Run your business in Sharjah
This service allows investors to create an economic establishment easily in the Emirate. Such a thing is done in order to run or expand a business without going through complex procedures and to go in line with the strategic vision of the Sharjah Economic Development Department.
Activity identification is the first step in the process of issuing a license. Through the activity, the parties associated with it and the legal forms of such activity are identified. There are more than 3000 economic activities in the Emirate of Sharjah. Such activities are divided into different groups which are: business, industrial professional and tourist activities. It should be noted that some activities meet site-specific conditions and specifications such as location and area of the facility.
The type of license is related to activity type. So, if the type of activity is professional, then the license’s type would be the same. Also, if one license had more than one type of license, the license type would be determine according to the dominant activity. It should be stated that the industrial activity is the largest in the Emirate followed by the commercial them the professional one. In addition, it is possible to combine industrial, commercial and professional activities if they are homogeneous or if a permit is obtained to add these activities together. For example, if commercial and professional activities are combined in a single license, the type of license is determined according to the dominant activity (this does not apply to tourism activities).
Although SEDD is the sole entity to license for economic establishments in Sharjah, it should be noted that some activities are subject to other local and federal authorities. These activities are regulated to certain conditions determined by these authorities’ respective laws and regulations. Therefore, some activities require obtaining the approval form these regulators.
Required Documents
Obtaining approvals from official authorities depending on business nature.
When determining the legal status of an economic entity, the type of the company, its activities, the number of nationalities and partners as well as their shares should be taken into account.
The legal status of the economic establishment is directly related to the selected activities and the customer should verify them and their compatibility with the legal status.
It should be taken in the confederation that the legal status includes the following:
Individual Establishment (LLC)
An individual limited liability company is one with limited liability, that is owned by one person, or 2 partners and no more than 50 ones. The owner of the company is not asked for its commitments but only by the extent of the incoming Capital after establishing it and should be subject to the company's provisions and rules.
Service Agent (or Business Partnership License)
Establishments that are owned by only one person with the purpose of practicing any economic activity (commercial or professional). The establishment’s financial liability extends to the establishment owner, as he/she bears all financial obligations of the establishment. If the owner of the establishment is not a UAE or GCC citizen, the license must be regulated through a local Service Agent who shall be a UAE citizen and must be a real person.
Local Company Branch
Application submitted by the concerned parties for a license to establish a branch of a company in other Emirates.
Foreign Company Branch
Application submitted by the concerned parties for a license to establish a branch of a company outside UAE.
Professional Company
A professional company is established due to a contract made by two or more people who agree to certain obligations and conditions that are granted to others for remuneration. This remuneration is granted whether work is distributed equally or differentially with the condition of the business units or its accomplices as well as partners must agree to remain in the work that they agreed to work upon.
General Partnership Company
General Partnership Companies are ones that are formed by two or more partners who are jointly liable to the extent of all their shares for the company’s liabilities. All partners must be UAE citizens.
Public Joint Stock Company
A Public Joint Stock Company is a company in which the number of founders is not less than five ones where the company’s share capital is not less than thirty million dirhams. The Capital is divided into equal negotiable shares Also, the founders should subscribe portion of these shares while the rest of the stock would be placed for the public in a general subscription and the shareholder is only liable to the extent of his/her Capital share.
Private Joint Stock Company
A private Joint Stock Company is a company in which the number of founders is not less than two founders and no more than 200 ones where the company’s share capital is not less than five million dirhams. The Capital is divided into equal negotiable shares that are paid as a whole without placing them in general subscription by signing on the memorandum of association and the shareholder is only asked about his/her own shares.
Sole Proprietorship
Establishments that are owned by only one person with the purpose of practicing any economic activity (commercial, professional, or industrial). The establishment’s financial liability extends to the establishment owner, as he/she bears all financial obligations of the establishment.
What is Trade Name?
It is the name that distinguishes one license from the other so that customers won’t fall under suspicion. Also, the Trade Name should be related to the type or indication of the license.
Details of Procedures
How to register Trade Name?
