RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) — Complete Business Setup Guide 2026
RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) is one of UAE’s most versatile free zones, serving a wide range from freelancers (AED 7,500) to heavy manufacturers (large industrial plots). RAKEZ consistently ranks as one of the best-value UAE free zones. This complete guide covers RAKEZ for 2026.
RAKEZ Overview
- Established: RAKEZ formed in 2017 by merging RAK Free Trade Zone (RAKFTZ, est. 2000) and RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA); combined to create a unified Ras Al Khaimah free zone authority
- Location: Ras Al Khaimah emirate; 50 minutes from Dubai; 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi; RAK International Airport adjacent; RAK Port for sea freight
- Companies: 16,000+ companies from 100+ countries; significant manufacturing and trading community
- Zones: RAKEZ has multiple zones within RAK — Academic City (education), Business Zone (offices), Industrial Zone (manufacturing, warehousing), Al Hamra Zone (premium offices)
RAKEZ Licence Categories and Costs
- Freelancer permit: AED 7,500/year; individual professional; single activity; no company formation; UAE residence visa eligible; popular for consultants, tutors, coaches
- Service company (1 activity): AED 8,000-12,000/year; IT, consulting, marketing, HR, education, professional services
- Trading company: AED 10,000-18,000/year; import, export, general trading
- Industrial company: AED 15,000-25,000/year; manufacturing, processing, fabrication; requires warehouse or factory unit
- Education licence: AED 12,000-20,000/year; academic institutions, training centres, online education
RAKEZ Banking Relationships
- RAKBank: headquartered in Ras Al Khaimah; most accommodating UAE bank for RAKEZ-licensed companies; full range of business banking; good online banking
- ADCB, Emirates NBD: both have RAK branches; standard UAE banks accessible to RAKEZ companies
- Digital banks: WIO Bank accepts RAKEZ companies; Wio’s business account is fully digital; good option for remote business owners
- Banking note: RAKEZ banking is generally better than Shams, Creative City, or UAQ; slightly less accessible than DMCC but much cheaper
RAKEZ vs IFZA — The Key Comparison
- RAKEZ freelancer (AED 7,500) vs IFZA cheapest (AED 14,900): RAKEZ wins on cost; IFZA wins on banking (WIO Bank partnership specifically designed for IFZA)
- RAKEZ service company (AED 8,000-12,000) vs IFZA (AED 14,900): RAKEZ cheaper; IFZA banking edge
- Manufacturing: RAKEZ has no equivalent in IFZA; RAKEZ’s industrial zones and manufacturing support are unique
- Location: both in Fujairah/RAK region; IFZA in Fujairah, RAKEZ in RAK; similar distance from Dubai (50-60 minutes)
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.