RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone)
One of the UAE's largest, most cost competitive economic zones.
What RAKEZ is actually known for
RAKEZ is where you go when you need industrial capability without Dubai industrial pricing. Ras Al Khaimah has a genuine manufacturing base, ceramics, cement, pharmaceuticals, glass and building materials are made there at scale, not assembled for a brochure, and RAKEZ was formed by merging the emirate's earlier zones into a single authority spanning business parks and heavy industrial parks. It now hosts well over twenty thousand companies from more than a hundred countries, which is the largest count outside Dubai.
RAKEZ is one of the UAE's largest and most cost competitive economic zones, home to 20,000+ companies across 50+ industries. Formed in 2017 by merging RAK FTZ and RAK Investment Authority, it serves everyone from solo freelancers to industrial manufacturers, offering both free zone and outside free zones licensing under one authority, with a representative office in Dubai.
Key benefits
- 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor
- 0% personal income tax; customs-duty exemption within the zone
- Broad license range including freelancer and industrial
- Strong industrial infrastructure, warehouses and land at low cost
- Fast, largely remote setup (Dubai representative office)
- Competitive pricing versus Dubai zones for comparable facilities
Business activities & licenses
RAKEZ supports a range of license types and activities, including:
- Commercial / trading & general trading
- Service / professional
- Ecommerce & media
- Freelancer / individual
- Industrial (manufacturing, processing)
The clusters that exist here
Activity lists look similar across every free zone. What differs is which industries have genuinely concentrated in one, the counterparties, the suppliers and the people you end up sitting next to.
- Manufacturing and industrial
- Al Ghail and Al Hulaila industrial parks offer land and prebuilt units for real production, with utility capacity, port access and workforce accommodation designed for it.
- Building materials
- Ras Al Khaimah's ceramics, cement and glass industries are internationally significant, and the supply chain around them is in RAKEZ.
- Pharmaceuticals and chemicals
- Licensed manufacturing with the regulatory approvals and facility standards the sector requires.
- Trading and distribution
- Warehousing and re export at costs well below the Dubai equivalent, with road access to the whole UAE and onward to Oman.
- SMEs and professionals
- The Business Zone side handles consultancies, agencies and service firms that want a low cost licence with visa capacity.
Infrastructure and institutions
The things RAKEZ has that a competing zone would have to build from scratch:
- Al Ghail and Al Hulaila industrial parks with land plots for build-to-suit facilities
- Pre-built warehouses and light industrial units in multiple sizes
- Saqr Port and RAK Ports for bulk and container handling
- On-site staff and labour accommodation within the industrial parks
- Business Zone offices and coworking for non-industrial licences
- RAK ICC available separately for offshore holding structures
Ownership & visas
100% foreign ownership, FZE, FZC and branch structures.
Visa quota scales with facility. Flexi desk packages allow a small number; offices, warehouses and land unlock larger allocations.
Cost & timeline
Advertised entry offer
| Product / charge | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry company-setup offer | AED 6,000 | Excludes: Obtain the package sheet before relying on inclusionsBest for: Cost-sensitive startups and freelancers |
| One-visa all inclusive package | AED 14,000 | Includes: Licence, UAE residence visa, immigration/e channel, Emirates ID and medical support, pre-approval and shared workstationExcludes: Nationality/security checks, insurance and activity-specific approvals |
Important: AED 6,000 is an advertised entry offer, not a universal all in figure. Activity, entity, facility, visa and renewal conditions must be confirmed in writing.
Typical timeline: Registration as fast as 1 day; full setup with visas ~1 to 3 weeks.
Is RAKEZ right for you?
Startups, SMEs, freelancers and traders wanting a low cost, flexible base, plus manufacturers needing affordable warehousing and land, a strong pick for cost sensitive businesses that still want scale.
Choose RAKEZ if
- You manufacture, assemble or process physical goods and need genuine industrial space
- Warehousing cost is a material part of your P&L
- You need workforce accommodation close to the facility
- You want a UAE licence with visa capacity at a lower total cost than Dubai
Look elsewhere if
- You need a client facing Dubai address, RAK is a 60 to 90 minute drive from Dubai
- You are in a regulated financial activity
- Your customers expect to visit you in Dubai regularly
What people get wrong about RAKEZ
The things that surprise founders after they have already signed, worth knowing before you do.
- Business Zone and Industrial Zone are different products
- A RAKEZ consultancy licence and a RAKEZ factory lease share an authority and almost nothing else. Make sure quotes you compare are for the same zone type.
- Distance is a real cost
- If your team or customers are in Dubai, factor in travel time and the practical difficulty of recruiting people who don't want to relocate or commute.
- Industrial approvals take longer
- Manufacturing licences involve environmental, civil defence and municipality approvals on top of the free zone process. Plan a longer runway than a service licence.
What makes RAKEZ different
- One of the UAE's largest economic zones by company count.
- Offers both free zone and mainland-style licensing under one authority.
Compare alternatives
How RAKEZ compares
| Free zone | Emirate | License from* | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ This page | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000/yr | Registration as fast as 1 day; full setup with visas ~1 to 3 weeks | Low budget · Industrial |
| IFZA → | Dubai | Quote required | License in ~3 to 5 working days (fast track available) | Consultants · Ecommerce |
| Meydan → | Dubai | AED 12,500/yr | A few days to ~1 week (digital process) | Agencies · Consultants |
| SHAMS → | Sharjah | AED 5,750/yr | Registration in as little as 24 hours; add visa processing time | Cheapest · Freelancers |
* Published entry prices from each authority, verified 1 August 2026, not quotes, and not directly comparable products. Compare all 17 zones
RAKEZ, frequently asked questions
01How much does it cost to set up in RAKEZ?＋
AED 6,000 is an advertised entry offer, not a universal all in figure. Activity, entity, facility, visa and renewal conditions must be confirmed in writing. Figures are the authority's own published prices as last verified, confirm current pricing before committing.
02Can I own 100% of my RAKEZ company?＋
100% foreign ownership, FZE, FZC and branch structures.
03How many visas can I get with RAKEZ?＋
Visa quota scales with facility. Flexi desk packages allow a small number; offices, warehouses and land unlock larger allocations.
04How long does RAKEZ setup take?＋
Registration as fast as 1 day; full setup with visas ~1 to 3 weeks. Timelines depend on document readiness, visa processing and bank onboarding.
05Who is RAKEZ best for?＋
Startups, SMEs, freelancers and traders wanting a low cost, flexible base, plus manufacturers needing affordable warehousing and land, a strong pick for cost sensitive businesses that still want scale.
06Is RAKEZ cheaper than Dubai free zones?＋
Materially so for anything involving space. Warehousing and industrial land in Ras Al Khaimah cost a fraction of the Dubai equivalent, and staff accommodation is cheaper too. For a virtual office consultancy the gap narrows, because the licence is only part of what you're buying.
07Can I operate in Dubai with a RAKEZ licence?＋
You can serve customers anywhere internationally and in other free zones. Selling into the UAE mainland, including Dubai, generally requires a mainland distributor, a branch or a mainland licence, exactly as it would from a Dubai free zone. Your licence being in RAK doesn't change that analysis.
08What is the difference between RAKEZ and RAK ICC?＋
RAKEZ is the free zone: it issues operating licences, leases facilities and sponsors residence visas. RAK ICC is the offshore registry: it incorporates holding companies for asset ownership and structuring, with no visas, no premises and no trading in the UAE. They serve different purposes and are often used together.