Before you read further
HFZA may not fit 3 things you're probably after.
If any of these apply to you, the linked alternative will save you a week. Close this tab before you waste it.
Not for crypto / Web3
→ DMCCVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Not for clinics
→ DHCCDHA-regulated medical/clinical activity requires Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Sharjah · Free Zone
Coming as channel partnerFull UAE Free Zone profile · pricing on request
Formenzo files directly at HFZA as part of our full-coverage service — complete formation, visa, and banking support. Pricing is quoted per case based on your passport, activity, and visa count. The figures on this page reflect the authority’s published rate card.
Hamriyah Free Zone
Heavy industrial + port zone — steel, oil & gas, maritime
7d
License in
∞
Visa quota
800+
Activities
6/10
Bank score
Hamriyah Free Zone is the UAE's second-largest free zone (~28 sq km). Integrated with Hamriyah Port. 6,500+ companies. Specialist clusters for steel, oil & gas, maritime, food, and timber.
Starting from
AED 15,000
Formenzo all-in estimate
Includes: Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card
Invoice transparency · HFZA
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- HFZA licenceAED 15,000
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
1 visa · founder
- HFZA licenceAED 15,000
- Entry permit × 1AED 3,800
- Medical + EID × 1AED 690
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
2 visas · partners
- HFZA licenceAED 15,000
- Entry permit × 2AED 7,600
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,380
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
Visa bundle uses HFZA-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · HFZA
The real bank-approval picture for a HFZA licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical time from licence issuance to funded IBAN.
Banking partners
Banks that open accounts for HFZA companies with 90%+ approval.
Average time to IBAN
25 days
from license issuance
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to funded IBAN.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~2 days
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~5 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~9 days
Bank account opened
Funded UAE IBAN ready to receive payments.
~9 days
Full cost breakdown
Every fee, transparent. Real 2026 AED pricing, no surprise invoices.
| Government license fee | AED 11,000 |
| Formenzo service fee (all-inclusive) | AED 3,000 |
| Establishment Card (only with visas) | AED 1,000 |
| Per-visa cost (optional) | AED 3,800 |
| Emirates ID (per person) | AED 370 |
| Medical fitness (per person) | AED 320 |
| Minimum setup (no visa) | AED 15,000 |
| With 1 investor visa (most founders) | AED 19,490 |
Why founders pick HFZA
- ✓Second-largest UAE free zone (~28 sq km)
- ✓Integrated with Hamriyah Port — deep-water berths
- ✓Steel City, Maritime City, Food Park, Timber Land clusters
- ✓Warehouse from AED 42,000/yr (200 sqm)
- ✓Industrial land from AED 25/sqm, 25+25 year lease
- ✓Designated Zone for VAT — 0% on bonded goods
Best for these activities
Not allowed
HFZA — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a HFZA license cost in 2026?
+
A Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) license costs AED 15,000 all-in for the zero-visa package in 2026 — that includes government license fee, Establishment Card, and Formenzo's all-inclusive service fee. Add one investor visa (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping) and the total becomes AED 19,490.
How long does HFZA company setup take?
+
HFZA issues the trade license in 7 business days after initial approval (2 days). A residency visa adds approximately 9 more days. Opening a UAE corporate bank account adds 9 days on top. Total from signup to funded UAE IBAN: about 25 days.
How many visas can I get with HFZA?
+
HFZA default package includes 4 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is unlimited. Each additional investor or employment visa costs approximately AED 3,800 including entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, and stamping.
Which UAE banks open accounts for HFZA companies?
+
HFZA companies primarily bank with Sharjah Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and RAKBANK. Formenzo coordinates the KYC process and typical time from license issuance to funded account is 18 days. Bank approval rates vary by nationality; we pre-match you to the right bank before filing.
What business activities does HFZA allow?
+
HFZA permits approximately 800 business activities. It is best suited for industrial, manufacturing, trading, import export. Activities not allowed include restaurant — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a HFZA company without visiting the UAE?
+
Yes — HFZA formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is HFZA eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
+
Yes. HFZA is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. HFZA companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose HFZA over other UAE Free Zones?
+
Heavy industrial + port zone — steel, oil & gas, maritime. Second-largest UAE free zone (~28 sq km). Integrated with Hamriyah Port — deep-water berths. Banking score: 6/10. Setup speed: 7 days. Starting cost: AED 15,000. Take Formenzo's 60-second assessment to compare HFZA against 47 other UAE Free Zones based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Sharjah Free Zones
Compare HFZA with other options in the same emirate.
SHAMS
LLC without the 'FZ' — 4-hour formation for media & creative entrepreneurs
SAIF Zone
Airport cargo hub — trading & logistics from Sharjah
SPC
AED 5,750 flat licence. 70% Sharjah utility subsidy. Pay-As-You-Go activity combination.
USARTC
Niche zone for US businesses entering the Middle East market
Ready to form your HFZA company?
Take our 60-second assessment. We'll prepare your docs, file with HFZA, and have your license in 7 days.