SHAMS E-commerce License in 2026: Packages, Activities, Visas and What Sharjah Media City Does Not Publish

SHAMS, the Sharjah Media City free zone, does not publish a price for an e-commerce license. As of October 2026 its website lists a Media package and a Standard package, each with up to five business activities, a flexi desk and lease agreement and 100% foreign ownership, and tells you to speak to its team for the price. It does not sell a separate "e-commerce license". You choose an e-commerce-type activity on a Standard package license. This page sets out what SHAMS publishes, what is missing, and what to ask before you pay.

What does a SHAMS e-commerce license include?

SHAMS names two license packages:

For an online seller of goods, the Standard Package is the relevant one, because the Media Package is limited to media activities. Both state that no NOC is needed, and that "external approvals may apply depending on your business activity". The page also says all prices are inclusive of VAT.

SHAMS says its licenses come in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10-year durations in its calculator and advertises licenses "under 60 minutes". It also states that applications submitted after 11:00 AM count from the next working day.

How much does a SHAMS e-commerce license cost?

SHAMS does not say. The packages page lists no AED price and says: "Speak to our team to find the setup that fits your goals, budget, and timeline". The cost calculator lists the lines that make up a price: business license, e-channel registration, co-working space with a lease agreement, Emirates ID typing, immigration card, and investor and employee visas. But it shows placeholder values and states "The prices provided are estimates only".

Third-party consultancy prices are not SHAMS prices, so ignore them until SHAMS confirms a figure. For how to compare quotes across zones, see UAE e-commerce license cost.

The only AED amount we found on SHAMS's FAQ is a AED 2,100 refundable deposit when the last remaining shareholder's visa is cancelled.

Which activity should you choose at SHAMS?

SHAMS's business activities page shows "E-Commerce" under its popular business setup choices, and its FAQ lists e-commerce among approved activities, alongside consultancy, media and trading. The business activities directory we opened did not load a list, so it gave no e-commerce activity name or code, and no approval category for it.

What the activities page does say is that activities that need pre-approval are issued with a "Red License", and others need approval from the relevant external authority after the license is issued. So:

1. Ask SHAMS for the exact activity name and code that will print on your license.
2. Ask which approval category it falls into, and who the external authority is.
3. Pair it with an activity that names what you sell, such as trading in the product category, because marketplaces compare your license activity with your products. You can combine up to five on a Standard Package.

The UAE government adds that every e-commerce license needs approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Ask SHAMS who applies for it and what it costs.

How many visas can you get?

SHAMS says you may apply for up to 50 visas per license, depending on your business activity and office space allocation. The packages page does not say whether a visa is included in either package; it lists a separate dependent visa service for entry permit and status change processing, with no price. The calculator asks you for separate numbers of investor and employee visas, and says the medical test is paid directly to the medical centre.

SHAMS does not publish a price per visa on the pages we opened. A flexi desk usually limits the visa count; ask what your desk allows before you plan hires.

Can a SHAMS company sell to customers in the UAE?

This is the question to settle before paying. The UAE government says a free zone company can trade freely inside its zone and internationally, but direct sales in the mainland are generally not permitted unless it obtains the required mainland licenses or approvals. SHAMS's FAQ does not address mainland sales; it only describes its license as offering "a more mainland-like presence".

Read can a free zone company sell in mainland UAE and the free zone vs mainland comparison. If you plan to deliver to UAE consumers, ask SHAMS in writing which route it supports, whether through a distributor, a branch or a mainland license, and the price.

Do Amazon.ae and noon accept a SHAMS license?

Amazon.ae says you need a valid commercial license whether you operate from the mainland or a free zone. Amazon runs named partner programmes with some zones, such as Sharjah Publishing City; we did not find a SHAMS partner page among them, so you register the normal way.

noon requires a valid trade license that includes Sales, Trading, Manufacturing or Distribution/Wholesale, with at least 30 days of validity left. That is why the activity code matters. A media or consultancy-only license may fail the check. See how to sell on noon and how to sell on Amazon.ae.

What goes wrong with free zone e-commerce licenses in Sharjah?

• No activity code on the quote. You find out at marketplace onboarding that your license names only a general activity. Fix: ask for the code up front.
• E-channel and lease are separate lines. SHAMS says e-channel registration fees are charged separately where applicable. Fix: ask whether your quote includes them.
• Regulated products. Cosmetics, food and supplements need approvals your license does not give you. Fix: check Dubai Municipality product registration first.
• Assuming 0% tax. Free zone companies fall under corporate tax rules. Fix: read corporate tax for free zone e-commerce. This is general information, not tax advice; confirm with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).

FAQ

How much does a SHAMS e-commerce license cost? SHAMS does not publish a price. Its packages page says to speak to the team, and its calculator shows estimates only. Ask for a written quote with the license fee, e-channel registration, lease, visas and renewal price.

Is there a separate e-commerce license at SHAMS? Not that we found. SHAMS lists a Media Package and a Standard Package, and shows e-commerce as a popular setup choice and an approved activity. You choose the e-commerce activity on the license.

How long does a SHAMS license take? SHAMS advertises a license "under 60 minutes", and says applications after 11:00 AM count from the next working day. Visa, bank and approval steps take longer and are not given a fixed time.

Can I open a SHAMS company without living in the UAE? Yes, according to SHAMS. Its FAQ says you do not need to be a UAE resident to set up a company in the free zone, and its packages allow 100% foreign ownership. Ask whether every signing step can be done remotely for your case.

Can I add activities later? Yes. SHAMS's FAQ says business activities may be updated after incorporation, and that registered clients can also apply for a renewal with amendment to change activities at renewal. It does not publish the fee for adding an activity.

Do I need VAT registration with a SHAMS license? Only if you pass the FTA threshold. Mandatory registration is AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports, and voluntary registration starts at AED 187,500. See UAE VAT registration for sellers.

What to do next

Send SHAMS the products you sell and ask for the activity code, the all-in first-year price, the renewal price and its written position on selling to UAE customers. Compare the answer with Meydan and Ajman. When the license is ready, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner and Amazon Ads Advanced Partner, can run your Amazon.ae account management and noon account management.