Who should choose RAKEZ?
RAKEZ suits founders who want a low-cost UAE licence with a visa, and traders or manufacturers who need warehouses, industrial land or port access. Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) was established by the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and licenses both free zone and non-free zone companies. In August 2026 it reported 50,000 active companies from more than 100 countries.
RAKEZ is a good fit for:
- Consultants, agencies, IT and e-commerce founders who need one licence and one visa at a low annual cost.
- Traders who need storage. RAKEZ leases warehouses in free zone and non-free zone locations.
- Manufacturers. The Al Hamra, Al Hulaila and Al Ghail industrial zones take light to heavy industry, and Al Hulaila is close to Saqr Port.
- Schools, training institutes and education consultancies, through the RAKEZ Academic Zone.
- Media, education and IT professionals who want a Freelancer Permit in their own name.
RAKEZ is a weaker fit if:
- Most of your sales will go to UAE mainland customers. A RAKEZ free zone company can sell outside the free zone only through a licensed agent, distributor or parent company.
- You want a retail shop inside the free zone. Free zone entities cannot sell retail there.
- You need a Dubai address for clients. Compare Meydan and IFZA in our UAE free zones guide.
For the emirate's other licensing routes, see business setup in Ras Al Khaimah.
How much does RAKEZ company setup cost in 2026?
RAKEZ company setup starts at AED 6,000 a year for a licence without a visa. A package with one residence visa costs AED 12,000 (Instant Licence Lite) or AED 14,000 (the all-inclusive package). These are RAKEZ's own published prices, checked on 22 October 2026.
| Package or fee | Published price (AED) | What RAKEZ says it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Licence, Basic | 6,000 | One shareholder, one activity, coworking access. No visa. |
| Instant Licence, Lite | 12,000 | Up to 5 shareholders, 5 activities and 1 residence visa, per the FAQ on RAKEZ's Instant Licence page |
| Biz Starter (UAE-based founders) | 6,000 | Up to 50 shareholders, up to 10 activities, coworking. No visa listed. |
| BusinessWomen package | From 6,000 | Up to 5 shareholders and 5 activities, coworking |
| E-commerce package | From 6,000 | Coworking and access to Amazon seller onboarding tools |
| Freelancer Permit | From 6,100 | Permit in your own name, eligible for a residence visa |
| All-inclusive business set-up package | 14,000 | Licence, 1 residence visa, up to 10 activities, up to 50 shareholders, coworking |
| Extra visas on the all-inclusive package | 4,000 each | Up to 3 more visas |
| Premium upgrade on the all-inclusive package | 2,500 | VIP visa support, banking assistance, corporate tax registration and filing |
| Designated Zone package | From 16,550 a year | One residence visa, for goods trading and logistics (limited-time offer) |
| Investor or partner visa, standard rate | 4,620 | For licences without an included visa; AED 985 more if you are inside the UAE; VAT extra |
| Employee visa, standard rate | 3,800 | AED 985 more if the applicant is inside the UAE |
| VIP visa on a visa-inclusive package | 3,800 | 3 working days end to end, same-day medical and biometrics, health insurance, Emirates ID delivery |
| Bank account opening support | 2,749 | Sold through RAKEZ, delivered by an independent provider |
What the headline prices leave out:
- Health insurance from an immigration-approved insurer, which every residence visa needs. The standard visa rate does not include it.
- Immigration file and e-channel registration, if your package does not include it. RAKEZ's FAQ lists AED 2,200 plus a refundable AED 5,050 deposit, then AED 1,200 a year.
- Physical offices, warehouses and land, which RAKEZ prices separately.
- VAT on fees that RAKEZ quotes without VAT, such as visa services.
Two answers on RAKEZ's getting-started page still quote AED 16,500 for the all-inclusive package, while the current offer page shows AED 14,000. Ask for a written quote before you pay.
Which licence types and business activities does RAKEZ allow?
RAKEZ issues eight free zone licence types, three non-free zone licence types and a Freelancer Permit. RAKEZ says it offers licence options for more than 3,000 business activities across over 50 industries. Of the activities in its online activity list, more than 1,800 are open to free zone companies (Ofin's count of RAKEZ's list, Oct 2026).
| Licence | What it covers | Available as |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading in goods and services | Free zone and non-free zone |
| General Trading | Trading in multiple goods | Free zone |
| E-commerce | Trading goods and services electronically | Free zone |
| Service | Services or consultancy in any industry | Free zone |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, importing, packaging and exporting | Free zone and non-free zone |
| Media | Media-related business activities | Free zone |
| Educational | Education institutions or education consultancy | Free zone |
| Individual/Professional | One owner, one activity in a specialty | Free zone |
| Professional | Individuals providing professional services | Non-free zone |
| Freelancer Permit | Media, education, IT and analyst professionals | Free zone |
Rules that change your cost:
- Packages set your activity limit. Instant Licence Basic allows 1 and the BusinessWomen package 5. Biz Starter and the all-inclusive package let you mix and match up to 10.
