Free Zone Comparison
SRTIP vs RAKEZ 2026
AED 5,500 versus AED 6,000 — a gap of AED 500 that barely matters on its own. What matters: SRTIP gives you an innovation ecosystem with prototyping labs and an accelerator programme. RAKEZ gives you 3,000+ activities and dual licensing for mainland trading. That said, RAKEZ mandates an annual audit that SRTIP doesn't — and that hidden cost easily exceeds the AED 500 you saved.
By Daniel Harmon, Senior Editor
SRTIP
Sharjah
AED 5,500
Year 1 from
CheaperRAKEZ
RAK
AED 6,000
Year 1 from
Quick Verdict
Pick SRTIP for tech R&D. Pick RAKEZ for general trading and scale.
- ● Choose SRTIP if cost is your priority — AED 500 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose SRTIP if you need more visas — up to 10
- ● Choose RAKEZ for faster setup — 5 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
Renewals favour SRTIP. Both zones keep license pricing steady, but RAKEZ's mandatory annual audit — with an AED 2,500 late fine if you miss the 6-month deadline — adds AED 3,000-10,000 in recurring accounting costs that SRTIP avoids entirely. For a solo tech founder, that audit expense can represent 50-100% of the license fee itself. SRTIP also skips the share capital requirement; RAKEZ mandates AED 10,000 minimum.
RAKEZ's reputation is built on sheer scale — 40,000 companies across 50+ sectors with formal banking partnerships from ADIB, RAKBANK, NBF, Mashreq, Wio, and Emirates NBD. That's six partners to SRTIP's six (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAKBANK, Wio, ADIB, FAB). SRTIP counters with a purpose-built innovation ecosystem: the SoiLab prototyping centre, Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator (SAIA), and a Business Angels network. For R&D startups that need lab access and investor introductions, SRTIP's ecosystem delivers real value. For trading, manufacturing, and businesses needing the broadest activity catalog, RAKEZ's 3,000+ activities versus SRTIP's 1,500+ make it the only practical option.
SRTIP vs RAKEZ at a Glance
| Metric | SRTIP | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | RAK |
| Year 1 From | AED 5,500 🏆 | AED 6,000 |
| Renewal From | AED 5,500 🏆 | AED 6,000 |
| Rating | ★ 4.2/5 | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 10 🏆 | 4 |
| Processing Time | 14 days | 5 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2016 | 2017 |
| Companies | 10,000+ | 40,000+ |
Year 1 From
SRTIP
AED 5,500
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
Renewal From
SRTIP
AED 5,500
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
Rating
SRTIP
4.2/5
RAKEZ
4.4/5
Max Visas
SRTIP
10
RAKEZ
4
Processing
SRTIP
14 days
RAKEZ
5 days
Banking
SRTIP
Moderate
RAKEZ
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
SRTIP Packages
Sharjah · 5 packages
Zero Visa General Trading Package
No visa · Virtual
AED 5,500
Year 1
Renewal: AED 5,500/yr
1 Visa SPARK Starter Promo
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 11,950
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,690/yr
2 Visa SPARK Starter Promo
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 16,615
Year 1
Renewal: AED 19,195/yr
SPARK AI Hub 3 Visa Launch Package
Up to 3 visas · Innovation Lounge
AED 7,380
Year 1
Renewal: AED 11,100/yr
RAKEZ Packages
RAK · 4 packages
Biz Starter Package (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 6,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 6,000/yr
SME Business Set-Up (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 14,320
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,320/yr
SME Business Set-Up (2 Visas)
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 18,640
Year 1
Renewal: AED 18,640/yr
SME Business Set-Up (4 Visas)
Up to 4 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 27,280
Year 1
Renewal: AED 27,280/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SRTIP | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audit Required | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose SRTIP if you...
- ✓ Want tech startups
- ✓ Want r&d companies
- ✓ Want consultancies
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want smes
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 500 less)
Choose RAKEZ if you...
- ✓ Want startups
- ✓ Want smes
- ✓ Want manufacturing
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want consultancies
Pros & Cons
SRTIP
Pros
- ✓ Very aggressive entry pricing by UAE standards: current public offers start as low as AED 3,999 on the SPARK landing page, while the main official setup page and multiple consultancies still place the standard zero-visa benchmark around AED 5,500.
