Sharjah prices its licence fees as a percentage of your rent, which changes how you budget. PROXPAT handles SEDD transactions, work permits and residence steps for your company.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
PRO Services in Sharjah
In Sharjah, economic licences are issued by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), through its branches, its website, Tasheel service centres and the SEDD app. Labour transactions sit with MOHRE, and entry permits, residence and identity with the federal authority, ICP.
The detail that catches people out is how SEDD prices licences: as a percentage of the lease contract value or area, with a minimum, and with a different rate for citizens and for other nationalities. The figures below are published on SEDD's own service pages.
PROXPAT prepares and files these transactions, and keeps the licence, permits and residence dates aligned.
Who Handles What in Sharjah
| Transaction | Authority | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Economic licence, renewal and amendments | SEDD | SEDD branches, sedd.ae, Tasheel service centres, SEDD app |
| Work permits and employment contracts | MOHRE | MOHRE channels and approved service centres |
| Entry permits, residence and identity | ICP | ICP website and smart application |
| Electricity deposit and lease attestation | Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) | Required by SEDD before issuing a licence on leased premises |
For the company itself, see Sharjah company formation. Free zone options in the emirate are covered in SPC Free Zone, Shams and Hamriyah Free Zone.
Licence Issuance Fees Published by SEDD
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Licence issuance, citizens | 8% of the lease contract value or area, minimum AED 800 |
| Licence issuance, other nationalities | 13% of the lease contract value or area, minimum AED 1,300 |
| Trade name signboard permit | AED 200 |
| Commercial register certificate | AED 500 for sole proprietorship licences, AED 1,200 for industrial licences |
| Printing | AED 300 |
| E-services | AED 100 |
| Representative card | AED 300 |
| Technical evaluation | AED 150 |
SEDD also lists Legal Affairs Department fees that depend on the legal form: AED 550 to certify a service agent contract, AED 550 to certify a civil company contract, and AED 200 for each party's signature on a contract or appendix valued under AED 50,000.
What SEDD Requires Before Issuing a Licence
Step 1: Issue the trade name.
Step 2: Complete the technical evaluation.
Step 3: For leased premises, pay the SEWA electricity deposit and the lease contract attestation fees.
Step 4: Complete the legal contracts for your legal form.
Step 5: Register on the SEDD website through UAE Pass and select the licence issuance service.
Step 6: Attach the documents and any external approvals, then review and submit.
Step 7: Pay the issued voucher; the licence is sent automatically after payment.
SEDD lists the documents as a certified copy of the lease contract or title deed where applicable, approvals from official authorities depending on the activity, and the legal contracts for the legal form. Applicants receive an SMS confirming receipt, and other investors are messaged to approve through UAE Pass.
Licence Renewal Fees and Timing
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Licence renewal, citizens | 6% of the lease contract value or area, minimum AED 1,200 |
| Licence renewal, other nationalities | 10% of the lease contract value or area, minimum AED 2,000 |
| Trade name signboard permit | AED 200, varying with the signboard details |
| Commercial register certificate | AED 500 |
| Printing | AED 300 |
| E-services | AED 100 |
| Representative card | AED 300 |
- Documents: a certified copy of the lease contract where applicable, plus approvals from official authorities depending on the activity.
- Delivery period: one working day.
- Late renewal: SEDD charges a late fee of AED 200 per month when a licence is not renewed within the specified period.
- Third party fees: Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry fees, and fees of other entities related to the activity.
See trade licence renewal for how we track renewal dates.
Service Channels and Hours
| Channel | Hours |
|---|---|
| SEDD branches | Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 15:30 |
| Tasheel service centres | Daily, 08:00 to 20:00 |
| SEDD website and app | Digital channels |
SEDD publishes a services guide covering 88 services in total, including 12 issuance services, 10 amendment services, 8 inquiry services, 6 commercial permit services and 3 renewal services.
Federal Steps After the Licence
| Service | Fees |
|---|---|
| ICP entry permit for work | Request AED 100; issuance AED 100; electronic services AED 100; guarantee fees AED 1,000 |
| ICP residence permit for work | Request AED 100; residence issuance AED 100 per year; electronic services AED 100 |
| ICP penalties | AED 50 per day after the cancellation or expiry of residence |
ICP gives 48 hours as the completion time once requirements are complete. Work permits and employment contracts run through MOHRE. See work permit and labour card, establishment card and employment visa services.
How Sharjah Compares With Dubai and Abu Dhabi
| Topic | Sharjah | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | SEDD | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, through TAMM |
| Licence fee basis | Percentage of lease value or area, with minimums | Fee schedules by activity | Fee schedules by activity |
| Service centres | Tasheel centres and SEDD branches | Amer and typing centres | TAMM centres |
| Immigration authority | ICP | GDRFA Dubai | ICP |
See PRO services in Dubai for the DET and GDRFA side, PRO services in Abu Dhabi for the TAMM side, and Ejari registration for Dubai tenancy contracts.
Checklist for Sharjah Companies
- Get the lease value confirmed early, because the licence fee is a percentage of it.
- Budget the SEWA deposit and lease attestation before applying for the licence.
- Add the technical evaluation and signboard permit to your first-year costs.
- Renew before expiry to avoid the AED 200 monthly late fee.
- Keep a representative card current for counter transactions.
- Plan MOHRE and ICP steps after the licence, not in parallel with it.
How PROXPAT Helps
Trade name and technical evaluation
SEDD licence issuance filing
Lease and SEWA coordination
Legal contract certification
Licence renewals and amendments
MOHRE work permits and contracts
ICP entry permit and residence
Renewal tracking and reminders
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep your Sharjah company compliant.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
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PRO Services for Your Sharjah Company
PROXPAT files SEDD licence issuance, renewals and amendments, coordinates SEWA and legal certification, and handles the MOHRE and ICP steps that follow.