Unlocking Industry-Specific Advantages in the UAE’s Premier Media Hub

Sharjah Media City, commonly known as Shams, stands as one of the UAE’s most dynamic and versatile free zones, offering unparalleled opportunities across multiple industries. Located in the heart of Sharjah, this thriving business hub has evolved beyond its media origins to become a comprehensive ecosystem that caters to diverse sectors with tailored benefits and world-class infrastructure.

With its strategic location, industry-specific advantages, and business-friendly environment, Shams continues to attract entrepreneurs, startups, and established enterprises from around the globe.

Why Choose Sharjah Media City (Shams)?

Shams offers a unique blend of advantages that make it an ideal destination for various industries:

• 100% Foreign Ownership: Full business ownership with no local sponsor required, available to all HFZ-registered companies.
• Zero Corporate and Personal Tax: 0% personal income tax and full corporate tax exemption on qualifying free zone income, under UAE’s corporate tax framework..
• Strategic Location: Located in Sharjah with quick connectivity to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and major UAE logistics corridors.
• Modern Infrastructure: Equipped with ready-to-use offices, warehouses, industrial plots, and advanced utilities tailored for diverse sectors.
• Streamlined Setup Process: Rapid business registration with simplified documentation and support services for investors.

Whether you’re in media production, technology, e-commerce, or consulting, Shams provides the perfect platform for business growth and expansion.

Industry-Specific Benefits at Sharjah Media City

Media and Entertainment Industry

Specialized Benefits:

• Access to Professional Studios & Equipment: As Shams’ birthplace, HFZ offers state-of-the-art facilities including multiple studios, advanced editing suites (Avid Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro), and broadcasting gear (Sony 4k30fps cameras, Rodecaster Pro mixers for 3 speakers). New production studios will total 38,136 sq. meters.
• Specialized Content Infrastructure: Purpose-built for film, TV, and digital content, with dubbing facilities and sound-processed podcast rooms, ensuring maintained and upgraded equipment.
• Direct Media Distribution: Facilitates crucial connections to regional and international media distribution networks for global content reach.
• Talent Pool & Duty-Free Imports: Benefits from a skilled talent pool in animation and post-production, plus 100% duty exemption on equipment and 0% corporate/personal income tax.

Industry Applications:

• Film, TV & Digital Production: Ideal for high-quality content, supported by a UAE cinema sector that generated AED 800 million in 2024 from 15 million tickets.
• Animation & VFX: Supportive environment for studios, attracting talent and providing tech infrastructure.
• Broadcasting & Streaming: Tailored for radio, TV, and online platforms, the UAE’s digital media market is projected to reach US$18,476.5 million by 2030.
• Podcasting & Audio Production: State-of-the-art facilities for high-quality audio content.
• Advertising & Creative Agencies: Thriving ecosystem for agencies, benefiting from collaboration and a skilled workforce. E-gaming alone generated over AED 1.5 billion in 2024.

Information Technology and Software Development

Specialized Benefits:

• Comprehensive Digital Infrastructure: Shams provides robust digital infrastructure, including high-speed fiber optic networks and redundant internet connections, ensuring seamless IT operations.
• Secure Data Center Facilities: The zone offers secure, climate-controlled data center facilities for robust server hosting and data storage, crucial for reliable IT services.
• Software Development Support: Crucial support for software development is provided through access to specialized testing laboratories and development environments, fostering innovation.
• Skilled Talent Pool & Innovation Hubs: Proximity to a skilled pool of programmers and IT professionals, alongside collaborative innovation hubs, creates a dynamic environment for tech companies. Shams houses over 1,600 companies, including a significant number in technology.

Industry Applications:

• Software Development & Solutions: Ideal for developing operating systems, business applications, and computer games, catering to diverse industry needs. The UAE’s ICT market is projected to reach USD 85.24 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.29%.
• IT Consultancy & Services: Supports IT consultancy, system integration, and managed IT services, with IT services accounting for 31.4% of the UAE ICT market revenue in 2024.
• Cloud Computing & Data Management: Benefits from the fast-growing cloud services segment, projected to expand at a 17.2% CAGR through 2030, driven by new availability zones.
• Cybersecurity & AI Development: A supportive ecosystem for cybersecurity and AI development, aligning with the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031. The e-gaming sector, a key segment, generated over AED 1.5 billion in revenue in 2024.

E-commerce and Digital Marketing

Specialized Benefits:

• Efficient Warehousing & Distribution: Shams supports online businesses with efficient warehousing and distribution networks vital for e-commerce logistics. This includes flexible pre-built warehouses (e.g., 200, 400, 600 sqm) and larger industrial plots for custom builds.
• Streamlined Financial Services: The free zone facilitates online transactions through easy payment gateway integration, ensuring smooth and secure financial services for e-commerce ventures. The UAE e-commerce market reached AED 32.3 billion (US$8.8 billion) in 2024, with digital wallet usage growing significantly to 53% in 2024.
• Advanced Analytics & Marketing Automation: Businesses gain access to tools for advanced analytics and marketing automation, optimizing online retail and digital marketing efforts. The UAE digital advertising market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.0% during 2025-2033, with 76% of digital advertising revenue projected through programmatic advertising by 2028.
• Multilingual Customer Service & Integrated Supply Chain: Offers crucial support through multilingual customer service centers and integrated supply chain solutions, designed to optimize online retail and digital marketing efforts. The overall UAE e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 776.2 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 21.4% during 2025-2033.

