Sharjah Dual License (Free Zone + Mainland)
Get a Sharjah dual license — operate in both the free zone and the UAE mainland under one company through SPC Free Zone. 100% foreign ownership, mainland market access without a separate LLC, major cost saving.
Description
A Sharjah dual license lets a single company operate in both the free zone and the UAE mainland market simultaneously — without setting up two separate companies. This is made possible through SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City), which is authorised to issue both a free zone license and a linked Sharjah mainland (LLC) license to the same entity. For businesses that want free zone benefits (100% ownership, low cost, fast setup) plus the ability to sell directly to the UAE mainland market, the dual license is a powerful and cost-efficient structure.
Normally, a free zone company cannot sell directly to mainland UAE customers without a local distributor, and setting up a separate mainland LLC means duplicate licenses, offices, and fees. The dual license solves this by attaching a mainland license to your free zone company at a fraction of the cost of a standalone mainland setup. It is ideal for e-commerce businesses, general trading companies, consultancies, and service providers that want to serve both free zone/international and mainland UAE clients under one brand and one structure.
Octavon Global Advisory handles the complete Sharjah dual license setup — eligibility and activity assessment, SPC free zone license issuance, linked Sharjah mainland LLC license, trade name reservation, KYC submission, Establishment Card, visa processing, and corporate bank account introduction. Standard dual license setup completes in 5 to 12 working days from KYC submission.
What's Included
- SPC Free Zone License
- Linked Sharjah Mainland (LLC) License
- Operate in Both Free Zone and Mainland
- 100% Foreign Ownership
- Sell Directly to UAE Mainland Customers
- Major Cost Saving vs Separate Companies
- Activity Selection (Combinable)
- Trade Name Reservation
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor Visa (1 included)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Import/Export Code Registration
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
- Free UAE Corporate Tax Consultation
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Minimum 1 shareholder (individual or corporate)
- Activity eligible for both free zone and mainland under SPC
- Trade name following SPC and SEDD naming rules
- Flexi-desk or office (SPC facility)
- Mainland activity compliance (some activities need additional approval)
- NOC from current sponsor if applicant is on UAE residence visa
- Annual license renewal for both components
Required Documents
- Passport Copy (6+ months validity, all shareholders)
- Passport-sized Photographs
- UAE Visa Copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- Proof of Address (utility bill, last 3 months)
- CV or Business Profile
- 3 Proposed Trade Name Choices
- List of Proposed Activities
- NOC from Current Sponsor (if applicable)
- For corporate shareholder: attested parent documents
Our Process
- Consultation on dual license eligibility and activities
- Trade name reservation
- SPC free zone license application
- Linked Sharjah mainland LLC license application
- Submit KYC documents
- Pay dual license fees
- Receive both free zone and mainland licenses
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor visa processing
- Medical fitness and Emirates ID
- Import/export code registration (if trading)
- Corporate bank account opening
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 14,000
- Service Fee: AED 4,500
- VAT (5%): AED 925
- Total: AED 19,425
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sharjah dual license?
A dual license lets one company hold both a free zone license and a linked Sharjah mainland (LLC) license through SPC Free Zone. This means you get free zone benefits (100% ownership, low cost) plus the ability to sell directly to the UAE mainland market — without setting up two separate companies.
How is the dual license cheaper than two separate companies?
Setting up a free zone company and a separate mainland LLC means two sets of licenses, offices, and government fees. The dual license attaches a mainland license to your free zone company at a fraction of the cost of a standalone mainland setup — typically saving tens of thousands of dirhams in duplicate fees.
Who should consider a Sharjah dual license?
E-commerce businesses, general trading companies, consultancies, and service providers that want to serve both international/free zone clients AND mainland UAE customers under one brand. If your free zone company keeps losing mainland sales because you can't invoice mainland clients directly, the dual license solves that.
Can a dual license company sell directly to mainland UAE customers?
Yes — that is the core benefit. The mainland component of the dual license allows direct sales to UAE mainland businesses and consumers, which a standard free zone license cannot do without a distributor.
How long does dual license setup take?
Standard dual license setup completes in 5 to 12 working days from KYC submission. Both the free zone and mainland license components are processed together through SPC.
Does the dual license cover all business activities?
Most common commercial, e-commerce, trading, and professional activities are eligible. Some regulated mainland activities require additional approvals. We confirm which of your activities qualify for the mainland component during the eligibility assessment.
Is the dual license available through other Sharjah free zones?
SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) is the primary issuer of the dual license structure in Sharjah. We use SPC as the vehicle for the dual license and advise if your specific activity mix is better served by an alternative structure.