SAIF Zone Free Zone Company Setup
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone - trading and light industrial licensing near Sharjah's airport, at a lower cost base than Dubai's airport-adjacent zones.
SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone) offers airport-adjacent trading and light industrial licensing at meaningfully lower cost than Dubai's equivalent zones. It won't match DAFZA's direct Dubai International Airport cargo scale, but for cost-conscious trading and light industrial businesses that still want airport proximity, it's a genuine middle ground.
Who SAIF Zone suits best
- Cost-conscious trading businesses wanting airport proximity
- Light industrial and assembly operations
- Import/export businesses comparing cost against DAFZA or JAFZA
- SMEs that don't need Dubai-specific zone prestige
Licensed activities
- General trading
- Light industrial and assembly
- Logistics and freight forwarding
- Import/export operations
Cost profile
SAIF Zone is positioned at the low-to-mid cost tier, taking advantage of Sharjah's lower overall cost base while still offering airport-adjacent logistics - a combination that's hard to match in Dubai at a similar price point.
What sets SAIF Zone apart
Cost-to-proximity ratio. SAIF Zone is one of the few UAE free zones offering genuine airport adjacency without Dubai-tier pricing, making it a practical middle option between low-cost inland zones and premium airport zones like DAFZA.
Setup process
Activity & licence match
We confirm your activity fits SAIF Zone's permitted activity list and licence category - weighted toward general trading, light industrial, and service activities, which is why most applications move through approval quickly.
Trade name reservation
Reserved directly with Sharjah Airport International Free Zone.
Application & documentation
Application form, passport copies, and Memorandum of Association submitted. Trading and light industrial activities are SAIF Zone's focus - most applications move quickly since the zone's activity list is built around these categories.
Licence issuance
The SAIF Zone trade licence is issued by Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority once documents and fees are finalised, without the additional regulatory sign-off some specialist zones require.
Office/facility & visa allocation
SAIF Zone sits directly next to Sharjah International Airport's cargo facility, offering warehouse and office packages at a lower cost tier than the equivalent Dubai-airport-adjacent option (DAFZA), with visa quota tied to facility size.
SAIF Zone questions, answered.
SAIF Zone is Sharjah-based and lower cost; DAFZA is Dubai-based, more expensive, and directly adjacent to Dubai International's larger cargo operation. SAIF Zone suits cost-conscious businesses; DAFZA suits those needing Dubai's specific cargo scale.
Yes - light industrial and assembly activities are among its core licensed categories, alongside general trading and logistics.
It can be, particularly if airport proximity matters to your supply chain and you want to keep costs below Dubai's airport-zone pricing.
Visa quota is tied to the office or warehouse package selected, in line with most UAE free zones - SAIF Zone's warehouse options near the airport cargo facility generally carry higher allocations than a standard desk package.
No - SAIF Zone applications are submitted directly to the free zone authority rather than through a third-party registered agent, which is one of the reasons the process moves quickly once documentation is ready.
Start your SAIF Zone company setup.
Tell us your activity and we'll confirm the right licence category, cost, and timeline for SAIF Zone.