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d3 vs SHAMS: which should you choose?

Fashion, design and luxury creative businesses. The cheapest credible route to a UAE licence — and the one most freelancers actually need.

Criteriond3SHAMS
Entry priceAED 25,000AED 5,760
Typical costAED 50,000AED 8,500
Setup (days)10–251–4
EmirateDubaiSharjah
Remote setupNoYes
Our rating7.7/108.4/10

Our verdict

On our criteria, SHAMS wins for the most common profile. The cheapest credible route to a UAE licence — and the one most freelancers actually need.

That said, d3 remains the right call if: fashion and design studios, luxury brands. Headline price should not decide this alone — visa quota and banking reception usually matter more.

Let's talk about your actual case

A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.

WhatsApp · hello@plug2uae.com