SHARJAH AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL FREE ZONE [SAIF]

The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF-Zone) was set up in 1995 and is the premier business destination of the UAE. Situated in the Emirate of Sharjah, the industrial powerhouse of the UAE, the SAIF-Zone services over 2,900 companies from 91 countries.

Covering a wide cross section of industry, companies include some of the biggest names in the field of IT services, media, consumer durables, light to medium manufacturing and a host of other companies.

UNRIVALLED CONVENIENCE

Strategically located at the cross roads of major trade routes linking the east and west, the SAIF-Zone is a business hub that offers access to more than 2 billion consumers across the GCC, CIS, Indian sub-continent, parts of Africa and the Mediterranean.

The ‘Sharjah Link’, a unique trade bridge, gives businesses an unmatched logistical advantage. Straddling the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, this link makes the SAIF-Zone the ideal business hub to the Middle East.

SAIF-Zone is also conveniently located adjacent to the Sharjah International Airport, the largest air cargo hub in the Middle East and North Africa.

In its commitment to providing investors with the perfect conditions for business operation, the SAIF-Zone is constantly upgrading its value-added services, infrastructure facilities, technical and scientific expertise and the availability of ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities.

With its simple one window solution to all investor requirements, the SAIF-Zone offers fast and simple processing of relevant licenses within 24 hours, sponsorships and visas for all staff, and simplified customs procedure.

Legal services, international couriers, traffic and licensing offices, workshops, access to 50 international banks, restaurants and post office, transportation to and from the city are also available within the zone. Access to low-cost energy and labour, budget accommodation for on-site workforce, consultancy services and computer training, make it the perfect base for any type of business.

WEALTH CREATION

There are distinct advantages of doing business in Sharjah and the SAIF-Zone. With a trading history dating back to the early 18th century, Sharjah today accounts for more than 40% of all industrial activity in the UAE.

The Sharjah Ports and Free Zone, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Sharjah are extremely pro-active and business savvy entities geared to provide all assistance to potential businessmen.

The cost of setting up a business in Sharjah is less than in any other emirate of the UAE, and the focus on industrialisation has in recent years turned Sharjah into a commercial centre registering an impressive annual growth rate of 12%.

In addition to tax-free operation and an absence of red-tape, the SAIF-Zone offers unbeatable trade incentives and unparalleled benefits to investors:

	100% foreign ownership
	100% repatriation of capital and profits
	100% exemption from income and corporate taxes
	License issued within 24 hours
	On site labor accommodation
	Sponsorship and visa’s for all staff
	Access to over 2 billion customers Strategic location
	24 hour hotline for equipment and provision of labour
	Global and regional communications with excellent air, land and sea links
	Simplified procedures
	Back up services provided by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sharjah Expo
	Competitive structure of fee, property and management
	24 X 7 Operations.

No restriction on hiring of 100% expatriate workers, and many more.

Economic wage structure and no restriction on hiring of 100% expatriate workers, and many more.

Lifestyle

Acknowledged throughout the gulf region as the seat of learning and culture, Sharjah is blessed with a rich culture, colourful history and age-old traditions. Despite impressive and accelerated business growth there has been deliberate effort to preserve and restore historic monuments and sites.

Sharjah offers cost-effective living and world class educational options for the SAIF-Zone investor. A multinational education system at all levels is available to ensure all educational requirements for families are met.

Sharjah has a booming tourism industry attracting interested visitors from around the globe to enjoy its beautiful beaches, diverse restaurants, shopping and entertainment offerings, and international standard hotels.

These benefits and other initiatives have helped investors across the globe choose SAIF-Zone as their place to do business.

As the SAIF-Zone moves into the future it is committed to its mission of, “exceeding customer expectations and thrilling them at all times”.

P. O. BOX 8000, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 6 557 0000 • Fax: +971 6 557 1010
Email: info@saif-zone.com
Website: http://www.saif-zone.com

Free Zone Establishment and Free Zone Company Registration (one time charge)
Branch registration (one time charge)
Revision of licence (before expiry)
More than one licence can be obtained.
Sales in the UAE can be carreid out through a locally licenced distributor or agent.
Exchange rate US$1 = AED 3.67 approx.
Rates are subject to change without prior notice.