Industry Applications:

• Online Retail & Marketplaces: Ideal for establishing and operating online stores and digital marketplaces, leveraging the UAE’s high internet penetration (exceeding 99%) and strong consumer preference for online shopping.
• Digital Marketing Agencies: A prime location for digital marketing agencies specializing in SEO, SEM, social media marketing, and content creation, benefiting from a growing digital advertising landscape.
• E-commerce Logistics & Fulfillment: Supports businesses focused on e-commerce logistics, including warehousing, order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery, capitalizing on the rapid growth of online retail.
• Cross-Border E-commerce: Facilitates cross-border e-commerce operations, with the UAE recognized as a global e-commerce hub, making it easy to import and export products for online sales.

Consulting and Professional Services

Specialized Benefits:

• Modern Conference & Presentation Spaces: Shams offers state-of-the-art meeting rooms and presentation areas, ideal for client engagements and collaborative work.
• Networking Opportunities: Fosters networking through industry events and a vibrant community of over 1,600 registered companies, encouraging collaboration.
• Strategic Location & Market Access: Excellent access to clients across the UAE and GCC markets, enhancing business growth opportunities.
• Simplified Licensing & Flexible Offices: Offers simplified “Service License” procedures and flexible office solutions from AED 10,000 annually, catering to diverse business needs with 0% corporate and personal income tax.

Industry Applications:

• Management & Business Consultancy: Ideal for strategic and operational consultancy firms.
• Legal & Financial Advisory: Supports legal, financial, and accounting services in a tax-efficient environment.
• IT Consultancy & Solutions: A thriving hub for IT consulting and software advisory due to robust digital infrastructure.
• Human Resources & Training: Caters to HR, recruitment, and training providers, with access to a diverse business community.
• Marketing & PR Consultancies: Dynamic environment for marketing and PR agencies, leveraging connections within creative industries.

Education and Training

Specialized Benefits:

• Modern Classrooms and Training Centers: Shams provides state-of-the-art learning environments, including modern classrooms and training centers equipped with advanced technology for effective learning. These facilities are designed to support various educational formats and promote interactive learning.
• Support for Professional Development and Certification: The zone actively supports professional development and skills training initiatives, including various certification programs. Shams offers “Training and Workshops” services, enabling businesses to get the most out of their media encounters and understand key communication messages.
• Access to Academic Resources and Collaboration Networks: Businesses and institutions benefit from access to academic resources and robust collaboration networks, fostering research opportunities and knowledge exchange within a community of over 1,600 registered companies.
• Robust Technology Platforms for Digital Education: Shams supports digital education delivery with robust technology platforms, facilitating online learning and blended education models. The free zone’s comprehensive digital infrastructure, including high-speed fiber optic networks, is crucial for seamless online learning experiences.

Industry Applications:

• Vocational Training and Skill Development: Ideal for vocational training centers offering practical skills development in various industries, including media, technology, and manufacturing, aligning with market demands.
• Higher Education and Executive Education: Supports the establishment of branch campuses for universities and institutions offering executive education programs, leveraging the UAE’s growing student population and demand for specialized learning.
• Online Learning Platforms and EdTech Solutions: A prime location for companies developing and delivering online courses, e-learning platforms, and educational technology solutions, capitalizing on the rapid growth of digital education. The global EdTech market is projected to reach US$40 billion by 2022.
• Corporate Training and Professional Certifications: Caters to organizations providing corporate training, professional development programs, and industry-specific certifications, enhancing the skill sets of the regional workforce.
• Language and Cultural Training Centers: Support language schools and cultural training centers, benefiting from a diverse international community and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Healthcare and Medical Services

Specialized Benefits:

• Access to Modern Clinics & Infrastructure: Shams leverages Sharjah’s commitment to healthcare, which includes 24 hospitals (67% public, 33% private) in 2021, and the ongoing development of the Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) on a 2.5 million square meter site for hospitals and clinics.
• Advanced Telemedicine Technology: Supported by Shams’ robust fiber optic networks, telemedicine services are thriving. The UAE is actively promoting telehealth, and its digital health market is growing.
• Simplified Import Procedures: Businesses benefit from 0% customs duties on essential medical devices and equipment imports, reducing operational costs.
• Strategic Positioning for Health Tourism: Sharjah’s location is ideal for health tourism, a market in the Middle East and Africa projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2026, with UAE medical tourism receipts estimated to grow from Dh12.1 billion ($3.3 billion) in 2018 to Dh19.5 billion ($5.3 billion) by the end of 2023. Dubai alone welcomed over 691,000 medical tourists in 2023.
• Support for Medical Research & Pharma Development: While not solely focused, Shams’ versatile licensing can accommodate medical research and pharmaceutical ventures, aligning with the UAE’s pharmaceutical market size of USD 4.7 billion in 2023, projected to grow to USD 7.7 billion by 2030.

Industry Applications:

• Specialized Clinics & Outpatient Centers: Ideal for various medical specialties, benefiting from a population of 1.8 million in Sharjah (Dec 2023) and rising demand for specialized care.
• Telemedicine & Digital Health Platforms: Supports companies developing telehealth solutions, capitalizing on the UAE’s high digital adoption.
• Medical Device & Equipment Supply: Prime for import, distribution, and supply of medical products, benefiting from streamlined procedures.
• Pharmaceutical Distribution & Development: Supports distribution centers and potential R&D for pharmaceuticals within the rapidly growing UAE market.
• Wellness & Preventive Health Services: Caters to wellness centers and preventive health programs, aligning with the National Well-being Strategy 2031.