Abu Dhabi vs Sharjah Mainland License Cost Comparison
Abu Dhabi publishes exact fees per activity — AED 100 for landscaping, AED 6,000 for power generation. Sharjah keeps its fees private. But Sharjah's 2,449 activities come with the most detailed government approval data in the UAE. Different strengths, different transparency.
Our Verdict
Pick Abu Dhabi for fee transparency and government contracts. Pick Sharjah for Dubai proximity and detailed approval requirements.
Abu Dhabi
Sharjah
Our Analysis
Abu Dhabi and Sharjah take opposite approaches to transparency. Abu Dhabi publishes the exact DED fee for every one of its 1,022 tracked activities — you can budget to the dirham before applying. Sharjah calculates fees per-license based on multiple factors and doesn't publish a per-activity schedule.
Sharjah compensates with the richest regulatory data in the UAE. For each of its 2,449 activities, the SEDD digital portal shows which government entity approves the activity, whether foreign investment is allowed, and whether a branch is permitted. Abu Dhabi's data doesn't include this level of regulatory detail.
Geographically, Sharjah connects you to the Dubai-Sharjah corridor — the most densely populated stretch in the UAE. Abu Dhabi sits 1.5 hours south, closer to Al Ain and the Western Region.
For government and oil sector work, Abu Dhabi is the obvious base. For businesses serving the Northern Emirates or needing Dubai proximity without Dubai pricing, Sharjah wins.
Fee Comparison: Shared Activities
405 activities available in both emirates
Landscape & Gardening works & Maintenance
Agriculture & Fishing
Plumbing & Sanitary Contracting
Construction & Contracting
Auto Mechanical Repair
Trading & Services
Auto Oil Change
Trading & Services
Wholesale of Spice
Trading & Services
Wholesale of aromatic herbs and plants
Trading & Services
Spices Trading
Trading & Services
Blank Cassettes Trading
Trading & Services
Para Pharmaceutical Products Trading
Trading & Services
Cafeteria
Accommodation & Food Services
Sanitary Installation & Pipes Repairing
Construction & Contracting
Trees Seedlings, Ornamental Plants & Annual Flowers Trading
Trading & Services
Livestock Trading
Trading & Services
Trade Energy Drinks- Wholesale
Trading & Services
Sunglasses and non - medical contact lenses - wholesale
Trading & Services
Coffee Trading
Trading & Services
Local Sweets Preparing
Accommodation & Food Services
Valet Parking Services
Administrative & Support Services
Metal Tanks & Containers Repairing
Trading & Services
Typewriters & Calculators Repairing & Maintenance
Real Estate & Business Services
~ = estimated. Dubai fees assume AED 50,000 annual rent (base AED 8,000 + 5% rent). Ajman shows total mandatory DED fees (~AED 4,500). Exact fees vary.
Showing 20 detailed activity pages from 405 shared activities
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FreeZoneCompare.comFrequently Asked Questions
Is Abu Dhabi or Sharjah cheaper for a mainland license?
Pick Abu Dhabi for fee transparency and government contracts. Pick Sharjah for Dubai proximity and detailed approval requirements.
How many activities are available in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah?
We track 405 business activities available in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for direct fee comparison.
Can foreigners own 100% of a mainland company in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah?
Yes. Both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah allow 100% foreign ownership for most business activities since the 2021 Commercial Companies Law reforms. No local sponsor is required.
How does the fee structure differ between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah?
Abu Dhabi: Unique per-activity DED fees ranging from AED 100 to AED 6,000. Most transparent fee structure in th. Sharjah: Fees calculated per-license based on license type, legal form, investor mix, and selected activities.
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