SRTIP Free Zone Setup in Sharjah (2026): Licences, Packages, Visas, Facilities and Tax

Last updated: October 2026. The zone's own package tiers and rules pages were read on srtip.ae and lp.srtip.ae on 7 October 2026, and every price labelled as a BusinessDubai.ae package comes from BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 package price list.

An SRTIP free zone licence is advertised by the zone itself from AED 3,999, and the figure is real: it is the SPARK Starter tier, licence only, for one shareholder and up to three activities [1]. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package is a different product at a different price: AED 5,510 licence only, AED 13,990 with one residence visa and AED 17,795 with two, carrying 5 activities and 5 shareholders [19]. This guide prints both lists side by side and does not pretend one is the other.

Price is the smaller surprise at this zone. Since 15 January 2024, SRTIP has accepted audit reports for licence renewal only from audit firms on its own accredited list [2]. And the work the park was built around, research services, software development and consultancy, is not on the corporate tax list that earns a free zone company the 0% rate [3]. A founder who chooses on the headline meets both in year two.

Since 2013, BusinessDubai.ae has priced and registered companies across the UAE's free zones. This guide covers what SRTIP is and why it now trades as SPARK, its legal basis, licence types and target sectors, the zone's tiers beside BusinessDubai.ae's package, what each visa adds, ownership and capital, SoiLab and the accelerator, the audit rule, VAT, corporate tax, banking, mainland access, setup steps and a decision table by founder profile.

What is SRTIP, and who is the free zone for?

SRTIP is the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, a Sharjah free zone founded in 2016 next to University City [4]. It suits technology, research and consultancy founders who want a low-cost Sharjah licence. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package costs AED 5,510 licence only, AED 13,990 with one residence visa and AED 17,795 with two [19].

The park sits beside University City, the district that holds the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah. The link is structural as well as geographic: the 2023 decree that reorganised the park requires the heads of both universities to sit on its board [5]. The zone describes itself as a platform connecting academia, industry and government [4].

Read what SRTIP says about its own scale as the zone's claim. Its package page counts more than 10,000 companies in its ecosystem and more than 22 academic and research institutions next door [1]. Neither number is tied to a named register, so this guide repeats them only as SRTIP's figures.

SRTIP belongs on the shortlist of a founder who wants a low-priced Sharjah desk licence, will use a prototyping workshop or lab, or gains from sitting beside two universities. It does not belong there for a founder whose clients need to see a Dubai address, for a trader who needs a VAT Designated Zone, or for anyone choosing it because a brochure said 0% tax.

Before the detail, it helps to see where the zone sits in the emirate. Our business setup in Sharjah page sets SRTIP beside Sharjah's other free zones and the mainland route.

Are SRTIP, SRTI Park and SPARK the same free zone?

Yes. SRTIP, SRTI Park, SPark and SPARK are one Sharjah free zone under one authority. Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023 fixes the English name as Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park "Free Zone", shortened to SRTIP [5], while the zone's own website now brands itself SPark and its package page SPARK [1][4].

The newer name arrived by press release. A release carried by Zawya, headed "Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park adopts new brand name: SPARK", says the new name replaces the earlier variations SRTI Park and SRTIP, and quotes the park's chief executive, Hussain Al Mahmoudi [6]. The release as read for this guide carries no printed date, so this guide does not give one. It also does not say that the legal name set by decree has changed.

So expect several spellings in one file, and none of them signals a second zone.

Most consultants' pages still write SRTIP, which is why this guide does too. When a document matters, a bank form or a contract, use the name printed on your trade licence.

Common Mistake: Treating SPARK and SRTIP as two different free zones when comparing quotes. A quote headed SPARK Growth at AED 14,010 with one visa and a quote headed SRTIP at AED 13,990 with one visa are for the same zone, from two price lists [1][19]. Compare them on shareholders, activities and inclusions. Do not compare them as if one zone were undercutting another, because there is one authority behind both names.

What is SRTIP's legal basis, and who runs it?

SRTIP was founded in 2016, according to the zone's own About page [4]. Its current legal basis is Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023, reported on the Ruler of Sharjah's official portal on 4 July 2023, which gave the park legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and the power to license companies [5].

The About page says the park was established by a royal decree of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and gives the year, 2016, but no decree number [4]. Secondary pages print a number for that founding decree. BusinessDubai.ae found no primary source for it, so this guide does not print one. If a bank's onboarding form or a tender asks for the founding reference, ask the zone for it in writing.

The 2023 decree is better documented. The portal's report says Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023 reorganised the park, that the park is owned by the emirate's government, and that it has its own legal personality [5]. A separate decree reported in the same item formed the board of directors, chaired by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The portal does not print that second decree's number, so none is given here.

The National reported the same day that SRTIP would absorb the Sharjah Oasis for Technology and Innovation to form an independent free zone authority, and that the American University of Sharjah's oversight would be replaced by an independent board [7]. Under the decree, the board must include the heads of the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah and the park's executive director, and members serve four-year terms [5].

For a licence holder, three of the decree's provisions matter most. The park decides which businesses and activities are licensed inside it, it registers and licenses companies and collects the fees, and it signs lease contracts for land and buildings [5]. That is why activity fit, fees and premises are all confirmed with the zone itself.

Pro Tip: Use the 2023 decree as a freshness test on anything you read about SRTIP. A page that still describes the park as operating under the American University of Sharjah is describing the position before 4 July 2023 [5][7], which means its fees, tiers and renewal rules may be just as old. Check the date on a page before you rely on a number from it.

What licence types and activities does SRTIP offer?

SRTIP issues commercial, service, industrial and consultancy licences, along with specialist research and development and innovation-focused permits, as the zone's own FAQ lists them [8]. SRTIP publishes no numbered activity list, and BusinessDubai.ae's activity registers hold none for it, so activity fit is confirmed with the zone in writing before you pay.

