Author: Afreen Razak

In conversation with Salim Omar Salim, Director of SPC Free Zone

Please elaborate on SPC Free Zone’s service portfolio.

Free zones in the UAE operate in a highly competitive, liberalised and globalised environment, and what differentiates SPC is the cost, quality of service, and operational efficiency. SPC Free Zones’s dual license option gives businesses the flexibility of a free zone with several mainland advantages, and clients can choose from the multi-year license options that extend up to ten years. What’s notable is also our shared services centre, where companies can get customs and immigration clearance, reducing their operational costs to a great extent. And most importantly, we register a company the same day, without requiring the owner’s physical presence.

The future of entrepreneurship leans on innovation, sustainability and knowledge. At SPC Free Zone, we are constantly adapting the best international practices and thinking ahead to provide SMEs and larger organisations the infrastructure, network and a stable regulatory and operating environment to support them in the long term

– Salim Omar Salim, Director of SPC Free Zone

What is SPC Free Zone’s diversification strategy?

SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Free Zone) is known for its success in industries like publishing, education and other allied services, alongside E-commerce, Real Estate, Artisanal Restaurants, Tech Advancement, Legal firms, highly specialised Tax, Finance, HR, IT Consultancies, Manufacturing, and other 1,500 business activities that SPC Free Zone offers.

That is, in fact, the value proposition of SPC Free Zone – it has a huge natural advantage in terms of maritime access, proximity to big regional economies, a pleasant living and working environment, and a stable regulatory and operating environment, including easy access to supply chain and large pool of talent that makes it a no-brainer for foreign investors as well as local entrepreneurs to set up in SPC Free Zone.

A raft of initiatives such as Access Sharjah and incentive packages to boost entrepreneurial morale during Covid gained popularity. Are any similar initiatives in the offing?

We are currently offering a special business license package at Dh 6,875, with the same renewal prices. The best part of the package is that you can combine up to five business activities under one license. Next, when you set up a business at SPC Free Zone, we provide the lease agreement, a shared desk, MOA and attestation, all free of charge. We also provide clients with the option of allocating 100 visas under one trade license.

Entrepreneurship has been the cornerstone for the UAE over the past 50 years. How specialised is SPC Free Zone in meeting the needs of future entrepreneurs?

The future of entrepreneurship leans on innovation, sustainability and knowledge. At SPC Free Zone, we are constantly adapting the best international practices and thinking ahead to provide SMEs and larger organisations the infrastructure, network and a stable regulatory and operating environment to support them in the long term. We provide state-of-the-art warehousing and storage facilities with the highest fire safety and security for improved order processing and risk management.

Digital content has taken over mainstream media and is essentially how news and topics of interest are digested by audiences. How clued in is SPC Free Zone here and what is it doing in the digital space?

As I said, we are constantly upgrading our systems and processes by adopting next-generation technologies and customer-centric software where we manage our client’s documents, billing, order history, previous problems and everything else through a single touch point. We believe in offering a seamless structure to clients by helping them manage all business-related enquiries digitally and under one platform.

Sharjah has always been the cultural capital of the UAE, how do you plan to integrate SPC Free Zone in its economic growth under your leadership?

With SPC Free Zone, I aspire to create a global framework for local prosperity. We are working towards expanding our production goals and creating value for the broader economy by building a powerful ecosystem of mutual interests between local suppliers, training providers, businesses and the government. Being able to contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future – one that supports the growth of local economies and communities while simultaneously benefiting from the global market dynamics is our long-term vision.

Issuing trade licenses to providing concierge services and more from SPC Free Zone

SPC Free Zone Business Trade Licenses

SPC Free Zone offers the option of a dual license that will grant companies two different approvals; the first one issued by the SPC Free Zone administration, and the second by Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), which will allow companies to take advantage of investment opportunities within the free zone as well as the UAE mainland’s markets. The license types can be categorised as below:

Service License

Operating with a Service License means one will run a business without any tangible assets, focusing more on selling unique services to consumers (consultancies, project management, investment services).

Commercial

Operating with a Commercial License allows one to trade in goods and sell specific services. The goods sold can be imported and sold in the UAE, exported and sold outside the UAE, or ascertained and traded solely within the UAE. With this license, one can trade almost any type of goods.

E-commerce

An E-commerce License allows one to conduct your business in the UAE but purely online. One would have to operate via online portals that allow the buying and selling of goods and services both locally and internationally.

General Trading License

A General Trading License allows one to trade in more specific goods as well as general items. Almost all goods can be traded under this license, and they do not need to be related.

