Free Zone Comparison
AFZ vs SHAMS 2026
AED 5,555 versus AED 5,750 — a difference of AED 195 that barely matters. What does matter: Ajman covers general trading and manufacturing, SHAMS focuses on media and services. Pick the one that matches your activity, not the one that saves you lunch money.
By Daniel Harmon, Senior Editor
AFZ
Ajman
AED 5,555
Year 1 from
CheaperSHAMS
Sharjah
AED 5,750
Year 1 from
Quick Verdict
- ● Choose AFZ if cost is your priority — AED 195 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose SHAMS if you need more visas — up to 20
- ● Choose AFZ for overall quality — rated 4.4/5
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
AED 5,555 versus AED 5,750 — a AED 195 difference that means nothing in practice. What matters: Ajman covers 3,500+ activities including general trading, manufacturing, and e-commerce. SHAMS focuses on 120+ media and services activities. If you're a freelance content creator, SHAMS is purpose-built. If you need trading or manufacturing activities, Ajman is the only option between the two.
Both skip the annual audit requirement — a shared advantage that saves AED 3,000-10,000 per year. Ajman processes visas in 4 days; SHAMS takes 4-5. Nearly identical. Ajman has 25,000 companies and a 38-year track record; SHAMS has 13,500 clients since 2017. Ajman lists five banking partners; SHAMS lists four. SHAMS supports up to 20 visas versus Ajman's 8 — a significant advantage for businesses planning to hire. Neither requires a physical office. For media and creative work, SHAMS's specialised licensing and higher visa ceiling win. For everything else, Ajman's 38-year credibility and broader activity range make it the safer pick.
AFZ vs SHAMS at a Glance
| Metric | AFZ | SHAMS |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ajman | Sharjah |
| Year 1 From | AED 5,555 🏆 | AED 5,750 |
| Renewal From | AED 5,555 🏆 | AED 5,750 |
| Rating | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Max Visas | 10 | 20 🏆 |
| Processing Time | 5 days | 5 days |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 1988 | 2017 |
| Companies | 20,000+ | 13,500+ |
Year 1 From
AFZ
AED 5,555
SHAMS
AED 5,750
Renewal From
AFZ
AED 5,555
SHAMS
AED 5,750
Rating
AFZ
4.4/5
SHAMS
4.1/5
Max Visas
AFZ
10
SHAMS
20
Processing
AFZ
5 days
SHAMS
5 days
Banking
AFZ
Moderate
SHAMS
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
AFZ Packages
Ajman · 4 packages
Starter No Visa Package
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 5,555
Year 1
Renewal: AED 5,555/yr
Starter 1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,159
Year 1
Renewal: AED 7,759/yr
Growth 2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 17,713
Year 1
Renewal: AED 8,113/yr
Team 3 Visa Package
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 22,267
Year 1
Renewal: AED 8,467/yr
SHAMS Packages
Sharjah · 5 packages
Media License (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 5,750
Year 1
Renewal: AED 5,750/yr
Standard License (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 6,875
Year 1
Renewal: AED 6,875/yr
Flexi-Desk + 1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 19,620
Year 1
Renewal: AED 15,520/yr
Flexi-Desk + 2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 26,015
Year 1
Renewal: AED 21,915/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AFZ | SHAMS |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audit Required | Required | Not Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose AFZ if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want trading smes
- ✓ Want cost-sensitive startups
- ✓ Want light manufacturing
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 195 less)
Choose SHAMS if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want media & creative
- ✓ Want consultants
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want bootstrapped startups
Pros & Cons
AFZ
Pros
- ✓ Official AFZ marketing for the e-commerce package starts at AED 5,555, and Virtuzone lists the same AFZ starting price, keeping AFZ among the cheapest mainstream UAE free zones.
- ✓ AFZ publicly advertises 3,500+ activities, which is broader than many low-cost free zones and useful if you need multiple activities on one license.
- ✓ Setup is genuinely fast for simple cases: multiple 2026 consultancies put license issuance at about 1–3 business days or 2–5 working days, and AFZ runs a fully digital customer portal and One-Click flow.
- ✓ Flexi/co-working formats make entry easier: market tables commonly show virtual/flexi packages for 0, 1, 2, and 3 visas, while AFZ’s freelancer hub officially allows up to 2 visas and family sponsorship.
Cons
- ✗ Public data transparency is uneven. AFZ has a cost calculator, but it does not publish a simple official 2026 package table, so buyers still depend on quotes, consultants, or portal flows to see full costs.
- ✗ Banking is easier than in some small northern-emirate setups because AFZ has partners, but it is still the longest step in practice; 2026 market sources commonly say 2–4 weeks after license issuance, with more friction for higher-risk profiles.
- ✗ Visa-related charges are not cleanly standardized in the market. Recent sources disagree on what is bundled, what excludes health insurance, and whether establishment/e-channel/security items are quoted separately.
- ✗ AFZ’s own FAQ says e-commerce license holders must add a different import/export activity or different license if they want to import goods, so the cheapest e-commerce package is not the same thing as a full trading/import setup.
SHAMS
Pros
- ✓ Low entry pricing — business licenses from AED 5,750 (0-visa)
- ✓ Fully digital setup: entire process is online (application, payment, license issuance)
- ✓ Up to five business activities under one license, even across sectors
- ✓ Visa scalability: up to 20 visas per license depending on package and facility
Cons
- ✗ Pricing fragmentation: multiple starting points (AED 5,750 vs AED 6,875) and agent bundles differ — expect quote variance
- ✗ Visa process costs inconsistently quoted across sources — confirm latest fee schedule during onboarding
- ✗ Banking friction remains real: partner introductions help, but KYC can extend timelines to weeks
- ✗ Activity count (120+) is smaller than mega free zones with thousands of activities
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFZ or SHAMS?
AFZ is cheaper by AED 195 in Year 1. AFZ starts from AED 5,555 while SHAMS starts from AED 5,750. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between AFZ and SHAMS?
AFZ is based in Ajman and is best for Freelancers, E-commerce, Trading SMEs. SHAMS is based in Sharjah and is best for Freelancers, Media & Creative, Consultants. AFZ starts from AED 5,555 while SHAMS starts from AED 5,750.
Which has easier banking, AFZ or SHAMS?
Both AFZ and SHAMS are rated "Moderate" for banking difficulty, meaning there is no significant difference in how easily you can open a corporate bank account.
How many visas can I get with AFZ vs SHAMS?
AFZ supports up to 10 visas, while SHAMS supports up to 20 visas. SHAMS offers more visa capacity.
Is AFZ or SHAMS better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose AFZ if you want freelancers focus and lower costs. Choose SHAMS if you need freelancers support and a Sharjah address. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.
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