The zone's FAQ says many businesses run several compatible activities under one licence, giving consulting, trading and digital services as its example, and that activities can be added or changed later [8]. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package carries 5 activities [19]. The zone's own Starter tier carries up to 3 and its Growth and Elite tiers up to 5 [1].

What you will not find is a searchable, numbered list of the kind the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism publishes for the mainland. Activity counts appear in marketing, on the zone's pages and on third-party ones, and the figures do not agree with each other, so this guide does not print one. BusinessDubai.ae keeps activity registers for a number of UAE licensing authorities, including SHAMS and SPC Free Zone, and holds none for SRTIP.

The park is open about who it wants. Its About page names four focus areas, read on 7 October 2026 [4].

Older third-party descriptions list six areas instead, and the zone's ecosystem page still mentions water technology and renewable energy under sustainability [9]. Treat the four-area list as the current one, and as a statement of intent, not a gate. The cost calculator on the zone's setup page offers e-commerce, general trading, media, IT consultancy, management consultancy, event management, digital marketing and public relations among its activity choices [8].

The zone's rules page also names five tailored licence packages: Real-Estate (offices), Startup, Innovators, Women-in-Tech and University-Student, each described as bundling discounted fees and facility options [10]. The page gives no prices or eligibility rules for them. Ask which one your application would be filed under and what it changes.

Pro Tip: Send SRTIP one email before you pay anything, listing the exact activities you will invoice for, and ask three things: which licence type each falls under, whether all of them fit on one licence at your package's activity count, and whether any needs a third-party approval. The zone's own document list includes third-party approvals for regulated activities [10], and learning that after payment turns a five-day setup into an open-ended one.

Software founders weighing this against a Dubai licence should also read our guide to setting up a software development company in Dubai, which covers code ownership and how SaaS income is taxed.

How much does an SRTIP licence cost in 2026, and what does each visa add?

BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package costs AED 5,510 licence only, AED 13,990 with one residence visa and AED 17,795 with two, so the first visa adds AED 8,480 and the second AED 3,805 [19]. The zone's own SPARK tiers start lower, at AED 3,999 licence only for one shareholder and up to three activities [1].

The table puts the two price lists side by side. The first three rows are the zone's advertised prices, read on lp.srtip.ae on 7 October 2026 [1]. The last row is BusinessDubai.ae's package price [19].

For a sole shareholder with three activities or fewer, the zone's Starter tier is the lowest price in the table: AED 1,511 below BusinessDubai.ae's package licence only and AED 3,000 below it with one visa. BusinessDubai.ae's package is not the cheapest way into SRTIP for that founder.

Against Growth, the tier with the same limits of 5 shareholders and 5 activities, BusinessDubai.ae's package is AED 989 lower licence only, AED 20 lower with one visa and AED 395 higher with two. Twenty dirhams is noise. The zone's page also describes its pricing as available for a limited time [1], so the gap can move in either direction.

What the zone says each SPARK tier includes

The zone's package page prints an inclusion grid, and the tiers differ on more than the shareholder count [1].

Two lines deserve attention. Starter with a visa does not show the status change and medical test fee that Growth and Elite tick, and it leaves out corporate tax registration, which every UAE company has to complete. Those costs still fall on you, outside the Starter price.

BusinessDubai.ae's package is priced by visa count with 5 activities and 5 shareholders [19]. This guide does not claim that it includes the same lines as any SPARK tier, and you should not assume so. Ask for the inclusion list with the quote and set it against the grid above line by line: shareholders, activities, the visa-stage fees, corporate tax registration and bookkeeping.

Other grids circulate. The aggregator sijil.ae advertises a wider set of SRTIP tiers by visa count than the zone's package page shows [11]. BusinessDubai.ae could not find that wider grid on the zone's own pages, so it is not reproduced here. If a consultant quotes from it, ask which tier on the zone's own page the quote maps to.

Real Talk: The cheapest SRTIP licence is the zone's own Starter tier at AED 3,999, not BusinessDubai.ae's package at AED 5,510 [1][19]. If you are one shareholder with three activities or fewer, price Starter first. If you have a co-founder or need a fourth activity, Starter is not open to you at any price, and the real comparison is Growth against BusinessDubai.ae's package, which sit AED 20 apart with one visa.

Quick Math: On BusinessDubai.ae's package the first visa adds AED 8,480 and the second AED 3,805, so two visas cost AED 12,285 on top of the AED 5,510 licence, about AED 6,143 a head [19]. Run the same subtraction on the zone's advertised tiers and the first visa adds AED 6,991 on Starter and AED 7,511 on Growth, and the second adds AED 3,705 and AED 3,390 [1]. On every list the first visa costs roughly twice the second, which fits company-level registrations such as the immigration card and e-channel being paid once.

If you want the zone's tiers and BusinessDubai.ae's package turned into one quote on your own shareholders, activities and visa count, we will itemise every line.

Get an itemised SRTIP quote→

Is SRTIP cheaper than SPC, SHAMS or a Dubai free zone?

On BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 package prices, yes. SRTIP is AED 13,990 with one visa against AED 14,255 at SPC Free Zone and SHAMS, and AED 17,795 with two against AED 18,705 [19]. Dubai costs more: Meydan Free Zone is AED 21,050 with one visa, and IFZA AED 21,400, a partner price.

The table uses BusinessDubai.ae's package prices only, so every row is on the same basis [19]. IFZA publishes no prices of its own, so its row is a partner price. The Ajman and Dubai rows are there for scale and are labelled by emirate.