- ✓ Strong activity breadth for a Sharjah zone, with the official site consistently advertising 1,500+ approved activities and flexible mix-and-match permissions across commercial and service activities.
- ✓ Dual-licensing is publicly promoted, which gives SRTIP more mainland flexibility than many low-cost Northern Emirates alternatives.
- ✓ Founder-friendly ownership rules: no local shareholder is required, 100% foreign ownership is permitted, and SRTIP says there is no mandated paid-up capital for most licences.
Cons
- ✗ Public pricing is inconsistent across official channels. The main official page quotes AED 5,500 / 13,990 / 17,795 for 0/1/2 visas, while the 2026 SPARK page shows materially lower starter promos at AED 3,999 / 10,990 / 14,695. Buyers need written confirmation of inclusions and renewal terms.
- ✗ Visa inclusions are not perfectly transparent. The official August 2025 page says one- and two-visa packages include Emirates ID and e-channel, while the older authorised accelerator price list said medical and status change were extra at the same AED 13,990 / 17,795 headline levels.
- ✗ Transparent official pricing drops off once you move beyond basic packages. SRTIP publicly names SME and Ecosystem offices and their visa capacity, but it does not publish clean official 2025-2026 rent cards for those spaces on the main site.
- ✗ Banking is workable rather than easy. Like most low-cost free-zone structures, non-resident and zero-visa companies can face stricter onboarding from traditional banks, longer compliance questioning and weaker optics than a more premium Dubai setup.
RAKEZ
Pros
- ✓ Lowest entry point in the UAE — Biz Starter promotion at AED 6,000 with 24-hour setup
- ✓ All-inclusive SME bundle at AED 14,000 includes trade license + 1 UAE residence visa, with same renewal price guaranteed
- ✓ Predictable visa add-ons: up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each
- ✓ Massive activity catalog: 3,000+ activities across 50+ sectors
Cons
- ✗ Mandatory annual audit for all companies — ongoing cost even for small firms
- ✗ Minimum share capital of AED 10,000 for FZ-LLC; higher for regulated activities
- ✗ AED 6,000 Biz Starter may be restricted to UAE-based entrepreneurs
- ✗ Bank accounts still subject to standard due diligence despite partner facilitation
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RAKEZ require an annual audit while SRTIP doesn't?
Yes. RAKEZ mandates audited financials within 6 months of year-end, with an AED 2,500 late fine. SRTIP does not require audited accounts for license renewal. Both zones still need compliance filings for UAE corporate tax.
Do both zones offer dual licensing?
Yes. SRTIP promotes dual licensing for simultaneous free zone and mainland operations. RAKEZ offers its Dual License for free zone and mainland RAK operations. The implementation differs by zone — confirm activity eligibility directly.
How do the innovation ecosystems compare?
SRTIP offers the SoiLab prototyping centre, Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator (SAIA), and a Business Angels network — purpose-built for R&D. RAKEZ provides the Compass Coworking Centre and an Academic Zone but no dedicated prototyping or lab facilities.
Which has more business activities — SRTIP or RAKEZ?
RAKEZ at 3,000+ across 50+ sectors versus SRTIP's 1,500+. Both allow up to 5 activities per license. If your business sits outside technology and innovation, RAKEZ's broader catalog is more likely to cover your specific activity.
Which is cheaper, SRTIP or RAKEZ?
SRTIP is cheaper by AED 500 in Year 1. SRTIP starts from AED 5,500 while RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between SRTIP and RAKEZ?
SRTIP is based in Sharjah and is best for Tech Startups, R&D Companies, Consultancies. RAKEZ is based in RAK and is best for Startups, SMEs, Manufacturing. SRTIP starts from AED 5,500 while RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000.
Which has easier banking, SRTIP or RAKEZ?
Both SRTIP and RAKEZ are rated "Moderate" for banking difficulty, meaning there is no significant difference in how easily you can open a corporate bank account.
How many visas can I get with SRTIP vs RAKEZ?
SRTIP supports up to 10 visas, while RAKEZ supports up to 4 visas. SRTIP offers more visa capacity.
Is SRTIP or RAKEZ better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose SRTIP if you want tech startups focus and lower costs. Choose RAKEZ if you need startups support and a RAK address. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.
Related Comparisons
Get a free quote for