Quick Answer
SPARK free zone cost, the free zone still widely searched for under its former name, SRTIP free zone, starts from around AED 5,500 for a zero-visa package, with one-visa packages typically running close to AED 13,990 and two-visa packages around AED 17,795, based on the most consistent figures currently published. The real first-year SPARK free zone cost is rarely the licence fee alone: the visa itself (medical testing, Emirates ID and stamping) adds further per person, office or flexi-desk costs can step up at renewal, and a handful of one-time fees most quotes leave out entirely. This breaks down every layer of SPARK free zone cost, what’s genuinely optional, and where the headline number and the real number diverge, and every figure here should still be confirmed directly before you commit, since free zone pricing changes without much notice.
Table of Contents
SPARK Free Zone Licence Cost by Visa Tier
SPARK, formerly branded as SRTIP Freezone, structures its packages around visa count rather than business activity, which is different from how most free zones price. Based on the most consistent published figures at the time of writing, a zero-visa package begins from around AED 5,500, a one-visa package from around AED 13,990, and a two-visa package from around AED 17,795. Free zone pricing changes without much notice and different sources sometimes disagree by a wide margin, so treat every number here as a starting reference, not a quote, and confirm the live figure directly with SPARK, or check current activity and licence rules on the UAE government’s own free zones guidance, before committing.
| Package tier | Approximate price (AED) | What it typically covers |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa | From ~5,500 | Licence, no residency visa, virtual office or flexi-desk |
| One-visa | From ~13,990 | Licence plus one residency visa allocation |
| Two-visa | From ~17,795 | Licence plus two residency visa allocations |
| Per-visa cost (any tier) | ~3,500–4,500 per person | Medical test, Emirates ID, visa stamping |
Treat every figure in this table as directional. SPARK free zone cost tiers shift with policy updates, and the only reliable number is the one confirmed directly against the current package sheet, not this post or any other single guide.
The Visa Cost That Actually Moves the Total
The single biggest gap between a headline licence price and what you actually pay is the visa. A zero-visa package quote looks attractive precisely because it excludes the one thing almost every founder needs, a UAE residency visa. Per-person visa cost, covering medical testing, Emirates ID, and visa stamping, typically runs in the AED 3,500 to 4,500 range, which can more than double the real first-year cost compared to the zero-visa headline figure. The full visa process and validity periods, investor, partner and employee, are covered in detail in the SPARK free zone visa guide.
Office and Flexi-Desk Cost, Including the Renewal Jump
A virtual office or flexi-desk arrangement is generally the cheapest way to satisfy SPARK’s physical presence requirement, and it’s usually bundled into the first-year package price. What most quotes don’t flag clearly is the renewal step: some packages include only a limited term, with a noticeably steeper cost at year two once the introductory bundling ends. A business that actually needs physical lab or workshop space, rather than a desk, faces a materially higher cost tier, covered from the facility angle in what SoiLAB SRTIP actually offers for hardware-adjacent businesses specifically.
The Hidden Costs Headline Pricing Leaves Out
Beyond the licence, visa and office, several genuine costs rarely appear in a first quote:
- E-channel registration deposit, a refundable government deposit tied to visa processing that some founders mistake for a non-refundable fee.
- Document attestation, a one-time cost for foreign shareholders whose incorporation or degree documents need UAE attestation before the licence application can complete.
- Corporate tax registration and filing, which applies regardless of how cheap the licence was, and isn’t optional. This is covered in full in UAE Corporate Tax Registration & VAT Filing.
- Bank account opening timelines and requirements, not a fee exactly, but a cost in time if the documentation isn’t ready, covered further in Banking & Financial Services.
None of these are unique to SPARK, they’re the same pattern I’ve written about across UAE business setup generally in the cheapest UAE business licence may not be the right setup. What’s specific to SPARK is that the visa-count pricing structure makes the zero-visa headline figure look more attractive than it usually is in practice.
The Tax Point That Changes the Real Cost Picture
A free zone company doesn’t automatically pay 0% corporate tax, only a Qualifying Free Zone Person receives 0% on Qualifying Income, covered in full in UAE Corporate Tax Registration & VAT Filing. Factoring in the realistic tax position, not the marketing line about free zone tax exemption, is part of comparing the real cost of a SPARK setup against any alternative.
My Approach: The Real Total, Not the Headline Number
I don’t quote a single number before understanding what you’re actually building, because the real total depends on visa count, office type, and whether your activity needs anything beyond the standard package. I itemise licence, visa, office and the one-time fees separately, and flag anywhere a quoted number is likely stale before you commit to it. If SPARK genuinely isn’t the cheapest fit for your activity, I’ll say so, covered from the full free zone comparison angle in five Sharjah free zones, one confusing choice. The fuller case for working this way is in why founders choose to work with me.
If you’ve been quoted a SPARK price and want a second opinion on whether it’s current and what it actually includes, get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the real starting SPARK free zone cost in 2026?
Based on the most consistent published figures, zero-visa packages start from around AED 5,500, with one-visa and two-visa tiers considerably higher. Different sources sometimes quote different numbers, so treat any single figure, including this one, as a starting reference rather than a quote.
Why do different guides quote different SPARK prices?
Free zone pricing changes periodically and not every published guide is updated at the same time. Always confirm the live figure directly with SPARK rather than relying on any single published number, this post included.
What’s the biggest cost most founders underestimate?
The visa. A zero-visa headline price excludes the one thing almost every founder needs, and adding a residency visa can more than double the real first-year total.
Does the office cost stay the same after year one?
Not always. Some packages bundle a limited office term into the first-year price, with a steeper cost once that introductory period ends at renewal.
Are there one-time fees beyond the licence, visa and office?
Yes, an e-channel registration deposit (refundable) and document attestation for foreign shareholders are common one-time costs that rarely appear in a first quote.
Does a SPARK company automatically get 0% corporate tax?
No. Only a Qualifying Free Zone Person receives 0% on Qualifying Income, a status that depends on your actual activity and revenue mix, not the free zone name alone.
How do I get an accurate, itemised SPARK cost for my specific business?
Ask for licence, visa, office and one-time fees broken out separately rather than a single bundled number, the same approach covered in the cheapest UAE business licence guide.
Related Reading
- SPARK Free Zone Visa Guide 2026
- SPARK Free Zone Company Setup Process
- The Cheapest UAE Business Licence May Not Be the Right Setup
- Cheapest Free Zones in the UAE by Emirate
- Five Sharjah Free Zones, One Confusing Choice
Further reading: To see these costs applied to real business models, read whether an HR consultancy business setup in UAE makes sense, and whether an automotive spare parts trading business in Dubai makes sense.