Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF-Zone) is located in Sharjah with excellent connectivity to sea ports and is located right next to the Sharjah international Airport. It offers unmatched logistical advantages leading to savings in time and insurance costs. Started in 1995 with 55 companies, SAIF Zone has grown to 4235 companies by the end of 2009. It has issued 4725 licenses as of 2009 with 448 of them being industrial licenses, 1332 are service licenses, 2665 are trade licenses and 280 are aviation licenses.
It has established multiple departments for smooth running of the entire operations. To take care of the diverse business needs of the clients, Clients and Investors service department has been set up. This department takes care of the visa and immigration related formalities and chamber of commerce related work. A separate engineering Department takes care of the utility services, soil testing, building permits etc. Health and Safety department provides the export safety certificates, Food analysis certificates etc.
The entire operations run on singe window basis and all the necessary admi9nistrative support required from Customs, Banks, post offices, courier companies and restaurants are provided under a single roof.
• The SAIF Zone offers excellent connectivity to more than 2 billion customer base through land, air and sea routes. Both Indian Ocean as well as the Arabian Gulf is accessible. It offers competitive fee and licensing rates to the investors.
• SAIF Zone provides sponsorship and visas for all the staff with unlimited accessibility and availability to economical workforce, round the clock. They have well qualified bilingual staff ever ready to address the diverse business needs of the customers.
• SAIF Zone offers complete exemption from corporate and personal income tax to the investors as well as their employees. The import and export duty is exempted for all goods which are handled but not for sale in UAE. If the company wishes to sell their goods in UAE a nominal 5% tax is levied.
• Other financial incentives include 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of profits and capital, 100% free transfer of funds and 25 years lease.
• Fully furnished air conditioned offices are readily made available to the investors. The rent includes all the utilities and amenities. The area starts from 24 square meters.
• Containers parking area is provided on monthly to annual basis for both 20 ft and 40 ft size containers.
• Land plots can be leased starting from 2500 square meters. Electricity and water are charged at a nominal rate, as per the usage. Terms of lease are annual with options to renew as per the business needs.
• Warehouses are available in four different sizes of 124, 250, 400 and 600 square meters and can be leased as per the needs. These warehouses are also suitable to be used for light assembly activities.
• SAIF Zone is the only free zone in the world which allows temporary storage areas for the customers. This can be leased on two months, quarterly, half-yearly and annual basis.
82 square meter size units are available.
• Small size bunkers, both AC and Non AC are provided along with cranes and fire systems. On site accommodation for both male and female laborers is another facility provided by SAIF Zone. These are leased out on annual basis with quarterly advance payments.
• Investors are provided with a choice of license based ion their business activities. They are Industrial license, Commercial license, General Trading License and Service License.
• SAIF Zone adopts an easy three step process for starting a business there. These are a) submission of documents and proposal, b) Receiving the approval and paying the fee, and c) receiving the license and lease agreement along with the keys to the premises.
With such excellent facilities and operational features, SAIF Zone has established itself as a safe zone for the investors. |
