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Umbrella authority · Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)

Al Nakheel (HQ); sub-zones in Al Hamra, Al Ghail, Al Hulaila and Academic Zone · Est. 2017 · RAKEZ Authority

AED 6,000/ yr
high confidenceVerified 18 Jul 2026official ↗
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Best for

Cost-sensitive SMEs, traders and manufacturers who want the UAE's lowest all-in pricing plus real industrial infrastructure (warehouses, land) rather than just a flexi-desk.

Not ideal for

Firms needing a Dubai address for client perception, premium financial services, or hands-on premium support - and founders who want zero-friction exits (closure fees and process attract repeated complaints).

01Zones within RAKEZ

6 specialist zones operating under RAKEZ.

RAKEZ is an umbrella authority. Companies register through RAKEZ and operate in one of its specialist zones below — each with its own infrastructure, activity focus, and workspace type.

02Capability profile

Six independent dimensions, scored from official zone data.

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Banking10/15
?
Visa scale15/15
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Cost (lower=better)18/20
?
Activity breadth8/25
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Workspace options15/15
?
Location6/10
03Where RAKEZ sits

Tick marks for every zone, RAKEZ highlighted. The shape of the field, not just the rank.

Year 1 cost← lower is better

RAKEZ: 81th percentile (AED 6,000) · Licence + registration, AED.

Setup time← lower is better

RAKEZ: 92th percentile (3 days) · Total estimated days from application to operational.

Visa caphigher is better →

RAKEZ: 62th percentile (100 visas) · Absolute maximum visa allocation. Values above 500 clipped to the right edge so the bulk of the distribution stays readable.

Banking ease← better
Easy
4
Moderate
73
Difficult
15
Very difficult
1

RAKEZ: Moderate · Corporate bank account opening difficulty. Each cell is one zone.

04Costs

Year-one license, renewals, and 5-year totals in AED.

6,000
Year 1 minimum · AED
AED 23,305 less than DMCC
mid tier
Show in
Base licence
AED 6,000
Registration
AED 0
Renewal (year 2+)
AED 6,000
3-year total
AED 18,000
2-year visa cost
AED 3,800
Flexi-desk per year
AED 6,000
Hidden & one-off costs
Establishment card
AED 1,000
Cancellation fee
AED 3,000
Visa renewal
AED 3,535
Visa cancellation
AED 685
Emirates ID (per visa)
AED 370
Dependent / spouse visa
AED 3,375
Year-on-year fee tracking begins 2026 — changes appear here as they accrue.
Indicative, from published ratesOfficial fee schedule ↗Verified 2026-07high confidence

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05Visas & workspace

Visa caps, workspace options, and family-sponsorship rules.

Visa allocation
Maximum visas
100
Flexi-desk cap
4
Office cap
6
Warehouse cap
15
Family sponsorship
Available
Freelancer permit
Available
Golden visa
Available
Medical required
Yes
Processing time
~9 days
Workspace options
Virtual office
Yes
Flexi-desk
Yes
Coworking
Yes
Dedicated office
Yes
Executive office
Yes
Warehouse
Yes
Industrial unit
Yes
Land plot
Yes
Ejari issued
Yes
Parking
Yes
Dedicated office cost
AED 25,000/yr
06Banking & setup

Banking difficulty, partner banks, and setup timeline.

Banking
Difficulty
Moderate
Time to account
~21 days
Minimum deposit
AED 10,000
Corp tax rate
0%
Audit cost (est)
AED 4,000
UBO filing
Required
AML / KYC
standard
Partner banks
RAKBankEmirates IslamicAbu Dhabi Islamic BankMashreqEmirates NBD
Neo-bank options
WioMashreq NeoBizRAKBANK digital
Setup timeline
  1. Registration mode
    Fully online — no in-person visit required
  2. Documents & application
    Passport, visa, business plan — ~3–5 days
  3. Licence issued
    ~1 business day after submission
  4. Bank account active
    Additional ~21 days · Moderate banking
  5. Operational
    Typically ~3 days, up to ~14 days
07Package pricing

6 packages from official fee schedules.

