RAKEZ vs SHAMS
Licence fees, visas, office rules and setup time for both zones in one table, then the cases where each one is the better choice. On the lowest listed prices SHAMS starts AED 240 lower, but the licence fee is only the first line of the budget.
| RAKEZ | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 6,000 | AED 5,760 |
| Visa allocation | 0; up to 4 in packages | up to 50 |
| Activities | 3,000+ | 5 per licence |
| Office | not required | not required |
| Setup time | 1 business day | 1 business day |
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah |
RAKEZ vs SHAMS: a small price gap
On paper the two look alike: both are budget free zones in the northern emirates, both allow 100% foreign ownership and neither requires a private office. RAKEZ’s instant licence costs AED 6,000 for one activity; SHAMS charges AED 5,760 for its Media package (media activities only) and AED 6,885 for any five activities. Neither entry price includes a visa. Prices were checked on the zones' own sites on 23 September 2026.
With prices this close, the type of business decides. SHAMS suits media, content and freelance work with a light footprint. RAKEZ suits businesses that may need industrial space or warehousing.
Who each zone is for
RAKEZ absorbed RAK FTZ and now licenses everything from flexi‑desk consultancies to working factories across 3,000+ activities. Visas come in packages: Lite at AED 12,000 with one visa and All-Inclusive at AED 14,000 with up to four. If you trade physical goods and need stock and space, RAKEZ can house that under the same licence. A solo freelancer will not use most of this.
SHAMS licenses media, content and freelance activities. A licence can be issued in under an hour, and one licence can carry up to 50 visas, each paid for separately. It suits a small team selling services or content. It has no industrial or warehouse space.
The differences that decide it
| RAKEZ | SHAMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest licence covers | 1 activity, co‑working access, no visa | Up to 5 media activities, no visa |
| How visas are sold | In packages, up to 4 published | Up to 50 per licence, paid separately |
| Industrial space | Yes | No |
| Best for | Teams, industry, warehousing | Solo, media, freelance |
SHAMS has the media-focused licences and more visa headroom per licence. RAKEZ has the wider activity list and can house a physical operation. Both allow 100% ownership, neither requires an office and the same corporate tax rules apply.
RAKEZ or SHAMS: which to choose
On banking, UAE banks assess the file rather than the emirate. A company from either zone opens an account on the strength of a clear description of its activity, its owners and its expected transactions, so prepare those before you apply.
Pick RAKEZ if you need warehousing or light manufacturing, or a wide activity list under one authority.
Pick SHAMS if you are a freelancer, agency or content business, your activities fit its Media or Standard package, and you want visa headroom (up to 50 per licence). Model both on the setup-cost calculator before you commit.
When each one wins
RAKEZ: Ras Al Khaimah’s main free zone: after absorbing RAK FTZ it licenses everything from flexi‑desk consultancies to factories, across 3,000+ activities. The AED 6,000 instant licence carries no visa; packages with one visa start at AED 12,000, and the All-Inclusive package takes up to three more visas at AED 4,000 each.
RAKEZ full card →SHAMS: A low-cost Sharjah licence popular with freelancers and content businesses. The AED 5,760 Media package covers up to five media activities with no visa; the Standard package for any five activities costs AED 6,885 (both include VAT). A licence can issue in under an hour and carry up to 50 visas. Banks ask for more documents than with Dubai zones.
SHAMS full card →This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.