Free Zone Limited Liability Company LLCUAE · Sharjah Media City (SHAMS)
What it takes to form, own and run a private limited company in UAE · Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), and how its profit is taxed. Each figure links to the page it was read from.
This company type
At a glance
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it has to contribute in respect of its Shares in the Company.
The registry’s and the law’s own pages do not mention it.
The registry’s and the law’s own pages do not mention it.
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A Free Zone Person is a juridical person that is incorporated, established, or otherwise
Form it
Who registers it
- Registry
- Formed without visiting
- Yes
- Formed online
- Yes
What it takes to form
- A notary
- Not stated
The registry’s and the law’s own pages do not mention it.
- A resident director
- Not required
- Paying up the capital
- A share must be paid in full when allotted unless the Authority authorises a partly paid share; no minimum amount is stated.
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A share must be paid in full by a Shareholder when allotted,
Own it
Who may own and run it
- Directors
- At least 1 · individuals only
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A Company shall at all times have at least one Director
- Shareholders
- At least 1 · at most 50 · a company may be one
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minimum of one (1) and a maximum of fifty (50) Shareholders.
- Members
- At least 1 · at most 50 · one person may form it alone
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minimum of one (1) and a maximum of fifty (50) Shareholders.
- A local company secretary
- Not required
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A Corporate Entity may have a Secretary.
- A local registered agent
- Not required
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A Corporate Entity shall at all times have a registered address in the City
Each year, at the registry
- Annual registry fee
- Not stated
The registry’s and the law’s own pages do not mention it.
- Accounts on the public record
- Not stated
The registry’s and the law’s own pages do not mention it.
- Audit for a small company
- Required
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and must be examined and reported on by an auditor.
- Audit
- Accounts must be examined and reported on by an auditor approved by the Authority (art. 62.3); no small-company exemption is stated in the Regulations.
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and must be examined and reported on by an auditor.
Important dates
When each obligation falls due, as the authority states it.
- First annual General Meeting
- 18 months after incorporation
With Held by the company
Unless a shorter duration is in the Memorandum (art. 40.1); once every 12 months thereafter.
- Notify the Authority of the appointment, removal or resignation of a Director or Manager
- 15 days after change of officers
With Sharjah Media City Free Zone Authority
Fifteen Business Days (art. 16.1(b)); a change of Secretary is also fifteen Business Days (art. 38.7).
- Renew the licence before its term expires
- Not in our records
With Sharjah Media City Free Zone Authority
Not stated on shamsfz.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Shams-Companies-and-Licensing-Regulations-2024-1.pdf when checked
What is public
- Beneficial owners
- To the authorities only
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The Beneficial Ownership and Shareholding register is currently not available to the public
Tax
Tax on profit
How this company type is taxed, which can differ from its place’s headline rate.
Varies · 9%+3 regimes
UAE Corporate Tax applies to a Free Zone Person; a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on Qualifying Income and 9% on taxable income that is not Qualifying Income (FTA Free Zone Persons guide, s3.3). Shams's own pages do not state tax treatment; whether Sharjah Media City is a designated Free Zone for Qualifying Free Zone Person status was not read in the Cabinet decision.
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A Free Zone Person is a juridical person that is incorporated, established, or otherwise
Special regimes that may apply
- Qualifying Free Zone Person free zone · 0%
A qualifying free zone person Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses, art. 18 - Participation Exemption holding · 100% exempt
Taxable persons holding a Participating Interest — a 5% or greater ownership interest in the shares or capital of a juridical person, held or intended to be held for at least twelve uninterrupted months Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses, art. 23 - Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption other
Resident persons with foreign permanent establishments Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses, art. 24
Whether a company qualifies depends on its activity and conditions set in each statute.
- CFC rules in United Arab Emirates
- Not in our records
Close it
Closing it
The other end, which most guides leave out.
- Route
- Shareholders' voluntary liquidation, creditors' voluntary liquidation or court-ordered winding up (Liquidation Regulations 2024 art. 3); a Special Resolution, statement of solvency and Liquidator lead to a cancellation certificate (art. 4).
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a Shareholder’s voluntary liquidation;
- Statutory fee
- Not in our records
Every business in UAE · Sharjah Media City (SHAMS)
VAT
- Standard rate
- 5%
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VAT 5% (AED)
- Other rates
- Not stated
- Registration threshold
- AED 375,000 · about €89,335
total value of taxable supplies and imports; previous 12 months, or expected within the next 30 days
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Businesses resident in the UAE: Registration for VAT is mandatory if: - The total value of taxable supplies and imports exceeds AED 375,000 over the past 12 months, or is expected to exceed that threshold within the next 30 days.
- Voluntary registration
- Yes
A resident business below the mandatory threshold may register voluntarily once its taxable supplies, imports or taxable expenses exceed AED 187,500 in the past 12 months or are expected to within 30 days.
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Businesses resident in the UAE that make taxable supplies may register voluntarily for VAT if: - The total value of taxable supplies, imports, or taxable expenses in the past 12 months, or expected in the next 30 days, exceeds AED 187,500 (the voluntary registration threshold).
- A foreign company
- Registers from its first taxable supply; no local representative required
A non-resident business must register for VAT if it makes taxable supplies in the UAE, even where the value of those supplies does not exceed the AED 375,000 threshold, unless another party in the UAE is responsible for settling the VAT on those supplies. Registration is made directly through an EmaraTax account; no representative is required.
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Non-resident businesses: VAT registration is mandatory if: - The business makes taxable supplies in the UAE, even if the value of supplies does not exceed the threshold, unless there is another party in the UAE responsible for settling the VAT on those supplies.
- Returns filed
- Depends on the business
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Once you have registered for VAT in the UAE, you are required to file your VAT return and make related VAT payments within 28 days from the end of your tax period.
- Tax authority
- Registration page read 2026-10-22
Portals and registers
- Business registerMinistry of Finance – Agreements Avoiding Double Taxation
- Tax authorityFederal Tax Authority (FTA)
- Tax treatiesCustoms and Port Security (ICP)
Payment and banking services
2 services name United Arab Emirates on their own list: Paysera, Stripe. Each provider, and what a listing means.
Reference
Its name and code
- Kind
- Private limited companyDerived our grouping, the same words in every country
- Name in law
- Free Zone Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Identifier
- AE-SHAMS-LLCA form ISO 20275 does not list.