All figures in AED, from official fee schedules. Visa and health-insurance costs are additional.

PackageVisasYear 1Renewal
Freelancer PermitBest value1AED 7,500AED 7,500
Business License – Flexi Desk1AED 11,200AED 9,500
Business License – 3 Visas3AED 16,500AED 13,000
Smart Desk – 1 Activity – 1 Visa1AED 11,500AED 8,500
Flexi Desk – 2 Activities – 3 Visas3AED 16,500AED 12,000
Warehouse Unit 100sqm – 5 Visas5AED 38,000AED 32,000
08Permitted activities

Activity categories, restrictions, and approval flags.

Unlimited activitiesMainland selling: YesDual license: Yes

manufacturing and heavy industry (Al Ghail/Al Hulaila)

general trading

e-commerce

education (Academic Zone)

media

freelance/IT/analyst permits

alcohol production (unique among UAE zones, agent-reported)

Categories
CommercialGeneral TradingServiceProfessionalIndividual/ProfessionalE-commerceIndustrialMediaEducationalFreelancer Permit
Matched industry clusters
tradingindustrial
Restricted
banking/insurance/financial services (no financial licence offered)activities requiring federal approvals (medical, pharmaceutical, education without MOE permits)
09Jurisdiction & ecosystem

Legal framework, tax status, audit requirements, and zone focus — every value sourced.

Common lawNo
VAT designated zoneYes
QFZP eligible (0% tax)Yes
Source: Official · 2026-07-18
Economic substancestandard
Source: Official · 2026-07-18

This zone offers physical-office options sufficient for a standard QFZP substance posture, though the bar still applies at the entity level (CTGFZP1).

Focus: SME services, manufacturing/industrial, trading & general trading, e-commerce, education

40000 companiesvery large communityNetworking events: YesIncubator: Yes
Notable companies

Ahmad Tea, Saverglass, Streit Group, Sobha, Dabur/Naturelle, International Armored Group (IAG), Inmatec, Euro Pack Industries, Italfood

QFZP, audit, mainland-permit and substance values are sourced where the zone authority or FTA publishes them, and inferred from published zone characteristics otherwise. How we determine these values.

10Strengths & limitations

6 strengths · 4 caveats.

Strengths
  • UAE-lowest entry pricing: official Biz Starter licence AED 6,000 and all-inclusive 1-visa package AED 14,000 with a same-price renewal guarantee
  • Genuine industrial capability - warehouses and land plots in three industrial zones at rates 30-50% below Dubai zones
  • Al Hamra, Al Ghail and Al Hulaila Industrial Zones are FTA-designated zones, so goods moved between designated zones stay out of VAT scope
  • Scale and track record: 40,000+ companies from 100+ countries; 66% registration growth in 2024
  • Fast digital setup: Instant Licence in minutes, standard licence 1-8 days, visa block ~9 business days
  • 10 licence types incl. freelancer permit and a dual (free zone + mainland) licence
Caveats
  • Trustpilot rating of 2.4/5: recurring complaints about hidden renewal add-ons (forced e-channel renewal), slow support and expensive/slow company closure
  • Ras Al Khaimah address - roughly an hour from Dubai; less brand prestige than DMCC/IFZA for client-facing firms
  • Banking still slower than Dubai zones for higher-risk profiles despite good bank familiarity
  • Designated-zone VAT benefit applies only to the industrial zones, not the business zones

Not ideal for: Firms needing a Dubai address for client perception, premium financial services, or hands-on premium support - and founders who want zero-friction exits (closure fees and process attract repeated complaints).

11Recent developments

3 policy and pricing updates on record.