FACILITIES

Warehouse and Storage Facility

Dedicated lockable spaces are available for investors who are looking for a small or larger space for storage, or other uses with the highest standards of fire, safety and security.

Co-working Facility

Every client at SPC Free Zone will have 24/7 access to the office facilities, meeting rooms, co-working spaces and cafes located within an area of 100,000 square metres.

Office Space

The independent office space ranges from 17 square metres up to more than 1,700 square metres. Investors can choose either a furnished or unfurnished office.

Retail Space

The wide area of retail spaces provides a prime location to sell products directly to customers. There are also options to open restaurants or coffee shops to serve beverages and snacks.

Concierge

Our professional and cost-effective concierge services will help you with Emirates ID and medical assistance, visa services, opening bank accounts, document clearing, passport service, tax certificates and much more.

Tax and Accounting

SPC Free Zone offers a broad range of services that helps businesses maintain sustainable growth and prepare for long-term financial stability through the dedicated tax and accounting division. The services include VAT registration, VAT deregistration, compliance, Economic Substance Regulation (ESR), FTA approvals and more.

Prime focus to provide the highest quality of service and exceptional customer experience

SPC Free Zone considers itself a powerhouse for new entrepreneurs and investors. It provides an ecosystem for business owners to thrive and concentrate on growing their business. Starting a new business can be an intimidating concept for some, however, SPC Free Zone equips new business owners with the right tools for smooth sailing in their new entrepreneurial journey.

Along with business licenses and company setup, they offer value-added services for necessary procedures to allow the new business owner a hassle-free experience and to allocate valuable time and resources to growing their business rather than facing delays or interruptions. Because they value their clients’ time, they work with reputable providers and government entities to ensure a pleasant and hassle-free experience.

Concierge services

SPC Free Zone offers concierge services that are tailored and customised to an individual’s specific needs. The team’s extensive industry experience and in-depth knowledge about the local market, systems, processes, laws, and regulations of the UAE allow them to provide valued clients with ease, convenience, and simplicity through services such as:

Free corporate bank account opening assistance for new business setup – save Dh1,575.

Entrepreneurs and those new to the UAE may struggle to set up a bank account due to not having sufficient knowledge and awareness about frequently changing requirements and banking procedures. SPC Free Zone provides clarity, recommendations, and advice on the best type of bank accounts from a list of leading UAE banks, based upon your individual needs and requirements, whilst simplifying the seemingly complicated process.

SPC Free Zone also handles the required documentation, as well as the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure. A banking KYC procedure is a client-onboarding process that involves assessing and taking necessary actions to ensure customers are real and help prevent illegal schemes such as corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing. This can take some time – however, with SPC Free Zone’s connections and partnership, the process can be finished quickly.

For a limited time, SPC Free Zone is providing free bank account opening assistance with all new business setups. This particular service comes at a charge – however, SPC Free Zone prides itself on being a support system for entrepreneurs and is offering it for free during this festive period so you can save AED 1,575. The offer is valid until 31st December 2021 – T&Cs apply.

More concierge services include:

• Emirates ID & Medical Screening Test

All UAE residents are required to undergo a medical screening test for the resident visa process (new visas + renewals). The concierge team will assist with the appointment and take you to the medical centre to fast-track your application.

• Visa Service

Assistance is provided with the renewal, cancellation, or new application of all residence visas, including domestic workers’ visa. This also includes change-of-status (e.g., from a tourist visa to a residence visa). 1-month and 3-month tourist visas can also be provided.

• Document clearing

This includes government attestation, notarisation, translation, apostille, and embassy related documents.

• Tax certificates

The team helps individuals and corporate companies with obtaining tax certificates. Tax residency certificates are issued by the UAE Ministry of Finance.

• Dual License (Mainland and Free Zone) approvals

Some may choose to open a business with a dual license and operate in the mainland as well as the free zone. SPC Free Zone provides complete support in registering the business with the relevant mainland government authority i.e., Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD).

• Customs Code

To import and export goods in the UAE, your company must be registered with the UAE Federal Customs Authority. A code must be obtained for the clearance of goods with a valid trading (or commercial) license, which the team assists in obtaining.

• Delivery service, pick-up, and drop off

Your documents can be delivered to your doorstep, and a driver can be assigned for pick-up and drop-off to government centers for visa and Emirates ID procedures, medical screening tests, and more.

• Value-added services

This includes (but is not limited to) priority service, P.O. box application, phone answering, assigned parking slots, usage of the theatre, company stamp, and printing.
Make your life simpler and let SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Free Zone) do the work for you. Learn more details at www.spcfz.ae or call 800 SPCFZ (77239).

