Set up a trading, service or industrial company in Hamriyah Free Zone, from a small office to industrial land. PROXPAT matches the facility and licence to your operation and handles visas.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Hamriyah Free Zone Company Formation
Hamriyah Free Zone, run by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) in Sharjah, is built around port and industrial infrastructure. It suits businesses that need warehouses or land as well as those that only need an office.
HFZA licenses trading, service and industrial companies, leases offices, warehouses and industrial land, and says a licence can be issued within an hour once documents are complete. The facts below come from HFZA's published setup pages and FAQs.
PROXPAT helps you choose the entity, licence and facility, prepare documents, and move on to the establishment card and visas.
HFZA at a Glance
| Topic | What HFZA publishes |
|---|---|
| Location | Sharjah, P.O. Box 1377 |
| Ownership | No local partner required |
| Entity types | FZE, FZC, or a branch or subsidiary of a local or foreign company |
| Licence types | Commercial, service and industrial |
| Basic licence cost | AED 11,000 (USD 3,000) |
| Licence issuance | Within one hour of submitting complete documents |
| Facilities | Offices, pre-built warehouses, industrial land, port facilities and staff accommodation, all leased |
| Virtual options | Hamriyah Business Centre (HBC) and e-office packages |
| On-site services | Banks, restaurants, supermarkets, a gym, Emirates Post, currency exchange and typing centres |
Entity Types
| Entity | Owners | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Free Zone Establishment (FZE) | One shareholder, a natural or juridical person | Distinct legal entity with independent financial liability |
| Free Zone Company (FZC) | Two or more shareholders | Distinct legal entity with independent financial liability |
| Branch or subsidiary | A local or foreign parent company | Registered for the parent's operations in the zone |
Opening a branch of an overseas company? See branch of a foreign company.
Licence Types
| Licence | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Commercial: trading | Importing, exporting, selling, distributing and storing the items on the licence |
| Commercial: general trading | Trading without a limit on product types |
| Commercial: e-commerce | Trading through electronic networks |
| Service | Carrying out the services or consultancy listed in the contract |
| Industrial | Importing raw materials, manufacturing, processing and assembling, and exporting finished products |
HFZA states there are no restrictions on importing and exporting goods approved under the licence terms. Customs registration is still needed to clear goods; see customs code registration.
Office Packages and Visa Allocations
| Package | Space | Visas |
|---|---|---|
| START UP | Office package for 1 shareholder and 3 activities | 1 visa |
| SMART BUSINESS (packages 1 to 4) | 10 sqm | 4 to 7 visas |
| DELUXE BUSINESS (packages 1 to 4) | 12 sqm | 2 to 6 visas |
| STANDARD | 15 to 20 sqm | 7 to 8 visas |
| SUPREME | 25 to 40 sqm | 8 to 12 visas |
Visa numbers are tied to the facility, so plan headcount before choosing a package. HBC and e-office options suit businesses that do not need a physical office.
Warehouses and Industrial Land
- Warehouses: pre-built units of 200, 400 and 600 square metres.
- Industrial land: plots from 2,500 square metres on a 25-year renewable lease.
- Lease only: HFZA facilities are available for lease, not purchase.
- Port and accommodation: port facilities and staff accommodation are also available.
Industrial projects usually need approvals beyond the licence, so check them before committing to land. See government approvals.
Documents HFZA Lists
| Applicant | Documents |
|---|---|
| Shareholders and managers | Passport copies, and a copy of the visit visa or, for UAE employment visa holders, the sponsor's approval |
| Branches of existing companies | Parent company licence, certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, and a board resolution |
Parent company documents from abroad need legalisation. See certificate attestation.
Hamriyah Compared With Nearby Free Zones
| Zone | Published points | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Hamriyah Free Zone | Basic licence AED 11,000; offices, warehouses and 25-year land leases | This page |
| SPC Free Zone | Pay-as-you-go licence AED 6,875, no visa, up to 5 activities | SPC guide |
| Shams | LLC without "FZ" in the name; up to 50 visas per licence | Shams guide |
| RAKEZ | Basic package AED 6,000; industrial and warehouse facilities | RAKEZ guide |
| Ajman Free Zone | Industrial and national industry licences | Ajman guide |
For SAIF Zone and the Sharjah mainland, see Sharjah company formation.
How PROXPAT Helps
Licence type and activity selection
Office, warehouse or land comparison
Visa planning by facility
Shareholder and branch documents
HFZA application and licence issuance
Establishment card and visas
Customs registration for trading
Renewals and amendments
Frequently Asked Questions
Build an operation with room to grow.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
The licence is the start of the government work, not the end of it
Once the trade licence is issued, the sequence that actually lets you operate begins: the establishment card, the MOHRE and immigration files, your employee quota, then employee visas and work permits. After that it repeats every year — renewals, cancellations when people leave, and licence renewal and amendments.
Companies that would rather not build that function in-house put it on a monthly PRO retainer from AED 700, or use it per transaction. Government fees stay separate and itemised either way.
The first six months after incorporation
- Establishment card issued through immigration
- MOHRE file opened and e-signature completed
- Employee quota checked before hiring
- Offer letters, work permits and entry permits
- Medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping
- Corporate tax and VAT registration where they apply
More in Free Zones
Set Up Your Company in Hamriyah Free Zone
PROXPAT matches the licence and facility to your operation, prepares the HFZA application and handles the establishment card, visas and renewals.