  1. October 2024RAKEZ expanded its industrial zone facilities with 50,000 sq ft of new light industrial units available for lease from early 2025.
  2. March 2025RAKEZ introduced a new e-commerce business license category supporting fulfilment and online retail activities.
  3. November 2025RAKEZ launched a new industrial e-commerce package targeting Amazon FBA sellers requiring warehouse space in Ras Al Khaimah.
12Tax considerations

5 tax questions relevant to this zone.

Questions to raise with your tax advisor

  1. Does your planned revenue qualify under the QFZP qualifying-income rules?

    QFZP 0% only applies to qualifying income. Mainland trading or revenue from non-free-zone clients is generally non-qualifying and taxed at 9%.

  2. Will you need audited accounts even if this zone doesn't require them?

    FTA corporate-tax filing typically expects audited accounts for revenue above AED 50M, and banks often request them at much lower thresholds.

  3. Do your goods movements actually fall inside the VAT Designated Zone treatment?

    Designated Zone status applies to goods within the zone, not services. Most service businesses get no VAT benefit from being inside one.

  4. How much of your revenue will come from mainland UAE customers, and how does that affect QFZP and 5% VAT obligations?

    Mainland revenue beyond ad-hoc levels can disqualify QFZP and triggers full 9% corporate tax plus standard VAT on supplies.

  5. Do any of your customers, suppliers, or shareholders meet the FTA's related-party definition?

    Related-party transactions need transfer-pricing documentation and may push otherwise-qualifying income into the 9% bracket.

These prompts are due-diligence questions, not tax advice. Confirm every answer with a UAE-licensed tax advisor before incorporating.

13Frequently asked

8 common questions specific to RAKEZ.

14Founder Q&A · 5 questions

Real questions from founders evaluating this zone.

What documents do I need to prepare for setting up a new free zone company in RAKEZ?
For setting up a new free zone company in RAKEZ, you'll typically need to prepare: passport copies for all shareholders and managers, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) if employed in the UAE, a detailed business plan (for…
Which free zones are known for easier bank account opening for foreign owners?
Free zones such as DMCC, DAFZA, and JAFZA are known for relatively easier bank account openings for foreign owners due to their established banking ecosystems and streamlined documentation processes.…
I'm a consultant. Which free zone offers the best value for a professional services license with minimal office requirements?
For a consultant seeking a professional services license with minimal office requirements, free zones like RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) or Sharjah Media City (Shams) often offer the best value. They provide flexi…
What's the cheapest free zone for a general trading license with 2 visa quotas?
For a general trading license with 2 visa quotas, RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) or Sharjah Media City (Shams) are often among the cheapest options. You can expect annual costs for a general trading license with a …
I'm a foreign investor. Which free zone offers the most straightforward setup process with minimal bureaucracy?
DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) and RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) are often cited for their relatively straightforward setup processes and efficient administration. DMCC offers a wide range of activities and…
15Similar zones in Ras Al Khaimah

3 comparable zones in the same emirate.

16About this data

Last verified 2026-07-18 · high confidence.

RAKEZ data is sourced from official zone authority publications, government fee schedules, and where available, verified against direct communications with the zone. All figures in AED.

Location
Al Nakheel (HQ); sub-zones in Al Hamra, Al Ghail, Al Hulaila and Academic Zone
Established
2017
Authority
RAKEZ Authority
Last verified
2026-07-18
Confidence
high
Methodology
How we score →
Cited source
Fee data sourced from the official fee schedule, fetched 2026-07-18. View source ↗
Per-field citations
How we verify every zone →
17Founder reviews

What founders who've registered here say.

2.5★27 reviewsGoogle

Founder reviews

3.5 · 2 reviews
January 2026

“Cost saving vs Dubai is real. RAK Bank opened in 2 weeks. Downside is Emirates NBD and FAB are more difficult — ended up using Wio for everyday banking.”

— E-commerce founder
November 2025

“Good for cost, RAK address does raise eyebrows from some UAE enterprise clients. Worth it for our market (international).”

— Digital agency
18Take the next step

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