Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA)
The UAE’s Only Dual-Coast Industrial Free Zone, With Exceptional Visa Flexibility
In short: Hamriyah Free Zone, established in 1995, is the only UAE free zone authority with port access on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, hosting over 7,000 companies across genuine heavy-industrial sectors. Licences start from around AED 5,000, and a basic flexi-desk package allows up to 7 residency visas without an office, scaling to 50 visas with a warehouse, one of the most generous visa structures in the UAE.
IncHub Corporate Services Providers LLC is a duly licensed business operating in the United Arab Emirates, authorised to provide corporate and business setup consultancy services in accordance with its trade licence. The trade licence serves as official proof of the company’s legal registration and authorised business activities, demonstrating that IncHub operates as a licensed corporate service provider in the UAE.
What Is Hamriyah Free Zone?
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) was established on 12 November 1995 by Emiri Decree No. 6 of 1995, making it one of the UAE’s longest-running industrial free zones. It sits in the northern part of Sharjah, the only emirate with ports on both the Arabian Gulf (Hamriyah Port) and the Gulf of Oman (via Khor Fakkan Port), giving HFZA companies a genuinely unusual dual-coast shipping advantage that most UAE free zones simply cannot offer. Spanning more than 22 million square metres, HFZA now hosts over 7,000 companies from more than 160 countries.
HFZA is organised around dedicated sector zones, including oil and gas, steel, petrochemicals, food processing, maritime, global logistics and an industrial manufacturing park, reflecting genuinely heavy industrial activity rather than desk-based licensing. Its standout feature for founders who don’t need a warehouse, though, is visa flexibility: a basic flexi-desk package at the Hamriyah Business Centre allows up to 7 residency visas without requiring a dedicated office, one of the most generous visa-to-cost ratios in the UAE, while a warehouse facility unlocks up to 50 visas for larger operations.
Who Is Hamriyah Free Zone For?
Oil and gas service companies, petrochemical traders and steel fabricators needing genuine industrial infrastructure
Manufacturers and processors across food, construction materials, timber and related sectors
Trading and logistics companies that want dual-coast port access via Hamriyah Port and Khor Fakkan Port
Founders needing multiple residency visas without committing to a large office, thanks to HFZA’s unusually generous flexi-desk visa quota
Businesses requiring up to 50 visas through a warehouse facility, for larger logistics or manufacturing operations
What Hamriyah Free Zone Is Famous For: Sector Profile and Core Commercial Case
Hamriyah Free Zone is famous in the heavy industry sector as Sharjah’s deep-water port-adjacent industrial zone, hosting steel fabricators, petrochemical service companies, offshore rig equipment manufacturers, heavy machinery businesses and large-scale construction materials producers. Its tenant base is dominated by businesses that move heavy, oversized or bulk cargo that cannot practically pass through standard container terminals, the category of goods that specifically needs a deep-water berth.
License Types and Company Structures
License Types Available at Hamriyah Free Zone
Company Structures at Hamriyah Free Zone
Setup Costs
| Item | Typical Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level licence (1 visa provision) | From approx. 5,000 to 8,800 |
| Visa package (incl. licence) | Approx. 13,500 |
| Office rent | From approx. 8,000 |
| Warehousing | From approx. 70,000 |
| Phase 2 entry-level (flexi-desk + basic licence) | Approx. 18,000 to 25,000 |
How to Set Up a Company in Hamriyah Free Zone
Identify licence type
1 Business DayIdentify your licence type (Commercial, Professional, or Industrial) and confirm your activities are permitted under HFZA regulations
Choose legal entity
1 Business DayChoose your legal entity, FZE for a single shareholder or FZCO for multiple shareholders
Trade name options
1 Business DaySubmit two to three trade name options for HFZA approval
Submit application
1 – 2 Business DaysComplete and submit the company setup application with passport copies, business plan and supporting documents
Select facility
1 – 2 Business DaysSelect your facility, virtual office, flexi-desk, executive office, warehouse, or industrial land
Pay fees & licence
Same Day – 1 Business DayPay fees and receive your licence, which can be issued in as little as one hour for straightforward applications, or 1 working day with all documents ready
Apply for visas
7 – 10 Business DaysApply for investor and staff visas through HFZA, including medical tests, Emirates ID and entry permits
Open bank account
5 – 10 Business DaysOpen a corporate bank account, a separate process from licensing
Key Benefits of Setting Up in Hamriyah Free Zone
Hamriyah Port: direct deep-water port access within the zone
Hamriyah Free Zone includes Hamriyah Port, one of Sharjah’s three ports with deep-water berth capacity, giving industrial and logistics businesses direct port access without leaving the free zone boundary
Industrial land available for purchase and lease
unlike most UAE free zones which offer only leasehold, Hamriyah offers industrial land for both lease and purchase, allowing capital-intensive manufacturers to own their operational footprint rather than carrying ongoing lease obligations
Mandatory annual audit as a financial credibility signal
HFZA’s enforced annual audit requirement, while a compliance obligation, also signals financial discipline to banks, government procurement bodies and international trade counterparties that optional-audit zones do not
Heavy manufacturing and large-scale industrial infrastructure
Hamriyah accommodates heavy industrial operations including steel fabrication, petrochemical services, heavy machinery and large-volume manufacturing that smaller or lighter-weight free zones cannot handle
Sharjah industrial base with three-port connectivity
Hamriyah’s location within Sharjah gives companies access to Port Khalid, Hamriyah Port and Sharjah International Airport within the same emirate, alongside road access to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
When Hamriyah Free Zone May Not Be the Right Fit
Hamriyah vs JAFZA vs KEZAD vs RAKEZ
Hamriyah, JAFZA, KEZAD and RAKEZ serve overlapping industrial and logistics models in different ways. IncHub compares each one so you choose the authority that matches what your business actually needs, not just the most recognisable name.
