Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah is a free-zone business and industrial hub operated by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA). Established in 1995 by Emiri Decree, it is located in Sharjah and provides company formation, commercial and industrial infrastructure, offices, warehouses and industrial land. HFZA identifies six broad sectors, including industrial manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas, maritime, food and an accelerator hub.
For an entrepreneur, the main attraction is not simply the free-zone label. The setup needs to match the business activity, legal status, facility requirement and expected visa needs. A small consultancy may need an office package, while a manufacturer or storage business may need a warehouse or industrial plot. The official HFZA business setup page is a useful starting point when comparing licensing and facility options.
Why Businesses Consider Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah
Hamriyah is particularly relevant to businesses that need a practical combination of licensing, logistics and physical infrastructure. HFZA offers offices, pre-built warehouses and industrial land, with facilities designed around different operating models.
- Commercial and service businesses can choose office-based packages and activities.
- Trading businesses can use commercial licensing for permitted import, export, sale, distribution and storage activities.
- Industrial businesses can use industrial licensing for manufacturing, processing or assembly of approved products.
- Larger operations can consider warehouses or industrial plots instead of a small office package.
- The zone has port access and road connectivity suited to businesses moving goods within the UAE and internationally.
- HFZA states that free-zone investors can have 100% ownership and repatriation of capital, subject to the applicable framework.
The strongest fit is usually a business that can make practical use of the zone’s facilities or commercial and logistics ecosystem. A service company with no warehouse, production or import/export requirement should compare office packages and other UAE jurisdictions before choosing a location.
Hamriyah Free Zone Licence Types
| Licence | What it covers | Typical fit |
| Commercial | Import, export, sale, distribution and storage of specified items; HFZA also lists e-commerce and general trading. | Trading, distribution, e-commerce and import/export. |
| Service | Services or consultancy activities listed in the licence contract. | Consultancies and service businesses. |
| Industrial | Importing raw materials for manufacturing, processing and/or assembly of specified products, with packaging and export of finished products. | Manufacturing and industrial operations. |
HFZA states that additional activities may be issued subject to approval. The activity should therefore be confirmed before choosing a package. Do not assume that a broad business description automatically covers every product or service you intend to offer.
Legal Structures Available in Hamriyah Free Zone
- FZE (Free Zone Establishment): a limited-liability establishment owned by one natural or juridical person, with a distinct legal entity and independent financial liability.
- FZC (Free Zone Company): a limited-liability company owned by more than one shareholder, with a distinct legal entity and independent financial liability.
- Branch or subsidiary: HFZA allows branches or subsidiaries of eligible local or overseas companies.
For a branch or subsidiary, HFZA’s current setup guidance asks for documents such as the parent company’s licence, certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, and a board resolution identifying the relevant officers and authorised signatory.
Office, Warehouse or Industrial Land: Which Facility Do You Need?
Facility choice is one of the most important decisions in Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah. HFZA currently offers office units, pre-built warehouses and industrial land, so the right option depends on how the company will actually operate.
Office: HFZA currently lists economical units starting from 10 sqm and other office formats from 12 sqm, 15–20 sqm and 25 sqm and above.
Warehouse: HFZA lists pre-built warehouses in several sizes, including 200 sqm, 400 sqm and 600 sqm options, with utilities and infrastructure designed for light to medium industrial use and storage.
Industrial land: HFZA lists plots starting from 2,500 sqm. It states that plots can be developed up to 60% according to requirements and highlights a 25-year renewable lease structure with fixed land rates for the first five years, subject to its terms.
Facility choice can also affect approvals. Manufacturing, construction and industrial operations can involve engineering, environmental, health and safety, and operational approvals. HFZA’s department-services information identifies building permits, operation permits and environmental documentation for relevant projects.
Hamriyah Free Zone Phase 2: What Should Investors Know?
The term Hamriyah Free Zone Phase 2 is relevant when investors are looking at industrial land and specific plot options. HFZA identifies Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 land areas and separately describes MBZ plots located in Phase 2.
HFZA describes the MBZ plots as levelled, fenced and gated plots starting from 2,500 sqm. The authority says they can be combined, are prepared for immediate use after leasing, and have access to the wider Hamriyah infrastructure. Availability, plot terms and development requirements should be confirmed with HFZA before making a site decision.
Hamriyah Free Zone Head Office and Contact Details
The Hamriyah Free Zone head office is listed by HFZA at P.O. Box 1377, Sharjah, UAE. The authority’s published contact number is +971 6 526 3333, with info@hfza.ae listed as the general email address.
Because contact details and service channels can change, use the current HFZA website when confirming an appointment, application route or document submission method.
Documents Required to Set Up a Company
HFZA’s current setup guidance separates documents for a new FZE/FZC from those for a branch or subsidiary. For an FZE or FZC, the authority lists passport copies for the shareholder and manager, plus a copy of the shareholder’s and manager’s visit/tourist visa or an attested no-objection letter from the current sponsor when the person holds a UAE employment visa.
