RAKEZ Licence Cost and Free Zone Company Setup
Compare RAKEZ licence costs, e-commerce and trade licence packages, visa allocations and renewal terms using provider-published prices with source links and verification dates.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-09
Quick answer
RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) is a low-cost UAE free zone offering commercial, professional, industrial, educational and media licences with 100% foreign ownership. Entry packages start around AED 6,000 a year without visas, and facilities range from flexi-desks to industrial plots, making it one of the most cost-effective and established routes into the UAE.
- Emirate
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Entry licence
- From about AED 6,000 per year
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership
- Licence types
- Commercial, professional, industrial, media, educational
- Facilities
- Flexi-desk, office, warehouse, land
- Issuance
- 3 – 7 working days typical
RAKEZ is Ras Al Khaimah's consolidated economic zone, formed from the merger of RAK Free Trade Zone and RAK Investment Authority. It hosts tens of thousands of companies across more than fifty nationalities and competes primarily on price and facility range rather than prestige address.
Its appeal is breadth at low cost: the same authority issues a solo consultant's flexi-desk licence and a manufacturer's industrial land lease. For founders whose clients are international or free zone based, RAKEZ typically undercuts Dubai equivalents by a meaningful margin for comparable visa allocations.
This page covers licence types, package structure and cost, visa quotas by facility, banking realities and how RAKEZ compares with the Dubai and Sharjah alternatives.
| Package | Cost band (AED) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence | 6,000 – 11,000 | Licence and shared address |
| One-visa package | 14,000 – 22,000 | Licence, flexi-desk, establishment card |
| Three-visa package | 22,000 – 35,000 | Licence, desk/office, higher quota |
| Establishment card | 1,500 – 2,500 | Required before any visa |
| Residence visa per person | 3,500 – 5,500 | Medical, Emirates ID, stamping |
Current verified packages
These are provider package prices, not universal government fees. Each row preserves the published price basis, renewal disclosure and source date.
| Provider and package | Activity | Visas | Workspace | Published price | Renewal | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZnotionwave | Trading / services / industrial growth | 0 | Not stated | offer AED 4,680Advertised promotional offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ — Without VisaKiltons Business Setup Services | General business | 0 | Not stated | AED 5,510Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ Trading / Service LicenseS Abdullah Associates | Trading / services | 1 | Office / co-working | AED 5,700Published package | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ Zero VisaAshton&Well | General business | 0 | Not stated | AED 5,985Published first-year package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ 0 Visa PackageA&A Associate | General | 0 | Not stated | offer AED 5,999Advertised offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ General Trading E-commerce – 1 VisaA&A Associate | General trading / e-commerce | 1 | Not stated | offer AED 6,000Advertised offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| Straight-to-Business 24-Hour SetupRAKEZ | Fast company launch | 0 | Not stated | offer AED 6,000Published offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ StarterBusinessEtup | General business | 0 | Flexi desk | from AED 6,000Starting price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZAvyanco | General | Eligibility only | Not stated | gov. cost from AED 6,010Government cost from | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ — With VisaKiltons Business Setup Services | General business | 1 | Not stated | AED 6,010Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ FreelancerAE Setup | General business / package route | 1 | Flexi desk | AED 8,500Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ – One Investor VisaShuraa Business Setup | General / SME | 1 | Flexi desk | offer AED 11,000Advertised offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ Limited-Time OfferDBS Business Setup Group | General business | 0 | Flexi desk | offer AED 11,990Promotional offer | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ Freezone / 1 VisaArabian Group | General business | 1 | Flexi desk | AED 11,990Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ BasicElevate Auditing | General business | 1 | Flexi desk | AED 12,000Published package | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ Collaboration PackageShuraa Business Setup | General trade + e-commerce | 1 | Not stated | from AED 12,050Starting from | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ One VisaAshton&Well | General business | 1 | Not stated | AED 12,065Published first-year package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| SME All-Inclusive Business SetupRAKEZ | Trading / e-commerce / consultancy | 1 | Office / co-working | AED 14,000All-inclusive package | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| Premium Upgrade to SME PackageRAKEZ | Trading / e-commerce / consultancy | 1 | Not stated | AED 16,500Annual all-inclusive package | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ BusinessAE Setup | General business / package route | 3 | Office / co-working | AED 18,500Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
| RAKEZ IndustrialAE Setup | General business / package route | 6 | Not stated | AED 32,000Published package price | Not stated | 2026-10-07 | Provider source |
RAKEZ licence types
- Commercial licence — trading, import, export, distribution and storage
- Professional / service licence — consultancy and expertise-based services
- Industrial licence — manufacturing, assembly and processing on zone land
- Media licence — production, advertising, publishing and digital content
- Educational licence — training and education entities under zone approval
- E-commerce licence — online trading of goods and services
RAKEZ licence cost by licence type
RAKEZ prices the licence itself by activity class, then adds the facility and any visa allocation on top. The bands below are the zone's published entry tiers for a single-shareholder company with no visas; a licence with a desk and one visa typically lands AED 8,000 to AED 12,000 above the licence-only figure.
