Free Zone Comparison
SHAMS vs AMC
Ajman Media City at AED 4,999 undercuts SHAMS at AED 5,750 — but only by AED 751. SHAMS has a bigger freelancer community and broader media activity coverage. Ajman offers the lower renewal. If you're a content creator choosing between them, SHAMS is the safer pick.
SHAMS
Sharjah
AED 5,750
Year 1 from
AMC
Ajman
AED 4,999
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
- ● Choose AMC if cost is your priority — AED 751 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose SHAMS if you need more visas — up to 20
- ● Choose AMC for overall quality — rated 4.4/5
- ● Choose AMC for faster setup — 3 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
Ajman Media City's AED 4,999 entry is the cheapest media license in the UAE — AED 751 less than SHAMS at AED 5,750. With one visa, the gap widens slightly: AMC's Visionary package totals AED 13,999 versus SHAMS's flexi desk plus visa at AED 19,620. On renewals, AMC holds at AED 9,999 (including insurance) while SHAMS renews the 1-visa package at AED 15,520. Over three years, AMC saves roughly AED 16,563 on the 1-visa setup.
SHAMS counters with a larger community — 13,500 active clients versus AMC's 12,000 — and faster visa processing at 4-5 working days versus AMC's 3. Both skip the audit requirement, a shared advantage that saves thousands in annual compliance costs. AMC lists six banking partners (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAKBANK, Wio Bank, ADIB, FAB) versus SHAMS's four (Wio, Mashreq Neo, Mashreq NeoBiz, RAKBANK). AMC also supports up to 10 visas versus SHAMS's 20. If raw cost matters most, AMC wins. If community size and visa headroom matter, SHAMS has the edge.
SHAMS vs AMC at a Glance
| Metric | SHAMS | AMC |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | Ajman |
| Year 1 From | AED 5,750 | AED 4,999 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 5,750 | AED 4,999 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 4.1/5 | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 20 🏆 | 10 |
| Processing Time | 5 days | 3 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2017 | 2018 |
| Companies | 13,500+ | 12,000+ |
Year 1 From
SHAMS
AED 5,750
AMC
AED 4,999
Renewal From
SHAMS
AED 5,750
AMC
AED 4,999
Rating
SHAMS
4.1/5
AMC
4.4/5
Max Visas
SHAMS
20
AMC
10
Processing
SHAMS
5 days
AMC
3 days
Banking
SHAMS
Moderate
AMC
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
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
AMC Packages
Ajman · 4 packages
Business Club Package (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 4,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 4,999/yr
Visionary Package (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 9,999/yr
Pioneer Package (2 Visas)
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 19,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,999/yr
Prime Package (5 Visas)
Up to 5 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 39,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 23,500/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SHAMS | AMC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not Required | Not Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose SHAMS if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want media & creative
- ✓ Want consultants
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want bootstrapped startups
Choose AMC if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want content creators
- ✓ Want digital agencies
- ✓ Want bootstrapped startups
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 751 less)
Pros & Cons
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
AMC
Pros
- ✓ Extremely low entry pricing: Business Club (0 visa) is AED 4,999/year on AMC's official packages page
- ✓ Visa packages explicitly include establishment card, residency, medical, Emirates ID, status change, and e-channel registration
- ✓ Published renewal pricing: Visionary AED 8,999; Pioneer AED 10,999; Innovator AED 14,999; Prime AED 18,500
- ✓ Up to 10 shareholders per license and over 1,500+ licensed activities
Cons
- ✗ Add-ons (extra visas, activities, regulated approvals) can materially change totals beyond published package prices
- ✗ Medical and Emirates ID coverage boundaries not priced line-by-line — variance vs. agent quotes possible
- ✗ Banking can be challenging for low-substance setups — banks may request proof of operations and invoices
- ✗ Mainland onshore trading restricted without a mainland route-to-market or dual license
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, SHAMS or AMC?
AMC is cheaper by AED 751 in Year 1. AMC starts from AED 4,999 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 SHAMS and AMC?
SHAMS is based in Sharjah and is best for Freelancers, Media & Creative, Consultants. AMC is based in Ajman and is best for Freelancers, Content Creators, Digital Agencies. SHAMS starts from AED 5,750 while AMC starts from AED 4,999.
Which has easier banking, SHAMS or AMC?
Both SHAMS and AMC 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 SHAMS vs AMC?
SHAMS supports up to 20 visas, while AMC supports up to 10 visas. SHAMS offers more visa capacity.
Is SHAMS or AMC better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose SHAMS if you want freelancers focus and a Sharjah address. Choose AMC if you need freelancers support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.