For a branch or subsidiary, HFZA lists the parent company’s licence, certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, and a board resolution covering the appointed director, manager and authorised signatory, together with relevant passport and visa copies.
Additional documents can apply depending on the activity, ownership, nationality, regulated operations and facility. Confirm the current checklist before arranging attestation or translation.
How to Set Up a Business in Hamriyah Free Zone
- Select the business activity: Define exactly what the company will sell, manufacture, import, export or provide. The activity determines the appropriate licence and may affect facility and approval requirements.
- Choose the legal status: Decide whether an FZE, FZC, branch or subsidiary fits the ownership and corporate structure.
- Select the facility: Choose an office, warehouse or industrial plot based on the actual operational requirement. Do not choose a facility only because it gives a certain number of visas.
- Prepare the documents: Prepare shareholder, manager and corporate documents required for the chosen structure. Regulated activities can require additional approvals.
- Submit the enquiry or application: HFZA’s published process starts with selecting the company type and facility and submitting the required documents.
- Complete licensing and lease formalities: HFZA describes the process as including issuance of the trade licence and lease agreement, followed by facility handover.
- Complete investor and immigration procedures: HFZA’s published setup flow identifies security approval, establishment-card procedures and, where applicable, e-channel, medical, Emirates ID and visa-stamping processes.
- Start operations and maintain compliance: Maintain the licence, lease, visas, tax records, permits and activity-specific approvals required for ongoing operations.
HFZA states on its FAQ page that, once all required documentation is submitted, it can issue a licence in one hour. This is an authority-stated service capability, not a guarantee that every application will finish in one hour; document completeness, activity approvals and facility arrangements can affect the actual timeline.
Hamriyah Free Zone Cost: What Should You Budget?
There is no single fixed setup price for every Hamriyah company. The total depends on the licence, activity, legal structure, office or warehouse requirement, land size, visa needs and additional services or approvals.
HFZA’s current FAQ states a basic licence cost of AED 11,000 / USD 3,000. However, the same authority publishes multiple business packages and notes that package rates vary according to the number of product categories or service activities selected. The AED 11,000 figure should therefore not be presented as the complete cost of every company setup.
| Budget item | Why it varies | Check before payment |
| Licence and registration | Depends on licence type, activity and package. | Confirm the current HFZA quotation. |
| Facility | Office, warehouse and industrial land have different commercial terms. | Confirm area, lease, deposits and included services. |
| Visas | Number of visas depends on package, facility and company needs. | Confirm quota and immigration charges. |
| Approvals | Industrial and regulated activities may require extra approvals. | Confirm authority and engineering/EHS requirements. |
| Tax and accounting | Tax registration, accounting and compliance create ongoing costs. | Plan for annual compliance, not only incorporation. |
Corporate Tax for a Hamriyah Free Zone Company
A company in Hamriyah Free Zone is not automatically subject to 0% Corporate Tax on all income. The Federal Tax Authority states that a Qualifying Free Zone Person can receive a 0% Corporate Tax rate on Qualifying Income and 9% on Taxable Income that does not meet the Qualifying Income definition.
The FTA also sets conditions for Qualifying Free Zone Person status, including adequate substance in the UAE, deriving Qualifying Income, complying with transfer-pricing requirements and not electing to be subject to Corporate Tax in full. The precise tax result depends on the company’s activities, income and compliance position.
The Federal Tax Authority’s Corporate Tax should be checked alongside relevant free-zone guidance because UAE tax rules and implementing decisions can change.
Can Hamriyah Free Zone Businesses Trade Outside the Free Zone?
Hamriyah is designed for international and regional trade, and HFZA provides commercial licensing for approved import, export, sale, distribution and storage activities. The practical ability to sell goods or services into the UAE mainland depends on the activity, customs treatment, permits and legal route used for the transaction.
Do not assume that a free-zone licence by itself gives unrestricted permission for every type of mainland activity. Before choosing a trading package, map your customer locations, import route, storage needs and mainland distribution model.
Who Is Hamriyah Free Zone Suitable For?
Trading companies: Businesses importing, exporting, distributing or storing approved products can use commercial licensing and logistics infrastructure.
Manufacturers: Industrial businesses can consider industrial licensing, warehouses or industrial plots, subject to activity and facility approvals.
Logistics businesses: The zone’s logistics infrastructure, port access and warehousing options can suit freight, storage and supply-chain operations.
Food businesses: HFZA identifies a dedicated Food Park sector, making the zone relevant to businesses operating within the applicable food and manufacturing framework.
Maritime and oil & gas businesses: HFZA identifies Maritime Industry and Oil & Gas among its sectors, although specific activities can require additional technical and regulatory approvals.
