RAKEZ company setup, costs and visas
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 in numbers
Last verified: 23 Sep 2026. Checked against the zone’s own published tariff.
Who RAKEZ fits
RAKEZ is the main free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, with more than 3,000 activities under one authority after it absorbed the former RAK FTZ. That range is the point: a consultant on a flexi‑desk and a plastics plant on leased land hold licences from the same registrar, which few other zones offer.
It fits three profiles: cost-led service companies that want a low entry price; traders who need real warehousing near a working port; and light-to-medium manufacturers who want industrial land at Ras Al Khaimah rates rather than Dubai ones. It fits poorly if you are selling a Dubai address to clients, or if you run a Web3 or token business, which belongs in the sister zone Innovation City (formerly RAK DAO). Compare it against the full free zone index before committing.
What the AED 6,000 licence covers, and what sits on top
According to rakez.com (checked on 23 September 2026), AED 6,000 buys the Basic instant licence, issued in under five minutes: one shareholder, one activity and co‑working access, with no visa. Visas come with the bigger packages. Lite, at AED 12,000, includes one residence visa; All-Inclusive, at AED 14,000, includes one visa plus up to three more at AED 4,000 each.
| Package | Price | Visas |
|---|---|---|
| Basic instant licence | AED 6,000 | None |
| Biz Starter (up to 10 activities) | AED 6,000 | Not stated |
| Lite (5 activities) | AED 12,000 | 1 |
| All-Inclusive (10 activities, shared workstation) | AED 14,000 | 1, plus up to 3 at AED 4,000 each |
Budget separately for the establishment card, each visa’s medical test and Emirates ID where the package does not cover them, and a private office or warehouse if you need one. Model the rest with our setup-cost calculator.
Industrial land, warehouses and visas
RAKEZ’s structural advantage is range. The same authority licenses flexi‑desk service companies and factories on leased land, so a business can add a warehouse or plot later without moving zones. On visas, the published packages go up to four (All-Inclusive with three extra visas); for a larger team, the facility you lease sets how many visas you can apply for.
For corporate tax, the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person rate needs adequate substance in the zone: people and premises that match the activity. A flexi‑desk with no staff is a weak position. Read the corporate tax rules before you assume 0%, and plan headcount alongside the licence.
RAKEZ vs the obvious alternatives
Against Dubai zones like IFZA, RAKEZ costs about half as much to enter (AED 6,000 against a market estimate of about AED 12,900) and lets you add a factory later; IFZA wins on the Dubai address and bank familiarity. Against Sharjah industrial zones like Hamriyah, the choice is closer, as both offer land and port access at northern-emirates prices. RAKEZ’s edge is running services and industry under one authority; Hamriyah competes on heavy-industry and oil-and-gas plots.
A rule of thumb: for a laptop consultancy chasing the lowest cost, RAKEZ and the Sharjah and Ajman zones are all in range. If you will ever handle physical goods, RAKEZ’s industrial parks are the reason to choose it over a media zone.
How to set up a company in RAKEZ
Activities and trade name
Choose the licensed activities and reserve a trade name. The activities decide which approvals you need, how banks read your file and whether your income can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
Documents and KYC
Passports, application forms and a clear account of where the money comes from. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, so no local sponsor is needed.
Licence and establishment card
The zone issues the licence (typically within one business day). The immigration establishment card comes next and opens visa processing.
Visas and bank account
Each visa holder needs an entry permit, a medical test and an Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is opened in parallel and is usually the slowest step.
RAKEZ: questions founders ask
Is RAKEZ cheaper than IFZA?
Can I run a factory or lease a warehouse in RAKEZ?
How many visas does the AED 6,000 licence include?
Do I need a physical office in RAKEZ?
Is the “from AED 6,000” price the official tariff?
Can this company do business on the UAE mainland?
Does 0% corporate tax apply here?
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.