Three things follow. Within Sharjah, SRTIP is AED 255 below SPC and AED 1,375 below SHAMS licence only, AED 265 below both with one visa and AED 910 below both with two. Those are small gaps, and a seventh shareholder slot at SPC or a media activity at SHAMS is worth more than AED 265 if you need it. Our SPC Free Zone setup guide and SHAMS free zone setup guide cover those two zones' own terms, and our Meydan vs SHAMS comparison sets a Sharjah desk licence against a Dubai one in detail.

Second, SRTIP is not the cheapest package in the country. ANC Free Zone in Ajman is AED 10,800 with one visa, AED 3,190 below SRTIP, and our business setup in Ajman page shows what that buys. SRTIP's case is narrower: it is the lowest-priced of the three Sharjah desk zones BusinessDubai.ae packages, and the only one of them built around labs and universities.

Third, a Dubai licence costs AED 7,060 more than SRTIP with one visa at Meydan Free Zone, and AED 7,410 more at IFZA's partner price [19]. For the emirate-wide view, including Hamriyah and SAIF Zone, our Sharjah business setup page compares the options on one screen.

Quick Math: A two-person team pays AED 17,795 at SRTIP, AED 24,600 at IFZA on a partner price and AED 27,600 at Meydan Free Zone [19]. The Dubai address costs that team AED 6,805 to AED 9,805 in year one. If your clients never look at the licence, that is money spent on nothing. If one contract depends on a Dubai address, it is cheap, and SRTIP is the wrong zone however good its price.

Who can own an SRTIP company, and is there a minimum capital?

A foreign national can own 100% of an SRTIP company with no local shareholder, and the zone's own FAQ says there is no mandated paid-up capital for most licences, describing that as internal SRTI Park policy [10]. BusinessDubai.ae's package allows 5 shareholders [19]; the zone's Starter tier allows only one [1].

The capital answer is the zone's stated policy, not a figure in a published regulation, and it says "most licences", not all. This guide prints no capital amount because the zone publishes none. If your activity is industrial or regulated, ask whether it sits inside "most".

The zone's rules page describes four legal forms [10].

Shareholder count is where the packages bite. One founder fits every tier. Two to five founders fit BusinessDubai.ae's package and the zone's Growth and Elite tiers, and are shut out of Starter [1][19]. A sixth shareholder exceeds every SRTIP package in this guide, and BusinessDubai.ae's SPC Free Zone package, at 7 shareholders, is the Sharjah option to price instead [19].

On the no objection certificate, the zone's FAQ says most foreign investors do not need one, and that a UAE resident under an existing visa sponsor may need one from the employer or sponsor [8].

Common Mistake: Reading "no mandated capital for most licences" as "no capital question for mine". The zone calls it internal policy [10], which is not a published regulation, and the capital you state still appears on your incorporation documents. Pick a figure you can explain to a bank, and get the zone's answer for your licence type in the same email as your activity confirmation.

What facilities does SRTIP offer that other Sharjah zones do not?

SRTIP's distinguishing facility is SoiLab, which the zone describes as the first open-access prototyping centre in Sharjah, with five shops: Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Laser Studio, 3D Studio and Electronics Lab [12]. Access is reserved primarily for registered SRTIP members. The park also runs an accelerator, SAIA, and an angel network, SBAN [9].

The table lists the five shops as the zone's SoiLab page describes them, read on 7 October 2026 [12].

The access rule matters more than the equipment list. The SoiLab page says you must be a registered member or partner within SRTIP, that workspaces and equipment are booked through an internal portal or by direct request after onboarding, and that access is primarily reserved for SRTIP members. External companies can collaborate only through official partnerships or innovation programmes run by SRTIP [12]. The page does not define a registered member, so ask whether your licence is enough or whether SoiLab has its own onboarding. It also publishes no session rates, no machine availability and no statement that use is free.

The accelerator and the angel network

The zone names two programmes on its ecosystem page. SAIA is its accelerator, described as giving startups funding, mentorship and market access. SBAN is its business angels network, described as investors backing early-stage startups with mentorship and capital [9]. The page gives no grant sizes, cohort dates or deal counts, so this guide gives none.

The most recent dated example found for this guide is from 2022. Khaleej Times reported on 11 November 2022 that an Investor Day run under the SAIA programme, which it expands as the Sharjah Advanced Industrial Accelerator, shortlisted seven startups to pitch to venture capital and angel investors, four from the UAE and one each from Poland, Egypt and India, and that the park had attracted over USD 100 million in funds for research and development [13]. Both facts are four years old. They show the programme has run, not what it offers a company joining in 2026.

Offices, labs and land

On premises, the zone's setup page describes fully equipped offices in flexible sizes, research and development labs, and event venues and meeting spaces [8], and every SPARK tier on its package page includes a lease agreement and co-working space access [1]. The 2023 decree gives the park power to sign lease contracts for land and buildings [5]. None of the pages read for this guide publishes office sizes, lab specifications, rents or plot availability. If you need a lab bench, a workshop unit or a plot, get the unit, the rent and the visa allowance attached to it in a written offer.

Real Talk: SoiLab, the accelerator and the universities next door are the reasons to pick SRTIP over SPC Free Zone or SHAMS. If you will never book a machine, apply to a programme or hire a graduate, you are buying a Sharjah desk licence, and the decision reduces to price and package limits, where SRTIP is AED 265 below both with one visa on BusinessDubai.ae's packages [19]. That is a sound reason to choose it. Just be clear which of the two things you are paying for.

Pro Tip: If your launch date depends on a prototype, settle SoiLab before you settle the licence. Ask the zone, in writing, how long onboarding takes after the licence is issued, whether the shop you need can be booked by a new member straight away, what a session costs and whether training is required before you use a machine. The SoiLab page answers none of those four questions [12].

What is SRTIP's audit rule for licence renewal?

SRTIP accepts audit reports for company renewal only from audit firms it has accredited. Its compliance page states that "SRTI Park only accepts their audit reports for the renewal of the companies registered at SRTI Park, starting from 15 January 2024" [2]. The page listed 16 firms when read on 7 October 2026.