Service companies: Consultancies and service businesses can use service licensing and office packages when their activity fits the permitted categories.
Hamriyah Free Zone Gate Pass and Access
The term Hamriyah Free Zone gate pass is mainly relevant to access and investor operations rather than company formation itself. HFZA operates an online portal for licensed companies and provides investor-service procedures through its departments.
Access requirements can depend on whether the person is an investor, employee, contractor, visitor or service provider. Confirm the current security and access procedure with HFZA rather than relying on an old gate-pass checklist.
Common Mistakes When Setting Up in Hamriyah Free Zone
Choosing the package before confirming the activity: A package can look attractive until the business needs more product categories, services, facility space or approvals.
Treating the basic licence price as the full setup cost: Licence fees are only one part of the budget. Facility, visa, immigration, tax and operating costs can add to the total.
Selecting an office when the activity needs a warehouse or industrial facility: Premises should match the physical operation and approval requirements.
Assuming 0% Corporate Tax applies to all free-zone income: The FTA’s 0% regime applies to Qualifying Income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person subject to conditions.
Ignoring activity-specific approvals: Industrial, food, oil and gas, maritime and other specialised activities can involve additional technical or regulatory requirements.
Using outdated information about Phase 2 or available plots: Plot availability and commercial terms can change. Confirm current inventory directly with HFZA.
Planning only for incorporation: A workable setup also needs banking, accounting, tax compliance, visas, customs and operational permissions where relevant.
How Business Setup Experts Can Help
Setting up in Hamriyah is easier when the activity, ownership, facility, visa requirement and customer model are planned together. Business Setup Experts can help you map those requirements before the application is submitted, so the chosen licence and facility fit the intended business model.
Our business setup consultant in Dubai team can help review the wider UAE setup route, while our free zone business setup services can support the licence selection, document preparation and related formation procedures. The final licensing and approval decisions remain with HFZA and the relevant authorities.
If your company also needs government liaison, document processing or ongoing corporate administration after incorporation, PRO Services in Dubai can be considered as a related support service.
FAQS
Q1.What is Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah known for?
Hamriyah Free Zone is a Sharjah free zone with Commercial, Service and Industrial licensing, plus offices, warehouses, industrial land and port-related infrastructure. HFZA identifies sectors including manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas, maritime and food.
Q2.How much does it cost to set up a company in Hamriyah Free Zone?
HFZA’s current FAQ states a basic licence cost of AED 11,000 / USD 3,000. The total setup cost can be higher because the final budget depends on the activity, package, facility, visas and other requirements. Confirm the current quotation before payment.
Q3.Can foreigners own a company in Hamriyah Free Zone?
HFZA states that local partnership is not a prerequisite and its infrastructure information states 100% ownership and repatriation of capital. The exact legal structure and activity requirements should still be confirmed for the proposed company.
Q4.What licences are available in Hamriyah Free Zone?
HFZA lists Commercial, Service and Industrial licences. Commercial licensing covers approved trading activities, service licensing covers listed services or consultancy activities, and industrial licensing covers approved manufacturing, processing or assembly activities.
Q5.Does a Hamriyah Free Zone company get 0% Corporate Tax?
Not automatically. The Federal Tax Authority states that a Qualifying Free Zone Person can receive 0% on Qualifying Income and 9% on Taxable Income that does not meet the Qualifying Income definition, subject to the applicable conditions.
Conclusion
For businesses considering Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah, the key decision is not simply whether the zone offers an attractive licence package. The better question is whether the licence, legal structure, facility and logistics model match the way the business will actually operate.
HFZA provides Commercial, Service and Industrial licences, together with FZE, FZC, branch and subsidiary structures. This gives trading, service and industrial businesses different routes based on their activity and ownership model. A trading company may need commercial licensing and storage, while a manufacturer may need an industrial licence, warehouse or industrial land and additional technical approvals.
Facility planning is especially important. HFZA offers offices, pre-built warehouses and industrial land, including plots starting from 2,500 sqm. Businesses considering Phase 2 or MBZ plots should confirm current availability, lease terms and development requirements directly with HFZA before committing to a site.
Cost should also be viewed as a complete business budget. HFZA’s current FAQ lists a basic licence cost of AED 11,000 / USD 3,000, but that is not a universal all-in setup price. The final amount can change with the licence package, activity, facility, visas, approvals and ongoing compliance requirements.
Tax planning should be handled separately from the licence decision. A Hamriyah company does not automatically receive 0% Corporate Tax on all income. The FTA’s free-zone regime depends on Qualifying Free Zone Person status, Qualifying Income and other conditions.
Before choosing a package, map the activity, ownership, premises, visa needs, customer market and tax position together. Business Setup Experts can help you assess the setup route and coordinate the relevant free zone business setup services. You can also contact our team or reach us on WhatsApp at +971 58 937 7776 to discuss your requirements.