| Licence type | Licence only (AED/yr) | Renewal (AED/yr) | Facility required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial (trading) | 6,000 – 11,500 | 5,750 – 11,000 | Flexi-desk minimum |
| Professional / service | 6,000 – 10,500 | 5,750 – 10,000 | Flexi-desk minimum |
| E-commerce | 6,500 – 12,000 | 6,000 – 11,500 | Flexi-desk minimum |
| Media | 6,500 – 12,500 | 6,000 – 12,000 | Flexi-desk minimum |
| Educational | 10,000 – 20,000 | 10,000 – 20,000 | Office, zone approval |
| Industrial / manufacturing | 15,000 – 30,000+ | 15,000 – 30,000+ | Warehouse or land lease |
| General trading | 12,000 – 20,000 | 12,000 – 20,000 | Flexi-desk or office |
RAKEZ e-commerce licence
The RAKEZ e-commerce licence covers selling goods and services online — own webstore, social selling and marketplace listings — with published licence-only entry packages from roughly AED 6,500 a year — compare current RAKEZ package prices before relying on that figure. It allows 100% foreign ownership and can be issued with zero visas if you do not need residency.
Two limits matter. Selling physically into the UAE mainland still means a distributor, a mainland branch or 5% import duty at entry, and marketplaces such as Amazon.ae and Noon require the licence activity to match the goods you list. Payment-gateway approval is granted by the bank or provider, not by RAKEZ, so budget time for that separately.
RAKEZ vs RAK ICC vs RAK DAO — three different registries
Ras Al Khaimah has three separate registration bodies and search results routinely confuse them. RAKEZ is the free zone: it issues operating licences, gives visa quota and leases desks, offices, warehouses and land. RAK ICC is the international corporate centre: an offshore registry for holding and investment companies with no visas, no UAE office and no onshore trading. RAK DAO is the Digital Assets Oasis, a specialist free zone for virtual-asset and Web3 businesses with its own activity list and approval process.
Choose RAKEZ if you need to trade, employ people or obtain residence visas; RAK ICC if you only need a holding vehicle; RAK DAO if your activity is digital assets. Costs are not comparable across the three because they sell different things.
| Registry | What it is | From (AED/yr) | Visas |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ | Free zone — operating licences and facilities | 6,000 | Yes, by facility |
| RAK ICC | Offshore registry — holding and investment | 8,000 – 12,000 | No |
| RAK DAO | Digital assets and Web3 free zone | 12,000+ | Yes, by package |
Facilities and visa quota
Visa quota in RAKEZ follows the facility, not the licence. A flexi-desk supports a small allocation; a standard office or warehouse raises it in line with area. Choose the facility against your 12-month hiring plan rather than the cheapest tier available today.
| Facility | Typical annual cost (AED) | Indicative visa quota |
|---|---|---|
| Flexi-desk / shared workstation | Included in package | 0 – 4 |
| Standard executive office | 15,000 – 35,000 | 4 – 8 |
| Warehouse (small) | 45,000 – 150,000 | By area and labour type |
| Industrial land lease | Per sqm, long lease | Project dependent |
RAKEZ vs Dubai and Sharjah free zones
| Factor | RAKEZ | Dubai free zones (IFZA/DMCC) | SHAMS (Sharjah) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry licence cost | Lowest tier | Mid to premium | Lowest tier |
| Industrial capability | Strong — land and warehousing | Limited outside JAFZA | Limited |
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai | Sharjah |
| Bank account opening | Decided by each bank on activity, substance, expected transactions and KYC | Decided by each bank on activity, substance, expected transactions and KYC | Decided by each bank on activity, substance, expected transactions and KYC |
| Distance from Dubai | About 45 – 90 minutes | In Dubai | About 30 – 45 minutes |
RAKEZ trade licence cost in 2026
A RAKEZ commercial (trade) licence is the option used for buying, selling and distributing goods. Entry trading packages published by providers on this site start around AED 6,000 a year with no visa allocation, and rise once a flexi-desk with visa eligibility, customs code or warehousing is added. RAKEZ publishes fees per licence and facility, so the total depends on the facility you take, not on the licence name alone.
Check the current verified package table above before budgeting: each row carries the provider's published price, its price basis, the visa allocation stated and the source page it was read from.
RAKEZ visa packages
Visa eligibility in RAKEZ comes from the facility, not from the licence. A licence with no facility generally carries no visa allocation; a flexi-desk typically supports a small number of residence visas, and offices, warehouses and land support progressively more. Where a provider has not published a visa allocation for a package, this site shows it as not stated rather than estimating one.
Government visa costs — entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping — are charged per person on top of the licence and are set by the immigration authority, so confirm them per applicant with the provider before paying.
RAKEZ renewal costs
RAKEZ licences renew annually. Renewal usually repeats the licence and facility fee rather than the one-off registration or incorporation elements, so year two is often lower than year one — but this is provider- and facility-specific and RAKEZ can revise its published schedules.
Many published packages do not state a renewal figure. Where the renewal column above shows nothing published, ask the provider for the year-two invoice in writing before you commit.
