separately from the consultant’s fee, and compare them with spcfz.ae
- make sure the licence and formation documents are issued by SPC in your company’s name
- keep your own login to SPC’s customer portal
Reviews describe individual service experiences, while whether SPC is a real authority is answered by the government sources above. Reviews of First Idea Consultant LLC are on our Google Business Profile.
Setting up an SPC company from abroad, including from India
Before you travel:
- activity and name check
- documents sent by email
- the application on SPC’s portal and payment of SPC’s fees
- the licence and formation documents
In the UAE:
- entry on the entry permit issued through your company
- the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics
- the bank meeting, in person
Documents from abroad follow the individual and corporate lists above. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check them on icp.gov.ae and u.ae. Meetings in Dubai are at Office 812, ParkLane Tower, Park Regis, Business Bay.
SPC Free Zone or a Dubai free zone?
| SPC Free Zone | Meydan Free Zone | IFZA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate on the licence | Sharjah | Dubai | Dubai |
| Licensing authority | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority | Meydan Free Zone | International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) |
| Authority’s published entry fee on this page | One-year licence, no visa, from AED 5,750; AED 6,875 for Standard activities (SPC Free Zone published, checked 15 September 2026) | Not shown here | Not shown here |
| First Idea price in writing | On quotation | Premium AED 28,136: company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance | Premium AED 28,436: company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance |
| Licence renewal | See “Renewing an SPC Free Zone licence” above | See the Meydan page | See the IFZA page |
Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank’s requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
Read more on Meydan free zone and IFZA free zone, or compare entry prices on our cheapest free zone license in UAE page.
FAQ
Is SPC Free Zone a government free zone, and is it legitimate?
Yes. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism publishes a licensing authority profile for Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority, established in 2017 by Royal Decree of the Ruler of Sharjah, and SPC describes itself as a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority. Compare any consultant’s quote with the fees SPC publishes on spcfz.ae before you pay.
Where do SPC Free Zone companies log in?
SPC’s customer portal login is at portal.spcfz.ae/frontend/login/. Licence holders use it for SPC services, and SPC’s FAQ says licence renewals are submitted there. First Idea Consultant LLC files through the portal for clients but does not run it.
How much does an SPC Free Zone licence cost?
SPC publishes a one-year licence with no visa from AED 5,750, and its activity list prices Standard category activities at AED 6,875 and Electronic Publishing activities at AED 4,999 (SPC Free Zone published, checked 15 September 2026). Visa allocation, the establishment card, e-channel registration, the visa and the medical test are added, and so is any office. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
How many activities and visas can an SPC licence have?
Up to five activities on one licence, per SPC’s pay-as-you-go page. SPC says investor, partner and employee visas are unlimited, each needing a visa allocation (AED 1,600 per visa, SPC Free Zone published, checked 15 September 2026) plus the visa, medical test and Emirates ID. The count for your activity is confirmed with SPC. Send your business activity and the number of visas you need on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Where is Sharjah Publishing City?
At E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Al Zahia, Sharjah, according to SPC’s contact page; the Ministry of Economy and Tourism profile places it near Al Zahia City Centre. First Idea Consultant LLC meets clients at Office 812, ParkLane Tower, Park Regis, Business Bay, Dubai.
Can I set up an SPC company from India without travelling?
The licence stage can be done from abroad with a passport copy, photos and proof of address. The residence visa needs you in the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, and banks meet applicants in person. Entry rules for your passport are on icp.gov.ae and u.ae.
What does it cost to renew an SPC Free Zone licence?
SPC charges its own renewal fees for the licence, e-channel registration, the establishment card and the facility, and SPC quotes them. No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
How does SPC compare with other Sharjah free zones?
SPC is the Sharjah free zone built around publishing, and it publishes a licence price for each activity category on its own website. Other Sharjah free zones set their own fees, so compare each zone’s published figures with the zone’s name and the date you checked.
Send us your business activity and how many visas you need. Amir comes back with SPC licence options and a written cost breakdown, and we reply on WhatsApp within a couple of hours.
WhatsApp Amir about an SPC Free Zone company
First Idea Consultant LLC, Office 812, ParkLane Tower, Park Regis, Business Bay, Dubai. Call or WhatsApp +971 56 500 6694. Amir Aslam, Founder.