The full sentence on the zone's AML Compliance page reads: "Only the following firms have been granted authorization, and SRTI Park only accepts their audit reports for the renewal of the companies registered at SRTI Park, starting from 15 January 2024." A table of firm names, email addresses and phone numbers follows [2]. The page presents the rule as part of the park's compliance with Ministry of Economy and national anti-money laundering directives.

Three consequences follow. A report from an auditor who is not on the list does not count for renewal, however good the firm. The pool is small, so the list shapes price and lead time as much as the wider audit market does. And the list can change, so the firm you used last year needs checking again this year.

What the page does not say is which licence types must file an audit report at each renewal, or what a listed firm charges. This guide prints neither. Ask the zone whether your licence needs a report at every renewal, and ask two firms on the list for a fee and a turnaround before your financial year ends.

Pro Tip: Pick the auditor from SRTIP's list before your financial year ends, not when the renewal notice arrives. With 16 firms on the list for the whole zone [2], the weeks before a common year-end are the worst time to ask for a quote. Appoint one early, fix the fee and the delivery date in the engagement letter, and check that the firm is still on the list before it signs the report.

From year two, the renewal, the audit, visa dates and the tax return fall within months of each other. Our post-setup services team keeps that calendar, including the check that your auditor is still on the zone's list, so a renewal is not held up by a report the zone will not accept.

Is SRTIP a VAT Designated Zone?

No. The Annex to Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 lists two Designated Zones in Sharjah, Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), and SRTIP is not one of them [14]. An SRTIP company follows ordinary UAE VAT rules, with registration mandatory at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies [15].

Designated Zone treatment is a goods regime. It changes the VAT treatment of goods moving into, out of and between fenced, customs-controlled zones, subject to conditions, and services supplied inside a Designated Zone are standard rated anyway [16]. Most SRTIP companies sell services: research, software, consultancy, design. For them the status would have changed nothing.

It matters for the minority that hold stock. Goods bought into SRTIP from a mainland supplier are an ordinary local supply at 5% VAT, and goods moving between SRTIP and another zone get no outside-scope treatment. The list is set by Cabinet Decision, not by the zone, and no amendment adding SRTIP was found.

If goods drive your model, the Sharjah options are the two on the list. Our Hamriyah Free Zone setup guide and our SAIF Zone setup guide cover what each offers and what each does not publish.

Common Mistake: Treating "free zone" and "Designated Zone" as the same list. SRTIP is a free zone and is not a Designated Zone [14], so a VAT-registered SRTIP company charges 5% on its taxable UAE supplies like a mainland one. For a software or consulting business that is the normal position and costs nothing. For a founder planning to import and hold stock, it is a cost line that belongs in the plan before the licence is bought.

Can an SRTIP company pay 0% corporate tax?

Rarely. An SRTIP company is a Free Zone Person, but research and development services, software development and consultancy are not on the Qualifying Activities list in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 [3]. Most SRTIP technology and consultancy companies pay 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, or elect Small Business Relief [15][17].

The 0% rate belongs only to the qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP). Article 2(1) of the Decision sets a closed list of 14 Qualifying Activities: manufacturing of goods or materials, processing of goods or materials, trading of qualifying commodities, holding shares and other securities, ownership, management and operation of ships, reinsurance, fund management, wealth and investment management, headquarter services to related parties, treasury and financing services to related parties, aircraft financing and leasing, distribution in or from a Designated Zone, logistics services, and ancillary activities [3]. There is no general services entry. Revenue from an activity off the list, earned from a customer who is not a Free Zone Person, is non-qualifying, and that describes most software and consultancy invoices.

Manufacturing and processing of goods are on the list, so a light manufacturer in the park's advanced manufacturing sector has a route consultancies do not. It still has to meet the other conditions, which include adequate substance in the zone, audited financial statements, and keeping non-qualifying revenue under the de minimis cap of the lower of 5% of total revenue or AED 5,000,000 [3]. Our guide to the best free zones for manufacturing compares the zones built for that route.

Intellectual property runs on a separate track. Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 defines qualifying intellectual property to cover patents and copyrighted software and to exclude trademarks, and the share of income that earns 0% is set by a formula in Article 4 of Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 that rewards research the company carries out itself [3][18]. A research park is a natural home for that kind of company, but the route is narrow, and our IP holding company guide works through it.

Small Business Relief is the practical answer for most. A company with revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 can elect to be treated as having no taxable income, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 [17]. A QFZP gets neither the AED 375,000 band nor Small Business Relief [3], so a small SRTIP consultancy is usually better off as an ordinary taxable person.

What if a company claims QFZP status and fails a condition? It is taxed at the ordinary rates, 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, from the start of that tax period, and it cannot be a QFZP for the following four periods [3][15]. The full conditions are in our Qualifying Free Zone Person guide, and the relief is explained in our Small Business Relief guide.

Quick Math: An SRTIP software company with revenue of AED 2,400,000 is under the AED 3,000,000 threshold, elects Small Business Relief and pays nil for periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 [17]. The same company at AED 5,000,000 of revenue and AED 900,000 of taxable income pays 0% on the first AED 375,000 and 9% on the remaining AED 525,000: AED 47,250 [15]. Neither outcome is 0% on everything, and neither is 9% on everything.

Real Talk: The zone's own FAQ lists "zero corporate and personal tax" among the benefits of setting up there [8]. The personal half holds, because the UAE does not tax salaries. The corporate half does not hold for the companies the park was built for: research services, software and consultancy are not Qualifying Activities, so the honest plan is the ordinary regime or Small Business Relief [3][17]. Register for corporate tax either way, because the Federal Tax Authority's penalty for late registration is AED 10,000 [15].

If you want your own activity and revenue run through both regimes before you choose a tier, we will set the two side by side.