Investors, or their representatives, should apply for a license using the license application form and fill it with all required data (such as the type of license, the legal form of the trade name, the required activities, and partners) with trade names provided in order of preference and such names should be in Arabic.
New investors must register first through the Department’s website www.sedd.ae or through one of Tasheel's service centers.
An investor should submit the application form to the employee handling entry of trade name data with all the required documents, or submit the application electronically through the Sharjah Economic Development Department website or at one of Tasheel service centers.
The employee handles entering the trade name data of the investor and the selection of trade names from a list submitted by the investor according to the mentioned priorities. Also, he/she should make sure to select a trading name that is not booked by another investor and does not violate the conditions and instructions.
Activities should be added to the name. There is no limit to the number of added activities but they must be homogeneous unless an exception is granted from the concerned Department.
In case all names were reserved, an investor can select other names and so on until a trading name is booked for the company or the investor may leave the selection of the trade name to the employee.
The payment voucher should be issued with the determining fees to be collected as well as the issuance of the invoice and trade name certificate.
Trade Name Terms and Conditions:
The trade name must not be previously registered or currently used for the same activity or for a similar type of activity.
The trade name must be consistent with the activity and legal form required.
The trade name should not include the name of Allah, sectarian names, names of governing authorities, or emblems of local, Arab, and international organizations.
Required Documents
License form.
Investor license report, if any.
Investor electronic registration form
Copy of investor's valid passport, as well as national ID and residence for foreigner. • Certified No Objection Letter for non-investors.
Permission for minors (under 21) to carry out business from the Legal Court.
Approvals from official authorities if necessary depending on business nature.
Fees
Trade Name Issuance: ......................................... AED 250
Translated Trade Name Issuance: ............ AED 1250 (for local and foreign companies branches)
Foreign Trade Name Issuance: ................... AED 2250 (for local and foreign companies branches)
Depending on the company’s legal status, it may be necessary to draft and sign a memorandum of association. Also, it may be necessary to have a local service agent agreement or a company agent in some cases.
Details of Procedures
The memorandum of association should conclude if the company status is one of the following:
- Limited Liability Company.
- Sole Proprietorship.
- Private Joint Stock Company.
- Public Joint Stock Company.
- Limited Partnership Company.
- General Partnership Company
- The customers must document all legal agreements and contracts in any UAE court or notary public.
- When a branch of an existing company is registered, the original company’s memorandum of association should be provided. However, if the company is an individual one or carries a license, such a memorandum is not required.
- In addition to the memorandum of association, the customer should conduct a local service agent agreement (natural or juridical) n the event that at least one citizen partner is not present in the license. Also, it is necessary to appoint a local service agent/ company agent according to the legal form of the company and the type of activity.
Evaluate the locations in which the licenses will be established in order to ensure that they meet the specifications set by SEDD.
Details of Procedures
Customer can submit a technical evaluation request through multiple channels: SEDD headquarter, website, and application.
Location data should be recorded to be licensed.
Inspectors should visit the site and evaluate it.
All data should be recorded in license form and the establishment should be built on the approved site.
Required Documents
Trade name request.
Site map
Title deed
Fees
AED 150
Some activities require special approvals for licensing by the government entities (local and federal) that organize such activities.
After obtaining the approval of the concerned parties, if any, the investor should visit Sharjah Economic Development Department, fulfill all legal requirements, and pay the required fees for issuing and obtaining the license.
When applying for a license, please make sure to attach the required documents to each of the above steps.
Kindly be noted that:
The license’s issuance date shall be counted from the date of issuance of the payment voucher.
License fees should be paid within 15 days from the date of the payment voucher issuance.
If license fees are not paid within 6 months from the date of payment voucher issuance, the transaction will be canceled automatically.
Congratulations! You can now start conducting your business in Sharjah.
Sharjah Economic Development Department branches 7:30 To 3:30 PM
Sharjah Economic Development Department website.
Tasheel's Service centers.7:30 To 8:00 PM
Sharjah Economic Smart Application.
One Working Day
80080000
