Free Zone Comparison
SAIF Zone vs HFZA
Both Sharjah, both under AED 13,500 — but that's where the similarity ends. SAIF Zone gives you Sharjah Airport for air freight and trading. Hamriyah gives you a deep-water port for heavy industry. Pick the one that matches your supply chain.
SAIF Zone
Sharjah
AED 13,100
Year 1 from
HFZA
Sharjah
AED 12,000
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
- ● Choose HFZA if cost is your priority — AED 1,100 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose HFZA if you need more visas — up to 50
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
Both sit in Sharjah and target logistics operators, but they serve different supply chains. SAIF Zone at AED 13,100 sits adjacent to Sharjah International Airport — purpose-built for air freight, trading, and warehousing. Hamriyah at AED 12,000 connects to Sharjah's deep-water seaport — built for manufacturing, maritime, and heavy industry. The AED 1,100 gap is negligible; your cargo route decides.
SAIF Zone markets 1-hour license issuance and offers warehouses from AED 48,000/year near the airport runway. Hamriyah offers industrial land from 2,500 sqm and warehouses from AED 85,000/year with port access. Both require annual audits. SAIF Zone lists six banking partners; Hamriyah lists banks through its broader network. Both offer dual licensing through Sharjah's framework. SAIF Zone scales to 8 visas; Hamriyah scales to 50 on industrial facilities. For air-freight traders and logistics operators, SAIF Zone's airport adjacency is irreplaceable. For manufacturers who ship by sea, Hamriyah's port ecosystem is the only Sharjah option.
SAIF Zone vs HFZA at a Glance
| Metric | SAIF Zone | HFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | Sharjah |
| Year 1 From | AED 13,100 | AED 12,000 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 13,350 | AED 12,000 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 4.1/5 🏆 | ★ 4.0/5 |
| Max Visas | 8 | 50 🏆 |
| Processing Time | 10 days | 10 days |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 1995 | 1995 |
| Companies | 8,000+ | 6,500+ |
Year 1 From
SAIF Zone
AED 13,100
HFZA
AED 12,000
Renewal From
SAIF Zone
AED 13,350
HFZA
AED 12,000
Rating
SAIF Zone
4.1/5
HFZA
4.0/5
Max Visas
SAIF Zone
8
HFZA
50
Processing
SAIF Zone
10 days
HFZA
10 days
Banking
SAIF Zone
Moderate
HFZA
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
SAIF Zone Packages
Sharjah · 4 packages
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — No Visa
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,100
Year 1
Renewal: AED 13,350/yr
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — 1 Visa
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 18,670
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,550/yr
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — 3 Visas
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 29,810
Year 1
Renewal: AED 16,950/yr
SAIF Suite (Private Office) — 8 Visas
Up to 8 visas · Private Office
AED 75,510
Year 1
Renewal: AED 22,950/yr
HFZA Packages
Sharjah · 4 packages
Business Center Package 1 (Zero-Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 12,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,000/yr
Business Center Package 1 (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 15,785
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,000/yr
4-Visa Office Package (2 Visas Processed)
Up to 2 visas · Private Office
AED 23,870
Year 1
Renewal: AED 16,300/yr
General Trading 7-Visa Package
Up to 7 visas · Private Office
AED 58,995
Year 1
Renewal: AED 32,500/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SAIF Zone | HFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Physical Office Required | Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Audit Required | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose SAIF Zone if you...
- ✓ Want import/export traders
- ✓ Want logistics & freight
- ✓ Want light manufacturing & assembly
- ✓ Want warehousing
- ✓ Want smes
Choose HFZA if you...
- ✓ Want manufacturing
- ✓ Want industrial & heavy industry
- ✓ Want logistics
- ✓ Want warehousing
- ✓ Want import/export trading
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 1,100 less)
Pros & Cons
SAIF Zone
Pros
- ✓ Low entry pricing: standard SAIF Office package widely quoted at AED 10,800/year with flexi-desk and 3-visa eligibility
- ✓ Ultra-fast licensing: SAIF markets license issuance within 1 hour once documents and payments are finalized
- ✓ Clear facility-to-visa logic: SAIF Office (3 visas), Executive Office (5), Suite (8)
- ✓ Strategic logistics location adjacent to Sharjah International Airport and close to major ports
Cons
- ✗ Official pricing not consistently published on SAIF website — often obtained via quote or consultant
- ✗ Visa/immigration costs add up quickly: ~AED 4,370 per visa plus ~AED 1,200 insurance per person
- ✗ Activity list not openly published — availability must be checked with SAIF/agent
- ✗ Mainland UAE sales require a distributor/agent or mainland branch structure
HFZA
Pros
- ✓ Entry package from AED 11,000/year with 1-visa provision — competitive for industrial zones
- ✓ Scalable visa tiers: e-office packages from AED 20,000–35,000/year with up to 7 visas
- ✓ Industrial facilities: warehouses from AED 85,000–150,000 with office space included
- ✓ Industrial land plots starting from 2,500 sq m for manufacturing and assembly
Cons
- ✗ Published package prices exclude visa-related costs and P.O. box (~AED 1,000/year) — budget accordingly
- ✗ Package pricing can differ across brokers; always confirm directly with HFZA
- ✗ Sharjah location lacks the prestige of a Dubai address for client-facing businesses
- ✗ Industrial/regulated sectors may require additional approvals and inspections
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, SAIF Zone or HFZA?
HFZA is cheaper by AED 1,100 in Year 1. HFZA starts from AED 12,000 while SAIF Zone starts from AED 13,100. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between SAIF Zone and HFZA?
SAIF Zone is based in Sharjah and is best for Import/Export Traders, Logistics & Freight, Light Manufacturing & Assembly. HFZA is based in Sharjah and is best for Manufacturing, Industrial & Heavy Industry, Logistics. SAIF Zone starts from AED 13,100 while HFZA starts from AED 12,000.
Which has easier banking, SAIF Zone or HFZA?
Both SAIF Zone and HFZA 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 SAIF Zone vs HFZA?
SAIF Zone supports up to 8 visas, while HFZA supports up to 50 visas. HFZA offers more visa capacity.
Is SAIF Zone or HFZA better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose SAIF Zone if you want import/export traders focus and a Sharjah address. Choose HFZA if you need manufacturing support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.