Sharjah Update Sharjah business & Investment News from Invest in Sharjah (Sharjah FDI Office)
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More than 1,000 artificial intelligence (AI)-related companies have established operations at Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone), highlighting the growing presence of technology and new economy businesses in the emirate.
The development comes as the UAE’s AI market is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 36.3 per cent between 2026 and 2033, reaching around USD 97.45 billion by 2033, according to Grand View Research.
The AI companies operating from SPC Free Zone cover a range of activities. Some 691 specialise in AI research, innovation and consultancy, while 125 focus on AI model training. A further 110 companies develop AI-powered solutions, while 26 are engaged in intelligent systems and robotics. Other businesses operate in areas including advanced AI research and robotics trading, taking the total number of AI-related companies beyond 1,000.
As competition intensifies across the technology sector, the speed and cost of establishing a business are increasingly important factors for start-ups and international companies when choosing where to operate.
At SPC Free Zone, company formation packages start from AED 5,750, while business licences can be issued immediately. An AI-powered licensing system enables selected applications to be completed within minutes.
Investors can also obtain UAE residency within five working days and receive assistance with opening a corporate bank account within three working days. The free zone offers more than 40 additional business services.
Saif Al Suwaidi, Director of SPC, said: “The growth of AI and smart solutions companies at SPC Free Zone reflects the wider transformation taking place across the business landscape. Our focus is on creating an environment where these companies can establish their operations efficiently and access the services and flexibility they need to grow.”
He added: “As AI adoption accelerates across sectors, companies need faster access to markets and greater flexibility to scale. We continue to develop our services and attract technology and new economy businesses, connecting them with growth opportunities in the UAE and beyond.”
Businesses at SPC Free Zone can choose from more than 2,000 activities, with 100 per cent foreign ownership and no paid-up capital requirement. Up to five business activities can be combined under a single licence.
A dual-licensing option also enables companies to operate in both the free zone and the UAE mainland, giving technology businesses greater flexibility as they expand.
The free zone’s location provides convenient access to both Sharjah International Airport and Dubai International Airport, supporting companies with regional and international operations.
SPC Free Zone also offers a range of facilities, including offices, co-working spaces, warehouses, storage facilities and meeting rooms.
The more than 1,000 AI-related companies form part of a wider business community of over 20,000 companies from 173 countries operating at SPC Free Zone.
These businesses span sectors including e-commerce, general trading, digital marketing and information technology solutions, creating a broader commercial ecosystem alongside the free zone’s growing AI and technology community.