- As a general rule, an activity from a different licence type needs a separate licence, so commercial and service activities sit on two licences. Ask how your package's mix-and-match allowance applies.
- Regulated activities need a no objection certificate from the relevant authority, such as Ministry of Health and Prevention approval for a clinic.
- DNFBP activities, such as legal consultancy, real estate, auditing and precious metals trading, need a DNFBP compliance form signed by all shareholders.
- Some activities need a business plan or a specific facility, such as a physical office.
How many visas do you get and which office do you need?
Your visa count depends on the package and the facility you lease, and every RAKEZ company must lease a facility. On a coworking desk, the all-inclusive package allows 1 visa plus up to 3 more.
| Facility | Best for |
|---|---|
| Coworking space (Compass Coworking Centre) | Freelancers, startups and one-visa setups |
| Serviced offices | Small teams that want privacy in a business centre |
| Standard and executive offices | SMEs and growing teams |
| Shell and core offices | Businesses that want to fit out their own space |
| Warehouses | Storage, logistics, assembly and light manufacturing |
| Land for development | Large industrial plants |
| Staff and labour accommodation | On-site housing in the industrial zones |
Check the visa quota of any office before you sign the lease.
Investor, partner and employee visas
A sole shareholder gets an investor visa, and owners in a multi-shareholder company get partner visas. Shareholders may also take an employee visa. A shareholder named as Manager on the licence needs no educational certificate for a Manager visa. RAKEZ says shareholder residence visas are generally issued for two years.
The process starts with an e-visa through RAKEZ Portal 360, valid for 60 days. You then enter the UAE, take a medical test if you are 18 or over, give biometrics if it is your first UAE residence visa, and receive the residence visa and Emirates ID. RAKEZ states 3 working days end to end for the visa and Emirates ID on its VIP route, and 6 on the standard route.
Standard biometrics happen at the RAKEZ Medical Fitness Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, while VIP clients can complete them in Dubai. To keep the visa valid, re-enter the UAE within 180 days of leaving. Employees also need Workers Protection Insurance, which RAKEZ adds to new visa and renewal requests.
Ownership, share capital and legal forms
A RAKEZ free zone company is a Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC) with 1 to 50 shareholders and 100% foreign ownership. You do not need a local partner. UAE and foreign companies can also register a branch.
| Legal form | Who owns it | Liability |
|---|---|---|
| FZ-LLC (free zone) | 1 to 50 shareholders, individuals or companies | Limited to each shareholder's capital |
| Branch of a UAE or foreign company | The parent company | Part of the parent, no separate legal identity |
| Non-free zone individual establishment | One individual | Unlimited |
| Non-free zone single person LLC | One individual or one company | Limited |
| Non-free zone LLC | 2 to 50 shareholders | Limited |
An FZ-LLC needs minimum share capital of AED 10,000, in shares of AED 1,000 each, and a branch needs none. Some activities need more. RAKEZ's FAQ lists AED 150,000 for industrial and AED 100,000 for logistics or investment consultancy. Publishing and schools need AED 50,000, and real estate development or broadcasting AED 1,000,000.
Each company has one manager, who must be an individual and a UAE resident. One person can be shareholder, director, secretary and manager. Shareholders do not need to live in the UAE.
Non-free zone entities also need a licence from the RAK Department of Economic Development and can sell directly in the local market. Check ownership first. UAE federal law has allowed 100% foreign ownership of mainland companies for most activities since 2021, but RAKEZ's FAQ still says non-UAE nationals need a UAE partner holding at least 51% for non-free zone commercial or industrial licences. Get RAKEZ's answer for your activity in writing. RAKEZ's Dual License adds a branch licence so one business can operate in the free zone and on the mainland.
Renewal and ongoing compliance
A RAKEZ licence is valid for one year and must be renewed before it expires. Commercial, Service, General Trading, Individual/Professional and E-commerce free zone licences can also run for three years at discounted rates. RAKEZ emails a renewal quote 60 days before expiry, and you renew on Portal 360.
