Hamriyah Free Zone Licence 2026: Cost, Steps, Timeline & Requirements

The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) — operational since 1995 and located in northern Sharjah — has grown into one of the UAE’s most strategically important industrial and trading free zones. With its deep-water port, dedicated oil & gas zone, steel city, and food-park clusters, HFZA today hosts more than 6,500 companies from over 160 countries. Hamriyah’s combination of low entry pricing, large industrial plots, sea-port access, and proximity to Dubai International Airport (45 minutes by road) makes it a strong choice for trading, manufacturing, logistics, and oil & gas service companies.

Hamriyah Free Zone — 2026 Licence Cost

Indicative HFZA 2026 packages (in AED):

• Hamriyah Service Licence (0 visa, shared desk): AED 5,500 – 7,500.
• Hamriyah Commercial / Trading Licence (1 visa, executive office): AED 11,500 – 14,500.
• Hamriyah Industrial Licence (warehouse / land): AED 22,000+ depending on plot size.
• Hamriyah General Trading Licence: AED 14,500 – 19,500.
• Hamriyah Freelancer Permit: AED 6,500 – 8,500.

HFZA prices include government licence fees, registration, name approval, immigration card, and standard MoA. Office or warehouse rent above the package allowance, additional visas (approx. AED 3,500–5,500 each), and external approvals (e.g. Civil Defence, MoEnv) are billed separately.

Step-by-Step: Hamriyah Free Zone Company Formation

1. Decide on activity and licence type. Service, commercial, industrial, e-commerce, or freelance.
2. Choose your office / facility. Smart desk, executive office, warehouse, or land lease for industrial activities.
3. Reserve trade name and submit initial approval. HFZA approves trade names within 24–48 hours.
4. Submit KYC documents and sign the lease agreement.
5. Pay government fees and lease deposit.
6. Trade licence issued electronically. Typical turnaround: 2–5 working days after payment.
7. Establishment card and residency visas. HFZA has an on-site medical centre and Emirates ID office for one-stop visa processing.
8. Open a corporate bank account. HFZA has direct introduction agreements with Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, Mashreq, ADCB, and Sharjah Islamic Bank.

Timeline: How Long Does HFZA Setup Take?

Hamriyah Free Zone licences are typically issued in 2–5 working days. Bank account opening adds 2–4 weeks. Residency visa stamping takes 7–14 working days on the standard track and 1–3 working days on the express track.

Required Documents

• Passport copy of each shareholder, director, and manager.
• UAE entry stamp or visit visa (if in the UAE).
• NOC from current UAE sponsor (if on UAE employment visa).
• Recent utility bill or bank statement (within 3 months) as proof of address.
• 3 proposed trade names.
• Passport-size photo on a white background.
• For industrial licences: detailed business plan and machinery list.
• For corporate shareholders: attested certificate of incorporation, MoA, board resolution, and good-standing certificate.

Why Choose Hamriyah Free Zone?

• Deep-water port on-site — Hamriyah Port handles container, bulk, break-bulk, and oil & gas cargoes.
• Dedicated industrial clusters — Steel City, Petrochemical Zone, Food Park, Construction Zone, Maritime City.
• 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital and profits.
• 0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime, subject to substance.
• Low entry cost with packages starting at AED 5,500.
• Direct access to Dubai (45 minutes by road) and Sharjah Airport (20 minutes).

Eligibility and Restrictions

Foreign nationals and corporate entities can own 100% of an HFZA licence. Some activities (e.g. petroleum services, chemical manufacturing) require external approvals from the relevant Ministry or Civil Defence. HFZA companies cannot directly invoice the UAE mainland market without appointing a UAE-licensed distributor or obtaining a dual licence.

Hamriyah vs. Other Northern Emirate Free Zones

Feature	Hamriyah (HFZA)	SHAMS (Sharjah)	RAKEZ	Ajman FZ
Entry package (0 visa)	AED 5,500	AED 5,750	AED 5,499	AED 5,750
1-visa package	AED 11,500	AED 13,500	AED 11,800	AED 12,500
On-site port	Yes	No	No	No
Best for	Industrial / Logistics	Media / Creative	SME / Industrial	Lowest cost
Licence issuance	2–5 days	2–5 days	2–4 days	1–3 days

Common Pitfalls

• Mainland trade restrictions: Direct invoicing to UAE mainland customers requires a distributor or a dual licence.
• Activity mismatch: Industrial activities require a physical warehouse or land lease — DBS verifies feasibility before payment.
• External approvals: Oil & gas, chemical, food, and pharmaceutical activities require Ministry approvals; HFZA staff guide applicants but do not handle these directly.
• Corporate Tax and VAT registration: All HFZA companies should register for UAE Corporate Tax; VAT registration is required if taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000.

Why Work with DBS for Your UAE Business Setup

Why business owners choose DBS: 20+ years of UAE business setup experience, 147 active licenses currently managed, 99.3% on-time renewal rate, 4 sponsor partners for mainland LLCs, and direct relationships with every major free zone authority — IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, SHAMS, DAFZA, JAFZA, Hamriyah, RAKEZ, and Ajman Free Zone.

Related Resources & Next Steps

• Get your Hamriyah Free Zone cost in 60 seconds
• Compare all Sharjah Free Zones
• All UAE Free Zones overview
• UAE Corporate Tax & QFZP guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Hamriyah Free Zone licence cost in 2026?

Service licences start from AED 5,500 (zero visa). Commercial / trading licences with one visa start from AED 11,500. Industrial licences depend on plot size and start from AED 22,000.

How long does Hamriyah Free Zone company setup take?

Most HFZA trade licences are issued within 2–5 working days after payment. Bank account opening adds 2–4 weeks and visa stamping adds 7–14 working days.

Can a Hamriyah Free Zone company trade in the UAE mainland?

Not directly. HFZA companies must appoint a UAE-licensed distributor or obtain a dual licence to invoice mainland customers.

Does Hamriyah Free Zone allow 100% foreign ownership?

Yes. HFZA permits 100% foreign ownership of all licensed activities, with no requirement for a UAE national partner.

Can I get a UAE residency visa through HFZA?

Yes. HFZA packages include 1, 3, 6, or more residency visa quotas. HFZA operates an on-site medical centre and Emirates ID office to speed up the process.

Is Hamriyah Free Zone good for industrial businesses?

Yes. HFZA has dedicated clusters for steel, petrochemicals, food, construction, and maritime industries, plus a deep-water port and access to large industrial land plots.

Do HFZA companies pay UAE Corporate Tax?

HFZA companies that qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) and meet substance and qualifying-income rules pay 0% on qualifying income; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.

Does DBS handle Hamriyah Free Zone bank account opening?

Yes. DBS coordinates introductions with Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, Mashreq, ADCB, and Sharjah Islamic Bank. We prepare the KYC pack and attend the bank meeting with the client.