Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), established in 2017, is a digitally native free zone in Sharjah that champions creative entrepreneurship, startups, SMEs, and freelancers across media, trading, e-commerce, consultancy, and IT sectors. It offers 100% foreign ownership, full repatriation of capital and profits, zero corporate or personal income tax, and no currency or customs restrictions. SHAMS stands out for its low-cost setup, with zero-visa media or e-commerce licenses starting at roughly AED 5,750, and visa-inclusive packages ranging up to AED 24,775 depending on visa count . The free zone supports up to five different business activities under one license and enables remote, fully online registration. It also furnishes flexible workspace options—from shared desks to private offices—and facilitates business growth through training, networking events, and concierge services such as bank account setup and document processing . Entrepreneurs frequently praise SHAMS for being cost-effective and easy to deal with, though some warn that renewals via third-party agents can be more expensive and may be better handled directly