# Masdar City or SRTIP > Compare two research and innovation free zones: Masdar City in Abu Dhabi for cleantech and sustainability companies, and the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park for research and technology tenants. - Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/masdar-city-vs-srtip - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Publication: below the publication gate (No decision value beyond the activity name) - Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology ## Verdict No like-for-like starting price is published for Masdar City Free Zone, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case. Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route. ## Side by side Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case. | Metric | Masdar City Free Zone (Free zone) | Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (Free zone) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | From, no visa | Not published | AED 5,500 (12 months · published package) | | From, one visa | Not published | Not published | | From, two visas | Not published | Not published | | Lowest package price | Not published | AED 5,500 (12 months · published package) | | Licence issued in | 1 calendar day (The authority advertises a digital licence in one day.) | 5 business days | | Residency visa in | Not published | Not published | | Renewal price | Not published | AED 5,500 (Renewal quoted alongside AI launch, 0 visa quota) | | Licence types | Clean tech, Sustainability, Services | Research, Technology, Innovation | | Facility options | Office, Campus facilities | Office, Lab, Campus | | Visa options | Not published | Not published | | Remote paperwork | No | No | | Activity guides catalogued | Not published | Not published | Each figure comes from the same source as its guide page. ### Not published - Masdar City Free Zone · From, no visa: Checked 2026-10-09: A three-step calculator exists, including LLC and 1–10 visas. The summary shows no numeric price before Finish, which requires accepting terms; it was not submitted. Public Startup / Business One / Enterprise / Innovation prices are available, but the package page does not establish a 12-month term. Business One includes medical and Emirates ID application. - Masdar City Free Zone · From, one visa: A 1-visa product is published, but it does not confirm included visas or is not a like-for-like package. It is listed under other published prices. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park · From, one visa: A 1-visa product is published, but it does not confirm included visas or is not a like-for-like package. It is listed under other published prices. - Masdar City Free Zone · From, two visas: A 2-visa product is published, but it does not confirm included visas or is not a like-for-like package. It is listed under other published prices. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park · From, two visas: A 2-visa product is published, but it does not confirm included visas or is not a like-for-like package. It is listed under other published prices. - Masdar City Free Zone · Lowest package price: No comparable company package price is confirmed. Other published fees and products are listed separately. - Masdar City Free Zone · Residency visa in: No published residency-visa processing time was found for this zone. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park · Residency visa in: No published residency-visa processing time was found for this zone. - Masdar City Free Zone · Renewal price: No complete public renewal detail was found. - Masdar City Free Zone · Visa options: No visa options recorded for this jurisdiction. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park · Visa options: No visa options recorded for this jurisdiction. - Masdar City Free Zone · Activity guides catalogued: We have not published authored activity guides for Masdar City Free Zone. Confirm the selected licence line and approvals with the authority. - Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park · Activity guides catalogued: We have not published authored activity guides for Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. Confirm the selected licence line and approvals with the authority. ## Check before choosing ### Masdar City Free Zone Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case. [Read the Masdar City Free Zone guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/masdar-city) ### Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case. [Read the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/srtip) ## Frequently asked questions ### Which suits a clean-energy or sustainability company? Masdar City's specialism is cleantech and sustainability. SRTIP hosts a broader set of research and technology tenants. Check the activity lists and any research facilities you need. ### How are the prices compared? Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side. ### Which costs less on published figures, Masdar City Free Zone or Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park? No like-for-like starting price is published for Masdar City Free Zone, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case. ## Related - [Masdar City Free Zone guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/masdar-city) - [Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park guide](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/srtip) - [All comparisons](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare) ## Machine-readable - [Masdar City or SRTIP (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/comparisons/masdar-city-vs-srtip.json) ## Citation Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional. Dubai Setup Index. “Masdar City or SRTIP.” Updated 2026-10-09. https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/masdar-city-vs-srtip [Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/masdar-city-vs-srtip). “Masdar City or SRTIP.” Updated 2026-10-09. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any use or transformation of the data carries: Source: Dubai Setup Index (dubaisetupindex.com), licensed CC BY 4.0. https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/masdar-city-vs-srtip, updated 2026-10-09. Licensed CC BY 4.0: any use or transformation carries the attribution text, with its link and date. Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown. A figure sourced from a third party (Invest in Dubai, DET, a free zone authority or a partner's quote) keeps its source citation — the source named in the record, with its URL and checked date — alongside the licence attribution.