Covering an area of 40,000 sq. m, SPC provides 600 offices for publishing entrepreneurs

Sharjah: As many as 2,000 new companies from 106 countries, mainly the UK, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Lebanon, registered with the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) in 2021, it said on Sunday.

The number of newly registered publishing companies and allied businesses has risen over the previous year, reflecting the emirate’s ongoing efforts to attract investments in diverse economic sectors, including creative industries, through the free zone’s portfolio of advanced services and state-of-the-art facilities that cater to investors’ needs.

Covering an area of 40,000 square metres, SPC provides 600 furnished offices for publishing entrepreneurs and 6,000 square metres of space for investors planning to create their own spaces. It also houses more than 20 conference rooms, stores, service facilities, and a public administration branch of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to speed up investor visa processing.

Open 24/7, SPC Free Zone offers investors a wide range of benefits, including 100 per cent foreign ownership for all nationalities, 100 per cent repatriation of capital, 100 per cent exemption from personal income tax, corporate tax, import and export tax, as well as access to all other services at cost-effective rates, including manpower, energy, living, printing, and logistics.

Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone was awarded the Quality Management System Certificate (ISO 9001:2015) in 2021. In the same year, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mashreq Bank to offer priority access to various financial and banking services to investors and entrepreneurs in different market sectors.

SPC Free Zone offers investors a choice of more than 1,500 business activities

With a clear vision, great values, and true determination to significantly contribute to the UAE’s economic growth, SPC Free Zone has been taking great strides towards establishing a leading status amongst over 40 free zones present in the UAE.

SPC Free Zone is located in the Emirate of Sharjah, which is one of the main industrial and educational hubs in the region. Because of its unique cultural structure, versatile environment, and business-friendly policies, it has been welcoming and enabling business aspirations from all over the world.

By establishing their businesses with SPC Free Zone, entrepreneurs and investors benefit from many incentives such as 100 per cent ownership of the business and its profits. Entrepreneurs are offered a wide variety of cost-effective packages with multi-year licence option going up to 10 years, with a choice of more than 1,500 business activities and the possibility to combine up to five different activities under one licence. A dual licence option can also be availed (mainland and free zone). Up to 20 visas and up to seven shareholders can be included on selected packages as well.

SPC Free Zone also boasts world-class infrastructural facilities such as co-working, shell and core, retail, and storage spaces for new business owners to have everything under one roof.

With SPC Free Zone, all it takes is two hours for a trade license and six working days for residence/investor visas to be issued. The business set-up process is completed remotely without the need for the new business owner’s presence, through state-of-the-art online systems.

New business owners also have the option to add more value to their business set-up through SPC Free Zone’s exceptional concierge services such as banking assistance, VIP Emirates ID and medical test assistance, document clearing, tax certificates and much more for a convenient and hassle-free experience.

With its unmatched streamlined business set-up processes and offerings, SPC Free Zone is truly the one-stop-shop solution free zone, where more is possible.

Helping facilitate growth and expansion of one’s business

With Expo 2020 right around the corner, a positive economic impact has been predicted during which the prospects of starting and growing a new business in the UAE are sky-high. SPC Free Zone is witnessing improved market conditions, shifts in demand, transformed consumer spending habits, and evolving industry trends. Entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this crucial period before the Expo to attract investors, venture capitalists and a larger customer base.

People are looking to set up small and medium businesses now more than ever. SMEs have constantly been making a positive contribution to the UAE’s economy, due to their emphasis on innovation and modernisation.

At SPC Free Zone, businesses are encouraged to adapt innovative approaches and practices as this will allow them to achieve a unique competitive advantage. SPC Free Zone wants to turn entrepreneurial dreams into reality and provide a promising platform to those with a vision, to facilitate their growth and expansion.

The entity’s affordable prices, quick processing times and excellent customer service are factors that SPC Free Zone prides itself on. Its strategic and easy-to-access location stipulates ease of trade through multiple air and sea ports, eliminating many restraints that new businesses might encounter.

Wondering what sector to start your business in? A surge in popularity has been observed under:

E-commerce

We live in a thriving digital world, where many aspects of the average consumer’s daily life are online and this is something new entrepreneurs are capitalising on.

Publishing, advertising and media

An excellent sector to maximise on, as the UAE houses one of the strongest publishing industries in the world, backed by initiatives from the government of Sharjah.

SPC Free Zone is the world’s first publishing free zone, offering one of the most accessible and affordable publishing trade licencses in the country.

Tourism and hospitality

The UAE is expecting 25 million visitors over the next six months, which is a brilliant opportunity to profit from.