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The Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP, branded SPark) sells its cheapest licence at AED 3,999. That is the SPARK Starter package: a licence and lease with co-working access, one shareholder, up to 3 activities and no visa. The price is marked limited time. SRTIP suits technology firms, researchers, consultants and early startups that want a low entry cost in Sharjah and a visa route later.
The zone was set up in and sits next to University City, about 4 km from Sharjah International Airport. It lists more than 1,500 activities. Some people know it simply as the Sharjah Innovation Park or the Sharjah Technology Park. One agency gives a later founding year, but SRTIP's own about page and Invest in Sharjah both use the earlier date.
How much does an SRTIP license cost?
SRTIP publishes three SPARK tiers. Each one comes as a no visa package or with 1 or 2 visas built in.
| Package | 0 visa | 1 visa | 2 visas | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPARK Starter | AED 3,999 | AED 10,990 | AED 14,695 | 1 shareholder, up to 3 activities, licence and lease, co-working, bank opening help. No corporate tax registration |
| SPARK Growth | AED 6,499 | AED 14,010 | AED 17,400 | Up to 5 shareholders, 5 activities, corporate tax registration, bank opening help |
| SPARK Elite | AED 8,499 | AED 16,010 | AED 19,400 | Everything in Growth plus bookkeeping for up to 25 transactions a year |
Source: SRTIP Start Your Business page (lp.srtip.ae), prices marked limited time, checked .
The visa versions of Starter include security approval, the immigration card, e-channel registration, the entry permit and the Emirates ID. On Growth and Elite the visa versions also cover change of status and the medical test. So the 1 visa price is close to a full first-year cost for one resident owner.
Older SRTIP packages you may still see
An SRTIP post from lists a different set: Zero Visa at AED 5,500 with up to 5 activities, One Visa at AED 13,990 and Two Visa at AED 17,795. Many agency pages still quote these. The SPARK tiers above are the current offer on SRTIP's own landing page, but because they are promotional, ask which prices apply on the day you pay.
What setup agencies quote for SRTIP
Setup agencies publish SRTIP licence-only prices at about AED 5,500 to AED 6,510 (published prices of 4 setup agencies, checked ). The low end matches the older zero visa package with 5 activities. The high end, from one agency, adds the MOA, certificate of formation, share certificate and bank help, but not insurance. Agency fees for their own work may sit on top. If you only need one shareholder and three activities, the official Starter price is lower than every agency figure we found.
How do visas work in SRTIP?
You can buy a visa with the package (see the table) or add visas later as the company grows. SRTIP does not publish a standalone price per visa or an establishment card fee on the pages we read. Ask for both before you choose a no visa package with plans to hire.
Your visa quota depends on the office you lease:
- SME Office, 20 to 27 sqm: up to 8 visas
- Ecosystem Office, 50 to 80 sqm: 10 or more visas
For a wider view of what visas cost across zones, see free zone visa cost.
What office options does SRTIP offer?
SRTIP has more office types than most Sharjah zones:
- Maktabi co-working: the base option in SPARK packages, with 3 dedicated desks in the space
- First Step Hi-Tech Office: for startups under 3 years old
- Start-Up Office: a small private office for a new company
- SME Office: 20 to 27 sqm, up to 8 visas
- Ecosystem Office: 50 to 80 sqm, 10 or more visas
- Innovation Office and Innovation Plot: for larger research, lab or production set-ups
Office rents are not published. The SPARK prices only cover co-working.
Which licence types and company forms does SRTIP offer?
SRTIP issues three licence types: commercial, services (which includes e-commerce and professional work) and industrial. You can register an FZE with one shareholder, an FZC with more than one, or a local or foreign branch.
The zone also offers a dual licence that covers free zone and mainland work. It runs special packages for real estate offices, startups, innovators, women in tech and university students. Prices for those are not listed, so ask.
Share capital rules are not published on the pages we read.
How do you set up a company in SRTIP?
- Pick your SPARK tier based on shareholders, activities and visas.
- Choose up to 3 activities on Starter, or 5 on Growth and Elite.
- Open an application on the SRTIP digital portal and upload your documents.
- Get initial approval and any third party approval your activity needs.
- Sign the lease and pay the package fee.
- Receive the licence, which SRTIP says takes 7 to 10 working days from application.
- If your package has visas, the entry permit, medical and Emirates ID follow.
What documents does SRTIP ask for?
- Passport copies of every shareholder and manager
- Passport photos
- Application form and a short business plan
- Proof of address
- Memorandum of association and the lease agreement
- Third party approvals for regulated activities
- For a corporate shareholder: parent company papers and a notarised board resolution
How do SRTIP companies open a bank account?
All SPARK tiers include help opening a business bank account. The bank still runs its own checks and decides. See our corporate bank account guide for what banks usually ask.
How does SRTIP license renewal work?
SRTIP does not publish a renewal fee. The SPARK prices are first-year prices and some are promotional, so ask what year two will cost before you sign. The free zone licence renewal page explains what usually goes into a renewal bill.
Pros and cons of SRTIP
Pros:
- A licence from AED 3,999 with co-working, one of the lowest official prices in Sharjah
- Visa packages priced in full, including Emirates ID
- 1,500+ activities across commercial, services and industrial licences
- Online application, no visit needed to apply
- Bank account help in every package
Cons:
- The SPARK prices are limited time and can change
- Starter allows only 1 shareholder and 3 activities
- No published renewal, standalone visa or establishment card fees
- Office rents beyond co-working are not listed
Compare SRTIP with Shams and SPC Free Zone, the two other low-cost Sharjah zones, or see every option on the Sharjah free zones page. For tech companies across the UAE, read best free zone for tech.
Ask about SRTIP through this page
Put your activity, shareholder count and number of visas in the form on this page. We run UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com as a separate, independent directory with no link to the SRTIP authority. Your request goes to SRTIP or a licensed setup partner, and they reply to you with current prices.
Setup consultants that work with SRTIP
Several setup consultants name SRTIP on their own websites. The highest ranked of them by weighted Google score are My Business Consulting DMCC, InZone - Business Setup in Dubai, UAE and MSZ Consultancy | Business Setup In Dubai, UAE. My Business Consulting DMCC is based in JLT. Check any quote against SRTIP's own price on this page, and browse every firm in the directory of Dubai setup consultants.
Sources
- https://lp.srtip.ae/start-your-business/ : SPARK Starter, Growth and Elite prices and inclusions, bank help
- https://srtip.ae/about-srti-park/ : founding year
- https://srtip.ae/go-global-from-sharjahs-innovation-hub/ : location, offices, visa quotas, older packages, setup time, documents, online portal
- https://srtip.ae/rules-regulations/establishing-companies-institutions/ : company forms, extra documents, special packages
- https://srtip.ae/freezone-business-setup/ : activity count, dual licence
- https://investinsharjah.ae/sharjah-freezones/ : licence types, founding year
