Best UAE free zone for tech startups — under AED 15,000, with a visa
If you're a founder who wants a UAE company with one residence visa without burning your runway, five free zones come in under AED 15,000 all-in for 2026 — and one of them is a dedicated technology park. Here are the real, all-in numbers, compared honestly. No sales calls.
The value picks, at one visa
For a tech startup that needs a UAE company with one residence visa for under AED 15,000 (2026), the strongest picks are SRTIP (AED 12,500) — Sharjah's dedicated research, technology & innovation park — and Ajman NuVentures Centre (AED 10,800), the cheapest all-in. RAKEZ (AED 14,000) gives the most room to scale a team, while SPC (AED 13,165) and Fujairah Creative City (AED 12,500) round out the sub-AED‑15,000 options. IFZA in Dubai Silicon Oasis offers the strongest tech ecosystem and a Dubai address, but lands at AED 17,615 with one visa (AED 12,900 licence-only). Every price is all-in — licence, government fees and the visa block — with no hidden charges.
| Free zone | Emirate | All-in, 1 visa | Licence only | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures CentreCheapest | Ajman | AED 10,800 | AED 4,888 | Lowest cost entry |
| SRTIPBest for tech | Sharjah | AED 12,500 | AED 5,500 | Tech, R&D, innovation |
| Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 12,500 | AED 4,900 | Media & creative tech |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 13,165 | AED 5,750 | Fast, dual-license |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 14,000 | AED 6,000 | Scaling a team |
| IFZA (over budget) | Dubai (DSO) | AED 17,615 | AED 12,900 | Dubai tech ecosystem |
All-in = trade licence + government fees + the residence-visa block. Prices are live Formenzo figures for 2026 and exclude optional add-ons. Verify your exact number — including extra visas and activity — with the free calculator.
Pick by what your startup needs
There's no single "best" zone — it depends on whether you optimise for cost, a tech ecosystem, or room to grow.
Building deep tech / R&D
SRTIP (AED 12,500). Sharjah's research, technology & innovation park is purpose-built for tech, R&D and advanced industry — the natural home for a product or engineering startup on a budget.
Lowest possible cost
Ajman (AED 10,800). The cheapest all-in company with a visa in the UAE, and just AED 4,888 licence-only if you don't need a visa yet.
Hiring a team soon
RAKEZ (AED 14,000). Adds extra visas affordably (~AED 4,000 each) with coworking and flexi-desk — a clean path from solo founder to a small team.
A Dubai tech address
IFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis (AED 17,615 / 1 visa). Just over the AED 15k line, but the strongest Dubai tech ecosystem — accelerators, co-working and talent. Licence-only is AED 12,900.
Why founders compare on Formenzo
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Open the free calculator →Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest UAE free zone for a tech startup with a visa?
Ajman NuVentures Centre is the cheapest at AED 10,800 all-in for a company with one residence visa (2026). SRTIP — Sharjah's research, technology and innovation park — is AED 12,500 and purpose-built for tech and R&D. Both are well under AED 15,000.
Which UAE free zone is best for a software or tech company?
For deep-tech, R&D and innovation, SRTIP in Sharjah is a dedicated technology park (AED 12,500 all-in, 1 visa). For a Dubai tech-ecosystem address, IFZA in Dubai Silicon Oasis offers co-working, accelerators and a strong talent pool, though it is AED 17,615 with one visa. Both allow IT, software and technology activities.
Can I set up a tech startup in the UAE for under AED 15,000 including a visa?
Yes. Five UAE free zones come in under AED 15,000 all-in with one residence visa in 2026: Ajman (AED 10,800), SRTIP (AED 12,500), Fujairah Creative City (AED 12,500), SPC (AED 13,165) and RAKEZ (AED 14,000).
Do these prices include the residence visa?
Yes — every figure on this page is all-in: trade licence, government fees and the residence-visa block, with no hidden charges. Licence-only (zero-visa) setups start from AED 4,888.
Which free zone is best if I plan to grow my team?
RAKEZ is strong for scaling — its packages add additional visas affordably (around AED 4,000 each) alongside coworking and flexi-desk. Most UAE free zones add visas at a similar per-visa rate; use Formenzo's free calculator to price your exact visa count.
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