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Which banks open accounts for SRTIP companies?

WIO and Mashreq Neo open readily for free zone companies, according to BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 banking notes, and an SRTIP licence is a free zone licence [19]. The bank still decides on activity, counterparties and source of funds, and there is no fully remote corporate account opening in the UAE: expect the signatory to attend.

Banking is federal, so a Sharjah licence changes nothing about the rules a bank applies. There is one SRTIP-specific point to prepare. A licence from a research and technology park invites the question of what the company actually researches or builds. A pre-revenue startup should bring the things that answer it: a one-page description in the licence's own activity wording, a prototype brief or product roadmap, any signed letters of intent, and evidence of the founders' funds. Every SPARK tier on the zone's page includes bank account opening assistance [1], which is help with the application, not a promise of an account.

Bring the licence, the memorandum, passports with visa or Emirates ID, and two or three contracts or invoices if you have them. Our corporate bank account guide lists what each bank asks for, and it is worth reading before you fix your licence activities, because the activity wording is the first thing a compliance officer reads.

Can an SRTIP company sell to mainland customers, or should you start on the mainland?

An SRTIP licence, like every UAE free zone licence, does not by itself authorise commercial activity on the mainland. The zone's setup page lists a "Dual Licensing Option (Freezone & Mainland)" among its offerings without publishing terms [8]. A Dubai mainland package from BusinessDubai.ae is AED 18,200 without a visa and AED 24,400 with one [19].

The dual licensing option is named on the zone's page and not explained there: no mechanism, eligibility rule or fee appears on the pages read for this guide [8]. The 2023 decree also lets the park sign agreements with other free zones so that its companies can do business in them [5], but a power to sign agreements is not a list of agreements. Until the zone puts the terms of a dual licence in writing for your activity, plan as if you hold a free zone licence only.

If most of your revenue will come from UAE mainland customers, government bodies or walk-in trade, price the mainland first. The table compares an SRTIP company with a Dubai mainland company on the factors that differ.

The mainland premium over SRTIP is AED 12,690 without a visa and AED 10,410 with one [19]. That buys direct access and a Dubai address together. Whether you run from SRTIP or the mainland changes your cost, your premises and who you can invoice, so compare the two before you commit. Our free zone company setup page prices the free zone routes by visa count, and our mainland company setup page shows what direct access to UAE customers costs, including the premises the mainland requires.

What does an SRTIP setup cost in total, and what happens in year two?

On BusinessDubai.ae's package, an SRTIP setup costs AED 5,510 licence only, AED 13,990 with one visa and AED 17,795 with two [19]. Year two brings the renewal, visa renewals and, where the zone asks for one, an audit report from a firm on its accredited list [2]. No renewal figure is published, so ask for it with the quote.

The table itemises BusinessDubai.ae's package and the lines that sit around it.

The first five rows are the price. The last five are the questions to put in writing before you pay.

On renewal, ask for a formula and not a single number: the licence fee, any lease or facility fee, the per-visa lines at your headcount, and the audit report. Ask the same of the zone if you buy a SPARK tier directly, because its page calls the tier pricing limited-time and prints no year-two figure [1]. Our free zone company setup page shows the same visa-count pricing across the zones BusinessDubai.ae packages, which is the fairest way to test any SRTIP quote.

If the company later outgrows Sharjah, switching zone costs the destination zone's package price, with no separate switching penalty [19]. Moving from SRTIP to Meydan Free Zone with one visa, for example, is priced at Meydan's AED 21,050. Our guide to moving a company between free zones covers the process and the tax points.

How do you set up an SRTIP company, and how long does it take?

The zone's own rules page gives six steps: reserve a trade name, obtain initial approval, submit an action plan and constitutional documents, sign a lease, receive the licence, then secure visas and Emirates IDs [10]. Its FAQ says most companies finish in as little as five working days with all documents in place [8].

Each step has one thing worth getting in writing before you move to the next.

The zone's FAQ lists the core documents: passport copies, proof of address, a business plan, third-party approvals if the activity is regulated, parent-company papers for a branch or subsidiary, and a notarised board resolution authorising the new entity [10]. The zone also publishes a registration checklist on the same page.

After the licence, add three stages the zone's five days do not cover: the bank account, corporate tax registration, and appointing an auditor from the accredited list [2].

Common Mistake: Booking flights or signing a client contract against "five working days". The zone's wording is "as little as five working days" and "with all documents in place" [8], which describes the best case from a complete file to a licence. A corporate shareholder needing notarised parent documents, a regulated activity needing a third-party approval, and the visa medical all sit outside it. Plan the licence, the visa and the bank account as three separate stages.

If you want a document list built for your shareholders and activity before you start, we will send one.

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Who should choose SRTIP, and who should not?

SRTIP suits solo consultants and developers who want the lowest-priced Sharjah desk licence BusinessDubai.ae packages, at AED 13,990 with one visa [19], and startups that will use SoiLab or the universities next door. It is the wrong zone for a founder who needs a Dubai address or a trader who needs a VAT Designated Zone.

The table applies the rules and prices in this guide to seven common founder profiles.

SRTIP rewards founders who use what is distinctive about it, and is simply a low-priced Sharjah licence for those who do not. Both are sound reasons to choose it. The two bad reasons are a tax rate it does not deliver for most activities and an address it does not carry.

Real Client Stories

These are composite examples built from the situations founders most often face when choosing a Sharjah free zone. Names and details are illustrative, and the only figures used are published rules, the zone's advertised prices and BusinessDubai.ae's package prices.

