Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) Industrial Free Zone Complete Guide 2026
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) is the UAE’s leading low-cost industrial and manufacturing free zone. With over 14,000 companies from 100+ countries, RAKEZ offers some of the UAE’s cheapest industrial land, warehouse space, and factory units. This guide covers RAKEZ’s industrial and manufacturing capabilities for 2026.
RAKEZ Industrial Zone Overview
RAKEZ operates multiple specialised industrial zones within Ras Al Khaimah emirate:
- Al Hamra Industrial Zone: large-scale manufacturing, heavy industry
- Al Ghail Industrial Zone: medium and light industry, warehousing
- Al Hulaila Industrial Zone: SME manufacturing, light industry
RAKEZ Industrial Licence Types 2026
- Industrial licence: AED 12,000–25,000/year (manufacturing activities)
- General trading: AED 9,000–18,000/year
- Service licence: AED 7,500–12,000/year
- E-commerce: AED 8,500–15,000/year
RAKEZ Warehouse and Factory Space Costs 2026
- Standard warehouse (250–5,000 sqm): AED 25–45/sqft/year
- Factory/industrial unit: AED 30–55/sqft/year
- Land lease for custom build: AED 10–25/sqft/year
RAKEZ industrial land and warehouse costs are consistently 30–50% cheaper than equivalent JAFZA or Dubai South space, making it the UAE’s best-value industrial free zone.
Manufacturing Activities in RAKEZ
- Metal fabrication and steel products
- Plastic and polymer manufacturing
- Food processing and packaging
- Chemicals and cleaning products
- Construction materials (tiles, cement products)
- Furniture and wood products
- Electrical equipment and electronics assembly
- Textiles and garments
- Printing and packaging
RAKEZ Manufacturing Advantages
- Lowest industrial land cost in UAE
- Ras Al Khaimah Port and Saqr Port for sea freight
- RAK Airport for air cargo (limited, secondary use)
- Close proximity to UAE mainland road network
- Lower labour visa costs than Dubai/Abu Dhabi free zones
- On-site utilities (electricity, water) at competitive rates
Who Is RAKEZ Industrial Best For?
RAKEZ industrial zone is the UAE’s best choice for: low-to-medium complexity manufacturing; SMEs that need physical factory/warehouse at lowest possible UAE cost; packaging, printing, food processing, metal fabrication, and similar industries; and companies that need to manufacture in UAE but don’t require proximity to Jebel Ali Port or Dubai Airport. Companies that need air or sea freight proximity for heavy volumes should compare JAFZA or KIZAD.
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ | Instant licence Basic / SME package | AED 14,000 all-inclusive (SME package with 1 visa, official); AED 6,000 Biz Starter (0-visa coworking, official rakez.com) Confidence: Verified official price |
Quote-based renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Basic no visa; all-inclusive option includes 1 residence visa | Co-working facility on basic; office, warehouse or facility options available | Verified official price | Official authority offer page | Current package / renewal confirmation required | June 2026 |
| What is included | Basic package lists one shareholder, one business activity and co-working facility; RAKEZ homepage lists an all-inclusive option with 1 residence visa. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Warehouse, office, extra activities, visas beyond package, insurance and regulated approvals unless quoted. |
| Hidden-cost risk | Facility, activity, visa and promotion terms can change the final amount and renewal. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium |
| Best fit | SMEs, trading, light industrial, warehouse-led, e-commerce and cost-sensitive service businesses. |
Family and Dependent Visa Scope
RAKEZ lists spouse, child and newborn dependent visa routes through its own e-service flow, but the company licence package and dependent residence workflow are still separate checks. Confirm the sponsor residence, relationship documents, applicant status, medical or Emirates ID steps, insurance, deposits, in-country processing and the current authority route before payment.
| Dependent visa check | Planning guidance | Source confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor status | The sponsor should hold a valid UAE residence route before dependent residence is planned. | Official ICP/GDRFA procedural sources; confirm category-specific terms. |
| Family documents | Marriage, birth, kinship, passport, photograph, housing and income evidence may be requested depending on category and emirate. | Official procedural sources; document format and attestation can vary. |
| Medical, Emirates ID and insurance | Residence processing may include medical testing, Emirates ID and health insurance steps depending on age, applicant status and authority process. | Official procedural sources; final component list must be checked. |
| Cost and timing | RAKEZ publishes dependent-visa component and package signals for its own process, but VAT, deposits, urgent processing, in-country charges and status can change the final invoice. | Official RAKEZ e-service plus ICP/GDRFA context; current quote required. |
Useful sources: ICP residence permit service, GDRFA family entry visa service, GDRFA family residence service, RAKEZ dependent visa e-service. See visa cost planning, document checklist and corrections.
Compare Before Choosing
Shortlist this profile against the other common options before choosing on headline price alone. The three-way guide compares DMCC, IFZA and RAKEZ on cost exposure, visa planning, banking readiness and fit by setup scenario.
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed June 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.