Sharjah had emerged as one of the major industrially developed cities found worldwide. To set up a foreign trade in Sharjah requires the helping hand of Sharjah LLC (Limited Liability Company) initially. The investor can open a local corporate bank account located nearby his/her business premises with the help of recognized business consultants. The application form has to be submitted to the Sharjah Economic Development Department along with the attested Articles of Association and Sharjah bank certificate. The next step is the registering the trade with the trade license in the Commercial Registration Department of the Sharjah Economic Development Department.

The major commercial areas in Sharjah ideal for foreign investors are the free zones and SAIF zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone). Among the various free zones in Sharjah the Hamriyah Free zone had attracted many foreign investors offering low costs options. The zone offers 100% ownership to the investors and exempts taxes related to corporation, personal income, export and import as well as duties and several other value added solutions. The zone offers three important efficiencies such as staff efficiency, IT efficiency and communications efficiency to investors. The zone also houses a 14 m deep-water harbor and about 92 stockrooms to facilitate the business owners.

The FZE (Free Zone Establishment) is a single shareholder limited liability company, which can be established in Hamriyah Free Zone. The minimum capital requirement for establishing a FZE is approximately USD40, 000 (Dhs.150, 000). A Free Zone Company (FZC) is somewhat similar to FZE but with maximum of five shareholders. The main characteristics of a Free Zone establishment and Free Zone Company include

1) They both are the limited liability units

2) The registration and incorporation charges amounts to Dhs.9,000

3) Not only individuals even companies can establish FZE and FZCs in Hamriyah Free Zone.

4) Both free zone establishment and company have to acquire a Free zone license after registration and incorporation.

5) A Free Zone Establishment will have a single shareholder where as the Free Zone Company will have maximum of five shareholders.

6) The minimum share capital fund for incorporating FZE and FZC is AED.150,000 and the fund can be utilized for business.

7) Shares should not be transferred to other names without prior approval from Hamriyah Free zone.

8) Usually financial periods are from January to December. Initially the year starts from the date of Incorporation.

Sharjah is the 3rd largest Emirate in the United Arab Emirates. As per Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation had announced the commencement of Sharjah Aviation Services to support the ongoing expansion of the Sharjah International Airport. Sharjah International Airport plays a major role in industrial growth within the city.

It serves as a cargo hub that transports huge industrial products to other countries and it is the rapidly developing airport free zone in Sharjah. The zone commenced in the year 1995 and presently it houses more than 2,496 companies. These companies belong to 92 different countries engaged in the businesses like Aviation, Trading, services and Industrial products.