Karthik's software studio (SRTIP, one visa)

Karthik is a solo developer who needed one residence visa and two activities. The zone's SPARK Starter tier, AED 10,990 with one visa, was AED 3,000 below BusinessDubai.ae's AED 13,990 package, and as a single shareholder he qualified for it. Before paying he read the inclusion grid: Starter left out corporate tax registration and did not tick the status change and medical test fee that Growth includes. He asked for both lists in writing, priced the missing lines and chose on the total. The lesson: when the zone's own tier is cheaper, compare shareholders, activities and inclusions before the headline, then take whichever is cheaper for your case.

The sensor startup that settled SoiLab first

Two engineers building an air-quality sensor wanted a licence, two visas and a workshop. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package with two visas was AED 17,795, AED 910 below the SPC and SHAMS packages, but price was not their reason. They needed the Electronics Lab and 3D Studio in SoiLab, which the zone reserves primarily for registered SRTIP members. Before paying they asked the zone how long onboarding takes, whether new members can book straight away and what a session costs, because the SoiLab page states none of it. They also chose an auditor from the zone's accredited list in year one. The lesson: if the facility is your reason, confirm access in writing before the licence.

Mariam's consultancy and the 0% assumption

Mariam, a management consultant, chose SRTIP after reading that the zone offers zero corporate tax. Consultancy is not on the Qualifying Activities list in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so her company would be taxed as an ordinary taxable person. With revenue at or under the AED 3,000,000 threshold she could elect Small Business Relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 and pay nil, with no need to claim free zone status at all. She kept SRTIP at AED 13,990 with one visa on BusinessDubai.ae's package and registered for corporate tax immediately. The lesson: plan on the ordinary regime, and treat 0% marketing as a question, not an answer.

Your next steps on SRTIP

Three things decide an SRTIP setup, and the headline price is only one of them. The first is which price list you are reading: the zone's Starter tier is the cheapest way in for a sole shareholder with up to three activities, and BusinessDubai.ae's package sits within AED 20 of the zone's Growth tier with one visa. The second is whether you will use what makes the park different, because without SoiLab, the accelerator or the universities you are buying a Sharjah desk licence. The third is year two: an auditor from the zone's list, ordinary VAT, and the ordinary corporate tax regime or Small Business Relief for most activities, not 0%.

BusinessDubai.ae has completed 700+ company registrations across the UAE, with itemised pricing and no hidden fees. We will price SRTIP against SPC Free Zone, SHAMS and the Ajman zones on your real shareholders, activities and visa count as part of a free zone company setup, and put a mainland company setup beside it if your customers turn out to be local. Our business setup in Sharjah page shows where SRTIP sits among the emirate's options, and our post-setup services team keeps renewals, the audit, visas and tax filings on schedule.

When you know your shareholders, activities and visa count, send them over and we will set the zone's tiers and our package side by side in writing.

Compare SRTIP on your numbers→

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SRTIP free zone?

SRTIP is the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, a free zone in Sharjah next to University City, founded in 2016 according to the zone's own site. It issues commercial, service, industrial and consultancy licences and research and innovation permits. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package starts at AED 5,510 licence only, with no visa.

Is SRTIP the same as SPARK or SRTI Park?

Yes. SRTIP, SRTI Park, SPark and SPARK are names for one Sharjah free zone. Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023 sets the English name as Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park "Free Zone", shortened to SRTIP, while the zone's website and package page now use the SPark and SPARK brand.

What decree established SRTIP, and who runs it?

The zone's About page says SRTIP was founded in 2016 by a decree of the Ruler of Sharjah and gives no decree number. Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023, reported on the Ruler of Sharjah's official portal on 4 July 2023, reorganised the park with its own legal personality. Its board is chaired by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi.

How much does an SRTIP licence cost with no visa?

BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package is AED 5,510 licence only, with 5 activities and 5 shareholders, as of 2026. The zone's own package page advertised SPARK Starter at AED 3,999, Growth at AED 6,499 and Elite at AED 8,499 on 7 October 2026. Starter is limited to one shareholder and three activities.

How much does an SRTIP licence cost with one visa?

BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package is AED 13,990 with one residence visa, as of 2026. The zone's own page advertised AED 10,990 for SPARK Starter, AED 14,010 for Growth and AED 16,010 for Elite with one visa on 7 October 2026. Compare them on shareholders, activities and what each includes, not on price alone.

How much does a second visa cost at SRTIP?

The second visa adds AED 3,805 on BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package, after a first visa that adds AED 8,480, taking the package from AED 13,990 to AED 17,795. On the zone's own advertised tiers, the second visa adds AED 3,705 on Starter and AED 3,390 on Growth and Elite.

What is the difference between SPARK Starter, Growth and Elite?

Starter allows one shareholder and up to three activities, while Growth and Elite allow up to five of each, according to the zone's package page. Growth adds corporate tax registration and, on visa packages, the status change and medical test fee. Elite adds accounting and bookkeeping for up to 25 transactions a year.

Is BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package the same as a SPARK tier?

No. BusinessDubai.ae's package and the zone's SPARK tiers are separate price lists. BusinessDubai.ae's package is AED 5,510, AED 13,990 and AED 17,795 at nought, one and two visas, with 5 activities and 5 shareholders. Ask for the inclusion list with any quote and compare it with the zone's published grid line by line.

What licence types does SRTIP issue?

SRTIP issues commercial, service, industrial and consultancy licences, along with specialist research and development and innovation-focused permits, according to the zone's own FAQ. The zone also names tailored packages for startups, innovators, women in technology, university students and office tenants. Confirm with the zone which licence type your activities fall under.

How many activities can one SRTIP licence carry?

BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package carries 5 activities. The zone's own Starter tier carries up to 3, and its Growth and Elite tiers up to 5. The zone's FAQ says compatible activities such as consulting, trading and digital services can sit on one licence, and that activities can be added later.

Does SRTIP publish a list of business activities?