Sharjah - An Industrial Power House

Sharjah is the industrial heartland of the UAE, accounting for more then 40% of the country's industrial GDP. Its geographic location has led to a unique integration of land, sea and air links. This in turn offers unbeatable logistical, warehousing and distribution advantages. The only emirate with seaports on the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Sharjah has carved a niche in the sea-air traffic sector, experiencing growth rates of more than 50% in the last few years.

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF-Zone) and the Airport have been instrumental in helping Sharjah's economy scale new peaks. SAIF-Zone is the fastest growing airport free zone in the region, while the international airport has gained an enviable reputation as a leading cargo hub.

Speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness have been the cornerstones of Sharjah's industrial policy. A stable government, proactive policies, solid industrial base and an attractive incentives package have drawn a very high proportion of foreign investments into Sharjah in recent years.

Education:

Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, a comprehensive infrastructure of world-class educational institutions and facilities has been laid out in Sharjah. A man of letters, who is as erudite as he is benevolent, he has been unstinting in his efforts to promote Sharjah as a centre for education, culture and arts. Little wonder then that in 1998, UNESCO declared Sharjah the cultural capital of the Arab world.

A multi-dimensional educational system catering to the varied needs of its people has been set up. Apart from the unique and impressive University City in the Muwailih suburb, excellent multinational nursery, primary, secondary and undergraduate educational institutions dot the emirate. The booming economy will lead to a rise in the need for trained manpower in all segments of the market. With a view to this, numerous career oriented courses, especially those related to management technology and the tourism industry have sprung up. Recognizing the pivotal role education has to play in the future development of Sharjah, the federal education ministry and the Ruler himself oversees the working of the various committees formed for this purpose.

Lifestyle:

Relaxed, friendly and laid back- in a nutshell this is what life in Sharjah is all about. An ambient atmosphere, steeped in the culture and traditions of the past exists in complete harmony in a modern city equipped with the latest technological and recreational facilities. Gleaming high-rises, trendy internet cafes and glitzy shopping malls form the perfect backdrop to colourful, noisy souks, painstakingly recreated museums and heritage areas. Peopled by friendly locals and expatriates from around the globe, Sharjah is a shining example of the ideal city of the millennium.

Business Advantage:

There are some very real and distinct advantages to doing business in Sharjah. Complementing the relatively cheap labour and superlative infrastructure services are the incentives, facilities and privileges given to the ordinary investor.

The Sharjah Ports and Free Zones offer the potential businessman complete freedom in matters of transactions besides repatriation of capital and gains.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce plays a leading role in promoting business in the emirate. It offers technical advice and conducts feasibility studies, helping fledging businesses overcome barriers and develop to their potential.

The Government of Sharjah is extremely proactive towards business. A 40sq.mile stretch within the city has been designated as an industrial zone. Divided into 16 subdivisions, each division specialises in a certain industry. Well connected by a modern network of roads, it is accessible to both airports and seaports. It is not surprising then that the cost of setting up a business here is less than other emirates of the UAE.

The continued urbanization and upgrading of existing facilities has seen a growth in demand in all sectors. Real estate investment in Sharjah has been scaling new peaks with each passing year and demand for commercial, residential and industrial land has recorded tremendous growth.

All these factors combined with enduring stability and security of the region make Sharjah a veritable dream for the businessman.

Sharjah International Airport

When in 1932, Imperial Airways (known today as British Airways) built an airfield at Sharjah, it was merely a stopover for planes en route to India and Australia. Much later in 1977, Sharjah International Airport opened as the first category II airport in the Arabian Gulf with an annual capacity of two million passengers. In 1980, two purpose built terminals for cargo came into being along with aprons to park six DC8 cargo planes. This was further expanded in 1995 with four additional aircraft parking bays and an additional cargo shed. This was also the year when the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone came into existence.

It is the only major airport of the region dealing with charter operations and it has created a niche as one of the largest cargo hubs in the entire region. Having registered a 10-fold rise in volume, it handles more export volumes than any other airport in the region. Its rapid growth and commitment to providing cargo facilities to international standards led to the establishment of a major hub by Lufthansa Cargo. In 1998, it was awarded the best International Air Cargo Award instituted by the European Institute For Transport Management (EITM) and for two consecutive years (1999 and 2000) was selected as the Best Cargo Hub for Middle East and North Africa.

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