RAKEZ free zone vs Ras Al Khaimah mainland
A RAKEZ free zone licence is issued by the free zone authority and is designed for activity conducted inside the zone or with markets outside the UAE. Selling directly into the local mainland market normally depends on the activity and on the relevant emirate's economic department — commonly through a mainland licence, branch or a locally licensed distributor.
RAKEZ also administers domestic (non-free-zone) licences within its estate for certain industrial and commercial activities. Which route applies is activity-dependent, so confirm the intended activity with RAKEZ before choosing.
Who this option suits best
- Cost-sensitive founders and consultants
- Manufacturers needing affordable warehousing or land
- Traders serving export and re-export markets
- Holding and service companies with international clients
- Small teams wanting visa quota without Dubai office rents
Step-by-step process
- 1
Choose the licence type and activities1 day
Activity list drives price tier and facility eligibility.
- 2
Select the facility and visa quota1 – 2 days
Flexi-desk, office, warehouse or land based on 12-month plan.
- 3
Reserve the trade name and submit documents1 – 3 days
Passport, photo and application forms.
- 4
Pay and receive the licence2 – 5 days
Incorporation documents and licence issued digitally.
- 5
Open the immigration file1 – 2 weeks
Establishment card, then residence visa applications.
- 6
Open the corporate bank account2 – 6 weeks
Substance evidence and a clear business model shorten this step.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Completed RAKEZ application form
- Business plan for regulated or industrial activities
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Name and application | 1 – 3 working days |
| Licence issuance | 2 – 5 working days |
| Establishment card | 3 – 7 working days |
| Residence visas | 1 – 3 weeks |
RAKEZ entry pricing is genuinely low, but visa allocations and facility upgrades are where budgets move. Compare total cost at your expected headcount, not at the zero-visa tier.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Buying the cheapest tier then upgrading
Fix: Mid-year upgrades usually cost more than starting at the right visa tier.
Expecting to trade onshore freely
Fix: Selling into the UAE mainland needs a distributor, branch or 5% import duty.
Assuming banking is automatic
Fix: Banks assess substance; a clear model and some UAE presence materially help.
Ignoring the commute
Fix: If staff and clients are Dubai based, factor travel time into the saving.
Skipping corporate tax registration
Fix: Free zone companies must still register with the FTA.
Myth vs reality
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| RAKEZ companies pay no tax at all | Registration is mandatory; 0% applies only to qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person. |
| A cheap free zone means a weak company | RAKEZ is a government economic zone with full legal standing; differences between zones are emirate, facility types, permitted activities and published prices, not legitimacy. |
| You must live in Ras Al Khaimah | There is no residency-location requirement; many holders live in Dubai or Sharjah. |
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Latest UAE Visa & Residency Insights
View all guidesE-Commerce Licence in the UAE: Cost by Emirate
UAE e-commerce licence cost in 2026 by emirate: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and RAK free zone fees, which zones allow online retail, payment gateway approval and VAT on digital sales.
7 min read · Published Read guide CostMeydan Free Zone Licence Cost: Fees, Visas and Renewal Explained
What a Meydan Free Zone licence really costs — licence fees by package, visa and Establishment Card charges, renewal costs and the full setup process, step by step.
10 min read · Published Read guide JurisdictionFujairah Free Zone Company Setup: Licence, Activities, Cost and Process
Fujairah Free Zone licence cost drivers, activities, documents and visa options explained — plus how FFZA compares with UAQ, Ajman and RAKEZ.
9 min read · Published Read guideFrequently asked questions
How much does a RAKEZ licence cost?
Can I get 100% ownership in RAKEZ?
How many visas can I get?
Can a RAKEZ company trade in Dubai?
How long does RAKEZ setup take?
What does a Ras Al Khaimah trade licence cost?
How much is a RAKEZ e-commerce licence?
What is the difference between RAKEZ and RAK ICC?
Is RAK DAO the same as RAKEZ?
How much is RAKEZ renewal?
People also ask
Is RAKEZ cheaper than IFZA?
RAKEZ entry tiers are generally cheaper, particularly for zero-visa and industrial requirements; IFZA competes on Dubai address and speed.
Does RAKEZ allow warehouses?
Yes — it is one of the stronger UAE zones for affordable warehousing and industrial land.
Can I open a bank account with a RAKEZ licence?
Yes, though banks will assess substance, activity and expected transaction flows as they would for any free zone entity.
Which RAKEZ licence is cheapest?
The zero-visa commercial or professional licence on a shared workstation, from about AED 6,000 a year.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
- Match the facility to your 12-month hiring plan
- Confirm which banks the provider actually opens RAKEZ accounts with
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
- Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
- We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah Economic ZoneOfficial licence packages, facilities and fee schedules
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
- Federal Tax Authority — corporate tax and VATSource for the 9% corporate tax threshold and VAT registration limits
Topics covered
Get fixed quotes from providers with source-checked packages
Tell us what you need once. Verified UAE formation firms reply with fixed, itemised pricing — they reply to you directly.
