Sharjah Mainland Professional License
Get your Sharjah Mainland Professional License through SEDD for consulting, services, IT, and expertise-based businesses. 100% foreign ownership, low setup cost, eligible for SEDD instant licensing.
Description
A Sharjah Mainland Professional License is for service-based businesses where value comes from expertise rather than goods — management consulting, marketing, IT services, design, HR consulting, accounting, training, and similar professional activities. Issued by SEDD (Sharjah Economic Development Department), it allows operating anywhere in the UAE with 100% foreign ownership for most professional activities under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, at a setup cost typically lower than Dubai.
The professional license is the most popular choice for consultants, agencies, and service providers in Sharjah because of lower setup costs, flexible structures (including Civil Companies and Sole Establishments), and eligibility for SEDD's Instant License — Sharjah's AI-powered system that issues eligible office-based professional licenses in as little as 5 minutes. Most professional activities no longer require a Local Service Agent following recent reforms.
Octavon Global Advisory handles the complete Sharjah professional license setup — SEDD initial approval, trade name reservation, MOA or Civil Company agreement drafting, Ejari registration, license issuance, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce membership, Establishment Card, investor visa, medical, Emirates ID, and corporate bank account introduction. Most professional license setups complete in 5 to 12 working days.
What's Included
- SEDD Mainland Professional Trade License
- 100% Foreign Ownership (Most Activities)
- Eligible for SEDD Instant License (Same-Day)
- Multiple Related Professional Activities
- Operate Across All UAE Emirates
- Lower Cost Than Dubai
- MOA / Civil Company Agreement Drafting
- Trade Name Reservation
- SEDD Initial Approval
- Ejari Tenancy Registration
- Sharjah Chamber of Commerce Membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor Visa (1 included)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Minimum 1 shareholder (individual or corporate)
- Trade name following SEDD naming rules
- Activities from the Professional category
- Physical office with valid Ejari tenancy contract
- Educational certificates for regulated professions
- Activity-specific NOC for regulated services
- Shareholder passport with 6+ months validity
Required Documents
- Passport Copy (6+ months validity)
- Passport-sized Photographs
- UAE Visa Copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- 3 Proposed Trade Name Choices
- List of Professional Activities
- Office Lease / Ejari
- Educational Certificates (attested, for regulated professions)
- NOC from Current Sponsor (if applicable)
- Activity-specific NOC for regulated services
- For corporate shareholder: attested parent documents
Our Process
- Consultation on professional activity and structure
- Choose legal structure (LLC vs Civil Company vs Sole Establishment)
- Trade name reservation with SEDD
- SEDD initial approval (or Instant License if eligible)
- Office tenancy contract and Ejari registration
- MOA or Civil Company Agreement drafting
- Activity NOCs for regulated services
- Final trade license application
- License collection
- Sharjah Chamber membership and Establishment Card
- Investor visa, medical, Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account opening
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 9,000
- Service Fee: AED 3,500
- VAT (5%): AED 625
- Total: AED 13,125
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are covered under a Sharjah Professional License?
Service-based activities including management consulting, marketing, IT services, HR consulting, training, design, accounting, engineering consulting, business advisory, and hundreds of other expertise-based professional activities approved by SEDD.
Can I get a Sharjah professional license issued the same day?
Potentially yes. SEDD's Instant License system, launched in 2024 with AI-powered processing, can issue eligible office-based professional and commercial licenses in as little as 5 minutes once documents are submitted — making Sharjah the fastest mainland licensing authority in the UAE. Activities requiring inspections or ministry approvals are not eligible.
Do I need a UAE national partner for a Sharjah professional license?
No, not for most activities. Recent reforms removed the Local Service Agent requirement for most Civil Companies and Sole Establishments. You can hold 100% ownership and management.
What is a Civil Company vs an LLC for professional activities?
A Civil Company is a partnership structure for professional activities where partners share profits proportionally — common for doctors, engineers, lawyers, and accountants. An LLC offers limited liability and is common for general consulting and service businesses.
How long does Sharjah professional license setup take?
Standard setup completes in 5 to 12 working days. Eligible activities can use SEDD's Instant License for same-day issuance, which is faster than any other UAE mainland authority.
Do I need attested educational certificates?
Required for regulated professions (engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants), and not required for general business consulting, marketing, or IT services. We confirm requirements during activity selection.
Why choose Sharjah for a professional license?
Sharjah offers lower setup and renewal costs than Dubai, the fastest mainland instant licensing in the UAE, and full UAE-wide service rights. It is ideal for consultants and agencies who serve clients across the UAE but want a lean cost base.