- Late renewal costs AED 50 a day. A licence not renewed within six months of expiry can be struck off.
- Every RAKEZ company files audited financial statements from a RAKEZ-approved auditor within six months of its financial year end. Late filing draws a AED 2,500 fine.
- All taxable persons, free zone companies included, must register for corporate tax. Companies incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 register within 3 months, and late registration carries a AED 10,000 penalty. Returns are due within 9 months of the year end.
- Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other income.
- To qualify, a free zone company needs adequate substance, qualifying income, audited accounts and transfer pricing compliance. Non-qualifying revenue must stay within 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower.
- Small Business Relief, for revenue up to AED 3 million in tax periods ending by 31 December 2029, cannot be claimed by a Qualifying Free Zone Person.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000, and optional above AED 187,500.
- Keep a register of anyone who owns or controls 25% or more, file it with RAKEZ, and report changes within 15 days.
How does RAKEZ compare with SPC, Meydan and IFZA?
RAKEZ stands out for industrial land, warehouses and its own non-free zone licences. SPC Free Zone in Sharjah publishes slightly lower entry prices for publishing and e-commerce licences, while Meydan and IFZA give you a Dubai address. Each figure below comes from the zone's own website, checked on 22 October 2026.
| Point | RAKEZ | SPC Free Zone | Meydan Free Zone | IFZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah | Dubai | Dubai (Dubai Silicon Oasis) |
| Lowest published price | AED 6,000, no visa | AED 5,750 (Publishing or E-commerce), AED 6,875 (Standard) | AED 12,500, no visa | Not published; quoted through Professional Partners |
| Activities (zone's figure) | More than 3,000 | 2,000+ | 2,500+ | Thousands |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10 on Biz Starter or the all-inclusive package | Up to 5 | Up to 3 activity groups | Up to 3, more on request |
See our guides to SPC Free Zone, Meydan Free Zone, IFZA, Shams and Ajman Free Zone for their full costs.
Setting up a RAKEZ company from India
Indian founders can get a RAKEZ licence without travelling, but must visit the UAE for the visa medical test and biometrics.
- Individual shareholders mainly need a passport copy, plus a photo for the visa. RAKEZ asks non-UAE parent companies for resolutions notarised and legalised up to UAE Embassy level, so an Indian company's board resolution needs this attestation.
- RAKEZ's list of nationalities that need a good conduct certificate for new investor and employee visas, updated with effect from 20 July 2026, does not include India.
- A resident individual who takes shares in a RAKEZ company makes an overseas investment under India's Overseas Investment Rules, 2022. The money counts towards your Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit of USD 250,000 per financial year.
- Report the investment through your Indian bank in Form FC, and file an Annual Performance Report each year.
- Resident individuals can invest only in an operating company, not one in financial services, and cannot lend to it.
- An Indian company invests through the overseas direct investment route, not LRS. If you have not formed it yet, see private limited company registration.
- India treats a foreign company as tax resident if its place of effective management (POEM) is in India, though the rule does not apply to foreign companies with turnover of INR 50 crore or less. Take advice if key decisions will be made from India.
- NRIs already in the UAE can use the AED 6,000 Biz Starter. If your visa is through an employer, you need your sponsor's no objection certificate.
- RAKEZ issues a bank letter with your licence for your corporate bank account. Under an offer announced on 1 October 2026, eligible RAKEZ companies can open a Rakbank business account within 60 minutes, with no minimum balance for the first 12 months. RAKEZ's bank account service says you still visit the bank to sign the account documents.
For the full journey, read our guide to business setup in Dubai from India.
How Ofin helps with RAKEZ company setup
Ofin's UAE desk handles RAKEZ setup from the first call to the bank account, for founders in India and elsewhere. Ofin Legal has a 4.9★ Google rating and has served 5,000+ clients since 2019.
- A free 30-minute consultation to choose activities, licence type and package.
- Trade name reservation, initial approval and preparation of the MOA and legal documents.
- Help choosing a coworking desk, office or warehouse.
- Fee payment, licence collection and residence visa applications, including Emirates ID.
- Corporate bank account support through partner banks.
- VAT and corporate tax registration, accounting, PRO services and document attestation.
- Advice on India and UAE tax and FEMA rules before you remit money.
You work with one dedicated advisor until launch. Call or WhatsApp Ofin's UAE desk on +971 50 523 5779.