SRTIP does not publish a numbered, searchable activity list of the kind the Dubai mainland regulator does, as of October 2026, and BusinessDubai.ae's activity registers hold no SRTIP entry. Marketing pages quote activity counts that disagree with each other. Send the zone your exact activity wording and get the fit confirmed in writing.

How many shareholders can an SRTIP company have?

BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package allows 5 shareholders. The zone's SPARK Starter tier allows one, and its Growth and Elite tiers up to five. For six or seven shareholders, BusinessDubai.ae's SPC Free Zone package allows 7.

Can a foreigner own 100% of an SRTIP company?

Yes. The zone's own FAQ says no local shareholder is required and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. A sole owner registers a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) and two or more owners a Free Zone Company (FZC).

Is there a minimum share capital at SRTIP?

The zone's FAQ says there is no mandated paid-up capital for most licences and describes that as internal SRTI Park policy, as of October 2026. It publishes no capital figure, so none is given here. Ask the zone whether your licence type falls within "most", especially for industrial or regulated activities.

Do I need an NOC to set up at SRTIP?

Most foreign investors do not, according to the zone's own FAQ. A UAE resident, or someone under an existing visa sponsor, may need a no objection certificate from the employer or sponsor, so state your residency status at the start.

How long does SRTIP company setup take?

The zone's FAQ says most companies can secure the licence, register with the authorities and move into an office or lab in as little as five working days, with all documents in place. That is a best case. Notarised corporate documents, third-party approvals, the visa medical and the bank account all add time.

What documents does SRTIP ask for?

The zone's FAQ lists passport copies, proof of address, a business plan, third-party approvals for a regulated activity, parent-company papers for a branch or subsidiary, and a notarised board resolution authorising the new entity. The zone also publishes a registration checklist.

Does SRTIP require an audit for licence renewal?

SRTIP's compliance page says the park accepts audit reports for the renewal of registered companies only from firms it has authorised, starting from 15 January 2024. The page does not say which licence types must file a report at each renewal, so ask the zone, and appoint a listed firm before your year-end.

Which audit firms does SRTIP accept?

Only firms on SRTIP's own accredited list, which named 16 audit firms with contact details when the page was read on 7 October 2026. A report from a firm that is not on the list is not accepted for renewal. The list can change, so check it each year before the auditor signs.

What does SRTIP renewal cost?

SRTIP does not publish a renewal figure on the pages read for this guide, as of October 2026, so none is given here. Ask for the renewal figure with your year-one quote, as a formula: licence fee, any lease or facility fee, the per-visa lines at your headcount and the audit report.

Is SRTIP a Designated Zone for VAT?

No. The Annex to Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 lists Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) as Sharjah's Designated Zones, and SRTIP is not among them. An SRTIP company follows ordinary VAT rules, with registration mandatory at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and voluntary at AED 187,500.

Does an SRTIP company pay corporate tax?

Yes, in most cases at the ordinary rates of 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. Research and development services, software development and consultancy are not Qualifying Activities under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so the 0% free zone rate does not reach that income.

Can an SRTIP company use Small Business Relief?

Yes, if it is not claiming Qualifying Free Zone Person status. A company with revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 can elect Small Business Relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026. The election is made on the return, and registration is still required.

Can a manufacturer at SRTIP get the 0% corporate tax rate?

Possibly. Manufacturing and processing of goods or materials are Qualifying Activities under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so a manufacturer has a route that a consultancy lacks. It must still meet every other condition, including adequate substance in the zone, audited financial statements and the de minimis limit on non-qualifying revenue.

What happens if an SRTIP company fails a Qualifying Free Zone Person condition?

It is taxed at the ordinary rates, 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, from the start of the tax period in which it fails, and it cannot be a Qualifying Free Zone Person for the following four tax periods. It is then an ordinary taxable person for those periods.

What is SoiLab, and who can use it?

SoiLab is SRTIP's prototyping centre, which the zone describes as the first open-access prototyping centre in Sharjah, with a Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Laser Studio, 3D Studio and Electronics Lab. Access is primarily reserved for registered SRTIP members, who book through an internal portal after onboarding. External companies need an official partnership.

What are SAIA and SBAN at SRTIP?

SAIA is SRTIP's accelerator, which the zone describes as giving startups funding, mentorship and market access. SBAN is its business angels network of investors in early-stage startups. The zone publishes no grant sizes or cohort dates. The latest dated example found is an Investor Day reported by Khaleej Times in November 2022.

Can an SRTIP company trade on the UAE mainland?

Not on the licence alone. No UAE free zone licence authorises mainland commercial activity by itself. SRTIP's setup page lists a "Dual Licensing Option (Freezone & Mainland)" without publishing its terms, so ask the zone for the mechanism and fee in writing. BusinessDubai.ae's Dubai mainland package is AED 18,200 without a visa.

Which banks open accounts for SRTIP companies?

WIO and Mashreq Neo open readily for free zone companies, according to BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 banking notes, and an SRTIP licence is a free zone licence. No zone or consultant can promise an account. The bank decides on activity, counterparties and source of funds, and the signatory should expect to attend in person.

Is SRTIP cheaper than SHAMS or SPC Free Zone?

Yes, on BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 package prices. SRTIP is AED 13,990 with one visa and AED 17,795 with two, against AED 14,255 and AED 18,705 at both SPC Free Zone and SHAMS. The gaps are AED 265 and AED 910. SPC's package allows 7 shareholders against 5 at SRTIP.

Is SRTIP cheaper than a Dubai free zone?

Yes. BusinessDubai.ae's SRTIP package is AED 13,990 with one visa, against AED 21,050 at Meydan Free Zone and AED 21,400 at IFZA, which is a partner price because IFZA publishes none. The saving is AED 7,060 to AED 7,410, and the trade-off is that the licence carries a Sharjah address.

Can I move my company from SRTIP to another free zone later?

