For a Hamriyah free zone company setup, you pick one of four licence types (trading, e-commerce, service or industrial) and one of three legal statuses. The setup page publishes no fees or processing times, so your cost and timeline depend on the activity, package and facility you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) offers trading, e-commerce, service and industrial licences.
- Legal status comes in three forms: FZE for one owner, FZC for more than one shareholder, and a branch or subsidiary company.
- You can choose between pre-built warehouses and plots of industrial land.
- Owners and managers start with passport copies, plus a visit or tourist visa or a no objection letter.
- The page reviewed gives no fee amounts or processing times, so ask for both in writing before you commit.
Who is Hamriyah Free Zone for?
HFZA’s setup page is written for businesses that trade, sell online, provide services or manufacture. The trading licence covers importing, exporting, selling, distributing and storing the items listed on it. The industrial licence covers importing raw materials to manufacture, process or assemble specified products, then packaging and exporting them.
The owner structure matters as much as the activity. An FZE (Free Zone Establishment) is a limited liability establishment that is owned by one natural or juridical person. An FZC (Free Zone Company) is a limited liability company that is owned by more than one shareholder. The third status covers this: Branch of a local company or a company incorporated outside the UAE.
HFZA’s page does not name any group it excludes, so we will not invent one. Its facility options, though, centre on industrial units, storage and land. If your business is office-based or client-facing, it is worth comparing zones first. The UAE free zone guides are a good starting point, including Dubai Internet City and Dubai South. Activities such as travel and tourism or a restaurant or cafeteria have their own licence guides, so check that your activity is listed before you choose a zone.
What do you get with Hamriyah Free Zone?
HFZA lists four licence types. Each one allows the holder to carry out only the activity written on the licence.
| Licence | What the authority says it allows |
|---|---|
| Trading | Import, export, sell, distribute and store items specified on the licence |
| E-commerce | Trade goods and services over an electronic network |
| Service | Conduct services or consultancy services listed in the licence contract clause |
| Industrial | Import raw materials to manufacture, process or assemble specified products, then package and export the finished products |
The licence is one part of the offer. HFZA also lets you choose a facility. Its pre-built warehouses come in these sizes: 200 sqm, 400 sqm, 600 sqm. They are described as suited to light to medium industrial units and storage, with reception, offices, toilets and a pantry.
If you need more space, plots of land start from 2,500 sqm on a 25 years renewable lease, with fixed land rates for the first 5 years. You can also build your own facility on part of the plot. HFZA also mentions access to a main port and infrastructure for transport, power, water and waste management. If your plan is built around moving goods, the logistics and freight licence guide shows how that activity is licensed across the UAE.
Steps for Hamriyah free zone company setup
HFZA’s own page sets out four stages: licence type, legal status, facility and enquiry. The steps below follow that order and add the stages that normally come after you apply.
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Choose your business activity. Start with what you will actually do: trade goods, sell online, offer services or manufacture. Your activity decides which licence fits, so list every activity you expect to carry out in the first year.
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Choose the licence type and package. Pick trading, e-commerce, service or industrial. Then choose the legal status: FZE, FZC, or branch or subsidiary. HFZA also lists business packages with an area attached, for example 10 sqm for Smart Business Package 1 and 25 sqm for Supreme Business Package 1.
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Submit the application and the documents. HFZA calls this step “register your enquiry”. Send passport copies and the other items listed in the documents section below. A complete file at this stage avoids most delays.
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Pay the fees and sign the agreements. The page reviewed does not describe this stage, so expect your advisor to walk you through the fee schedule and the licence and facility agreements. Read each one before you sign. Check the activities, the facility and the term it states.
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Receive the licence and complete the registrations that follow. After your licence is issued, further registrations and visas may be needed, depending on your activity and team. For visa planning, see the guide to new UAE visa rules for business owners.
What does it cost in Hamriyah Free Zone?
Fees: check the current fee schedule with Hamriyah Free Zone before you decide.
How long does it take?
HFZA’s setup page lists four stages and no processing time. That means any timeline you hear is an estimate, not an authority commitment. Ask for the processing time in writing once your documents are ready.
A few things commonly slow an application down:
- Missing or unclear documents.
- A business activity that does not match the licence you applied for.
- A shareholder who holds a UAE employment visa and still needs a no objection letter from the current sponsor.
- For a branch or subsidiary, parent company papers that have not yet been prepared.
Gathering everything before you submit is the easiest way to keep the process moving.
Which documents do you need?
HFZA splits its document list by legal status.
For owners or shareholders (FZE or FZC):
- A copy of the shareholder’s and manager’s passport: copy of passport.
- A copy of the visit or tourist visa, or an attested no objection letter from your current sponsor if you hold a UAE employment visa: copy of visit/tourist visa or attested no objection letter.
For the business (branch or subsidiary company):
- A copy of the parent company’s licence: copy of parent company license.
- The parent company’s certificate of incorporation: certificate of incorporation.
- The parent company’s memorandum and articles of association: memorandum and articles of association.
- A board resolution naming the appointed director, manager and authorised signatory, with their passport and visa copies: board resolution naming appointed director, manager, authorized signatory, with passport and visa copies.
A new FZE or FZC has no parent company, so the second list applies only to branches and subsidiaries.
How does Hamriyah Free Zone compare with other free zones?
Each of these has its own rules, fees and licence types, so check them with the authority before you choose.
| Name | Location | Authority website | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shams | Sharjah | shams.ae | Coming soon |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | srtip.ae | Coming soon |
| Sharjah Publishing City | Sharjah | spcfz.ae | Coming soon |
| SAIF Zone | Sharjah | saif-zone.com | Coming soon |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | afz.gov.ae | Coming soon |
| Ajman Media City | Ajman | amc.gov.ae | Coming soon |
What is the next step?
Start by deciding on your activity, your owner structure and the kind of space you need. Then book a free consultation with a licensed advisor at Al Ain Business Center. They can check your plan against HFZA’s licence types, line up your documents and get your Hamriyah Free Zone fees and timeline in writing before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hamriyah Free Zone Company Setup
What is Hamriyah Free Zone and who is it for?
Hamriyah Free Zone is run by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA), which offers trading, e-commerce, service and industrial licences. Its setup page is aimed at businesses that trade, sell online, provide services or manufacture, and its facilities centre on warehouses and industrial land. If your business is office-based, compare other zones first.
What documents do I need to set up in Hamriyah Free Zone?
For an FZE or FZC, HFZA lists a copy of the shareholder’s and manager’s passport, plus a visit or tourist visa copy or an attested no objection letter from your current sponsor if you hold a UAE employment visa. A branch or subsidiary needs a copy of the parent company’s licence, its certificate of incorporation, and its memorandum and articles of association.
How long does setting up in Hamriyah Free Zone take?
The HFZA setup page reviewed lists four stages but gives no processing time, so any timeline you hear is an estimate. Ask for the processing time in writing once your documents are ready. A complete document file is the easiest way to avoid delays.
How much does it cost to set up in Hamriyah Free Zone?
The page reviewed gives no fee amounts, so cost depends on your activity, package and facility. Confirm the current fees and costs directly with the free zone authority, and get the figures in writing before you commit.
Can a foreign owner set up in Hamriyah Free Zone?
HFZA’s page describes an FZE as owned by one natural or juridical person and an FZC as owned by more than one shareholder. It also lists a branch of a company incorporated outside the UAE as a legal status. The page does not state nationality rules, so confirm eligibility with HFZA.
Sources
Published 30 October 2026
Rules and fees change. The figures in this article were checked against the official sources linked above on the dates shown. For a decision about your own case, confirm with the authority or speak to us.