Sharjah · Free zone
SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone)
Operator: SAIF Zone
SAIF Zone is the free zone next to Sharjah International Airport, set up in 1995. It hosts trading, manufacturing, logistics and service companies in offices, pre-built warehouses and on land plots.
- Emirate
- Sharjah
- Setup
- Free zone
- Uses
- Manufacturing, Light industry, Logistics, Warehousing, Distribution, Trade
Best for
- Trading and logistics that rely on air cargo
- Light manufacturing and assembly
- Small and mid-size users who want a ready warehouse
- Express parcel and e-commerce operators
Consider elsewhere if
- You need sea access or heavy industrial space: Hamriyah has its own port
- You need to trade across the mainland from your site: the SAIF Zone licence covers the free zone only
- You want to own land: SAIF Zone facilities are leased
Free zone licensing
You set up an FZE, an FZC or a branch, with full foreign ownership and no import or export duties, according to SAIF Zone. Trade, service and industrial licences are available, and customs and immigration offices are on site. SAIF Zone states that its licence covers business inside the free zone only.
Tenure. All SAIF Zone facilities are on long-term leases that can be renewed, with rent paid yearly (SAIF Zone FAQ, viewed October 2026).
Who locates here
- Light manufacturing and assembly
- Logistics and freight forwarding
- Express parcel and delivery operators
- Trading and distribution
- Jewellery manufacturing
Property
SAIF Zone leases pre-built warehouses, land plots for custom-built warehouses and industrial buildings, offices and labour accommodation. It also has a jewellery park and container parking.
Formats. Pre-built warehouses, Land plots, Offices, Labour accommodation, Container parking, Jewellery manufacturing units
Our view for tenants
SAIF Zone works well if air freight matters or you want a ready warehouse close to Sharjah city. Licensing is handled in one place and customs is on site. The trade-offs are leasehold only and a licence limited to the zone.
Our view for investors
Recent SAIF Zone announcements show some tenants building on leased land, such as Herald Holdings, and others leasing ready units, such as EMX. The authority is landlord and regulator, so any investment runs through a lease from the zone. We have not found a public rent or occupancy series for the zone, which makes local comparisons essential.
Notable
- Exeed Geotextile (Exeed Industries). Geotextile and fibre manufacturing facility, opened in January 2026. saif-zone.com
- Herald Holdings. Land lease signed in July 2023 to build a logistics facility. saif-zone.com
- EMX (7X). Logistics warehouse lease for express delivery, signed in November 2024. saif-zone.com
- Tokai Optical. Prescription lens manufacturing facility, in production since early 2025. saif-zone.com
Sources
- SAIF Zone: About us (viewed October 2026)
- SAIF Zone: Free zone (viewed October 2026)
- SAIF Zone: Business set up (viewed October 2026)
- SAIF Zone: FAQ (viewed October 2026)
- SAIF Zone news: Exeed Geotextile (19 January 2026)
- SAIF Zone news: Herald Holdings land lease (16 July 2023)
- SAIF Zone news: EMX logistics warehouse (12 November 2024)
- SAIF Zone news: Tokai Optical (3 February 2025)
- saif-zone.com
- OpenStreetMap w194248837 Saif Free Zone
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026.
Drive times: Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap data (valhalla1.openstreetmap.de), car, free-flowing traffic, computed 7 Oct 2026.