| Factor | Hamriyah | JAFZA | KEZAD | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Heavy industry, dual-coast ports, manufacturing | Port trading, logistics, industrial | Industrial, manufacturing, ADNOC supply chain | Cost-efficient industrial, trading, freelancers |
| Location | Northern Sharjah, Hamriyah Port | Jebel Ali, Dubai | Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah |
| Port & Logistics Access | ||||
| Industrial Land | ||||
| Entry-Level Cost | ||||
| Annual Audit | ||||
| Ideal Company Types | Heavy manufacturers, dual-coast logistics, high visa needs | Large-scale port traders, established logistics | ADNOC supply chain, Abu Dhabi heavy industry | Cost-sensitive industrial and Northern Emirates setups |
IncHub holds direct relationships across the UAE’s free zones, helping you choose the one that best fits your sector and regulatory needs, not just the one with the strongest brand.
Compliance and Ongoing Obligations
Standard UAE federal compliance obligations that apply to all free zone companies (corporate tax, VAT, UBO, accounting, licence renewal, visa renewal and FTA amendments) are documented in full in IncHub’s UAE Free Zone Compliance Guide. The Hamriyah Free Zone-specific obligations that differ between zones are listed below.
Annual Audit (Mandatory)
HFZA requires audited financial statements to be submitted at the end of each financial year as a condition of ongoing licence maintenance; Hamriyah enforces this requirement; companies should engage a UAE-registered auditor from year one
Economic Substance Regulations (ESR)
companies carrying out a relevant activity, including holding, distribution and service centre, intellectual property, headquarters, shipping, fund management, banking, insurance, lease-finance, and high-risk IP activities, must file annual ESR notifications and, where applicable, full ESR reports with the FTA; first-violation penalties are AED 50,000 rising to AED 400,000 on repetition
Port and Industrial Environmental Compliance
industrial and manufacturing companies at Hamriyah Free Zone with operations involving chemical handling, heavy equipment, waste discharge or atmospheric emissions must maintain compliance with Sharjah Environmental Protection and Development Authority requirements; environmental compliance runs on its own inspection and renewal calendar independent of the HFZA licence
How IncHub Can Help You Set Up in Hamriyah Free Zone
IncHub supports industrial, manufacturing and logistics businesses through Hamriyah Free Zone, advising on the HFZA vs JAFZA vs KEZAD decision for heavy manufacturing and bulk trade, coordinating Hamriyah Port access compliance and industrial environmental requirements, and managing the mandatory annual audit and ESR filings that HFZA enforces.
Our services for Hamriyah Free Zone company formation include:
- Free zone suitability assessment comparing HFZA against JAFZA, KEZAD and RAKEZ for your industrial activity, port requirements and land ownership objectives
- Industrial land purchase vs lease decision support and facility selection
- Hamriyah Port access compliance and cargo handling coordination
- Sharjah Environmental Protection and Development Authority compliance programme setup for industrial and manufacturing operations
- Investor and employee visa processing, medical and Emirates ID coordination
- Corporate bank account introduction with banks experienced in HFZA industrial entity onboarding
- Mandatory annual audit coordination, ESR notification and reporting
- UBO maintenance, VAT registration and FTA amendment management
What Our Clients Say
Watch how IncHub helped entrepreneurs and international businesses establish their companies in Hamriyah Free Zone through our authorised Professional Partner network.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in Hamriyah Free Zone?
Entry-level licences with a single visa provision start from around AED 5,000 to 8,800. A combined visa and licence package runs approximately AED 13,500, while warehousing starts from around AED 70,000.
How many visas can a Hamriyah Free Zone company sponsor?
Up to 7 residency visas on a basic flexi-desk package without requiring a dedicated office, and up to 50 visas with a warehouse facility, among the most generous visa allowances in the UAE.
Why is Hamriyah Free Zone's port access unique?
HFZA is the only UAE free zone authority with access to ports on both the Arabian Gulf, via Hamriyah Port, and the Gulf of Oman, via Khor Fakkan Port, a dual-coast shipping advantage no other zone offers.
What legal structures does HFZA offer?
Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for a single shareholder, and Free Zone Company (FZCO) for multiple shareholders.
How fast can I get a licence at Hamriyah Free Zone?
Licence issuance can take as little as one hour for straightforward applications, or about one working day once all required documents are submitted.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement at HFZA?
A minimum of around AED 150,000 is commonly cited, which can be reflected in the company's statutory documents without requiring an actual transfer of funds into the bank account.
Ready to set up your Hamriyah Free Zone company?
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