Yes. Switching zone costs the destination zone's package price, with no separate switching penalty, according to BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 notes. Moving to Meydan Free Zone with one visa, for example, is priced at AED 21,050.

References

[1] SRTIP (SPARK). Package landing page, read 7 October 2026: the SPARK Starter, Growth and Elite tiers at AED 3,999, 6,499 and 8,499 licence only, AED 10,990, 14,010 and 16,010 with one visa and AED 14,695, 17,400 and 19,400 with two; the shareholder and activity limits; the inclusion grid (lease agreement, co-working access, bank account opening assistance, tax consultation, corporate tax registration, visa-stage lines, accounting and bookkeeping); the limited-time pricing wording; and the zone's own counts of companies and neighbouring institutions. SPARK package page

[2] SRTIP. AML Compliance page, read 7 October 2026: the statement that only the listed firms are authorised and that SRTI Park accepts only their audit reports for the renewal of registered companies, starting from 15 January 2024, followed by a list of 16 audit firms with contact details. SRTIP AML Compliance

[3] Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 on Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities: the closed list of 14 Qualifying Activities at Article 2(1), the Designated Zone condition on distribution, the Excluded Activities at Article 2(2) including Article 2(2)(a), the de minimis cap at the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5,000,000, audited financial statements as a condition, and the consequences of failing a condition. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 (PDF)

[4] SRTIP. About Us page, read 7 October 2026: founded in 2016, established by a decree of the Ruler of Sharjah with no decree number stated, the four focus areas, the "Next to University City, Sharjah" address line and the SPark brand spelling. SRTIP About Us

[5] Office of the Ruler of Sharjah. "Sultan Al Qasimi reorganises Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park", 4 July 2023: Emiri Decree No. 47 of 2023, the park's legal personality, financial and administrative independence and government ownership, the official English name and its short form SRTIP, the park's competencies including licensing and lease contracts for land and buildings, the board's composition and four-year terms, and a separate decree forming the board. A report of the decree, not the decree text. Ruler of Sharjah's official portal

[6] Zawya. Press release, "Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park adopts new brand name: SPARK": the new brand name, the earlier variations it replaces and the statement from the park's chief executive. No publication date is printed on the release as read. Zawya press release

[7] The National. "Ruler of Sharjah merges emirate's research and innovation centres", 4 July 2023: SRTIP absorbing the Sharjah Oasis for Technology and Innovation to form an independent free zone authority, and the replacement of the American University of Sharjah's oversight with an independent board. Press reporting. The National

[8] SRTIP. Freezone and Business Setup page, read 7 October 2026: the licence types, several activities under one licence, the no objection certificate position, setup in as little as five working days with all documents in place, adding or changing activities, the "zero corporate and personal tax" wording, the "Dual Licensing Option (Freezone & Mainland)" listed among offerings, the offices, labs and event venues, and the activity choices in the cost calculator. SRTIP Freezone and Business Setup

[9] SRTIP. Innovation Ecosystem page, read 7 October 2026: the SAIA accelerator, the SBAN angel network, the SoiLab summary and the sustainability wording that mentions water technology and renewable energy. SRTIP Innovation Ecosystem

[10] SRTIP. Establishing Companies and Institutions page, read 7 October 2026: the four legal forms, the six setup steps, the core documents, the five tailored licence packages, and the FAQ stating that no local shareholder is required and that there is no mandated paid-up capital for most licences as internal SRTI Park policy. SRTIP Establishing Companies and Institutions

[11] sijil.ae. SRTIP zone page: a third-party aggregator advertising a wider set of SRTIP tiers by visa count than the zone's own package page shows. Advertised figures, not confirmed on the zone's pages and not reproduced in this guide. sijil.ae SRTIP page

[12] SRTIP. SoiLab page, read 7 October 2026: the description of SoiLab as the first open-access prototyping centre in Sharjah, the five shops, and the access rules for members, partners and external companies. SRTIP SoiLab

[13] Khaleej Times. "Investor Day shortlists startups at SRTI Park", 11 November 2022: the seven shortlisted startups and the statement that the park had attracted over USD 100 million in funds for research and development. Press reporting from 2022. Khaleej Times

[14] United Arab Emirates Cabinet. Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 on Designated Zones, Annex: the Sharjah entries are Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, and SRTIP does not appear. Law-firm reproduction of the decision. Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 (PDF)

[15] Federal Tax Authority. Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above for an ordinary taxable person, Article 18(2) on a Qualifying Free Zone Person that fails a condition, the AED 10,000 late registration penalty, and VAT registration thresholds of AED 375,000 mandatory and AED 187,500 voluntary. Federal Tax Authority

[16] Federal Tax Authority. Designated Zones VAT Guide (VATGDZ1): how Designated Zone treatment applies to movements of goods, and why services supplied inside a Designated Zone remain standard rated. FTA Designated Zones VAT Guide (PDF)

[17] Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026, issued 29 July 2026, amending Ministerial Decision No. 73 of 2023 on Small Business Relief: revenue at or below AED 3,000,000 and tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Ministry of Finance

[18] Ministry of Finance. Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 on Determining Qualifying Income for the Qualifying Free Zone Person, 25 October 2023: the definition of Qualifying Intellectual Property covering patents and copyrighted software and excluding trademarks, read with the formula in Article 4 of Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025. Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 (PDF)

[19] BusinessDubai.ae. Internal data: the 2026 package price list by visa count, owner-confirmed 24 September 2026, including SRTIP at AED 5,510, 13,990 and 17,795 with 5 activities and 5 shareholders, the SPC Free Zone, SHAMS, ANC Free Zone, Meydan Free Zone and IFZA packages, the marginal cost of the first and second visa, the note that IFZA figures are partner prices, the Dubai mainland package at AED 18,200 without a visa and AED 24,400 with one, 2026 banking notes on which banks open readily for free zone companies, and the switching-cost rule. businessdubai.ae