Updated July 2026 · Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone fees
RAKEZ Free Zone Cost
From AED 6,010 — and the cheapest UAE licence once you add a visa.
A zero-visa RAKEZ licence costs AED 6,010 in government fees, or AED 12,010 with one residence visa. That one-visa figure is the lowest in the UAE — below Ajman, SHAMS and every Dubai zone. RAKEZ also offers something the cheap zones generally cannot: real land, warehousing and manufacturing facilities.
Government cost from
AED 6,010
zero-visa licence · RAKEZ
- Zero visaAED 6,010
- With 1 residence visaAED 12,010
- Setup time5–10 working days
- Ownership100% foreign
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In brief: A RAKEZ licence costs AED 6,010 in government fees with no visas, or AED 12,010 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,010 and three cost AED 22,010. The one-visa figure makes RAKEZ the cheapest way into the UAE with residency — about AED 1,130 below Ajman and AED 5,690 below IFZA in Dubai. RAKEZ was formed in 2017 from the merger of RAK FTZ and RAKIA, and unlike most low-cost zones it offers industrial land, warehousing and manufacturing facilities alongside standard trading and service licences. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
What it costs — line by line
These are the government line items. Ranges are real variation by activity and legal form, not padding — where a figure genuinely moves, we show the span rather than a flattering minimum.
| Government item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence | AED 6,010 | Trade licence and company registration |
| Licence with 1 residence visa | AED 12,010 | The lowest one-visa cost in the UAE |
| Licence with 2 residence visas | AED 18,010 | Each additional visa adds AED 6,000 at this tier |
| Typical start — founder with residency | AED 12,010 | One licence, one residence visa, government cost |
What each visa adds
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First residence visa | + AED 6,000 | Includes the establishment card the company needs first |
| Second residence visa | + AED 6,000 | Flat step — RAKEZ prices its tiers evenly |
| Third residence visa | + AED 4,000 | The three-visa tier is proportionally better value |
Indicative government costs as at July 2026. They exclude Avyanco’s professional fee, office rent, VAT where applicable and external-approval charges for regulated activities. Government fees are set by the authorities and change — confirm the live figure for your activity and visa mix before budgeting.
What the price includes — and what it doesn’t
Most “cheap setup” quotes fall apart here. This is the honest split.
Included in the figures above
- Trade licence issued by RAKEZ
- Company registration and incorporation documents
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- Residence visa processing on the visa-inclusive packages
- Flexi-desk facility bundled into the standard packages
Additional, quoted separately
- Warehouse, land or industrial unit lease — quoted on requirement
- Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately
- External approvals for industrial or regulated activities
- Corporate bank-account opening and minimum balances
- VAT and corporate-tax registration, bookkeeping and audit
- Avyanco's professional service fee, quoted separately
Download the complete RAKEZ fact sheet
The table above answers the headline question. The fact sheet answers the next ten — every visa tier priced out, what year two costs, and how it stacks up against the cheaper free zones. It is the same one-pager our advisers send to clients, and it is free.
Free PDF · instant download
Download the full RAKEZ fact sheet
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every cost priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- Renewal costs — what year two really costs
- RAKEZ vs Ajman, SHAMS and the Dubai zones
- Document checklist and realistic timeline
What actually moves the price
Two companies registered on the same day can differ by more than AED 10,000. These are the factors that decide where you land in the range.
Facility type
This is where RAKEZ differs from other budget zones. A flexi-desk keeps you at the headline price; a warehouse, yard or industrial unit is a separate lease that can dwarf the licence — but it is available, which Ajman and SHAMS cannot match at scale.
Number of visas
RAKEZ steps evenly at AED 6,000 per visa to two visas, then AED 4,000 for the third. If you know you need three, the top tier is the better buy per head.
Activity type
Trading, services and educational licences sit at the standard rate. Industrial and manufacturing activities need approvals and a suitable facility, which changes both cost and timeline.
Distance from Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah is roughly an hour from Dubai. That is irrelevant for a holding or online business, and a genuine consideration if you or your staff will commute to clients in Dubai regularly.
Renewal, not just setup
RAKEZ stays competitive at renewal, which is why it suits businesses planning to operate for years rather than test an idea. Always compare year two, not just year one.
How long it takes
- 1
Day 1 — Activity & facility
We confirm the activity, the visa count and whether a flexi-desk is enough or you need a physical facility.
- 2
Day 1–2 — Name & application
Trade name reserved and the application filed with RAKEZ.
- 3
Day 3–7 — Licence issued
Incorporation documents and trade licence issued, typically within 5–10 working days.
- 4
Week 2 — Establishment card
Immigration card issued so the company can sponsor residence visas.
- 5
Week 2–3 — Visas
Entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID for each person.
- 6
After licensing — Bank & compliance
Corporate account opening, corporate tax registration and bookkeeping set up.
Get a quote with the government fees shown separately
Tell us the activity and how many visas you need. You will get a written figure that separates what goes to the authorities from what goes to us — no bundled “all-in” number hiding the difference.
Compare before you commit
Cost is one input. Where you can trade, who your customers are and what banking you need matter just as much. Read the rakez free zone page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does a RAKEZ licence cost?
AED 6,010 in government fees for a zero-visa licence, or AED 12,010 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 18,010 and three cost AED 22,010. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
Is RAKEZ cheaper than Ajman Free Zone?
It depends on visas. Ajman is cheaper on a zero-visa licence — AED 5,565 against AED 6,010. But with one visa RAKEZ costs AED 12,010 against Ajman's AED 13,141, so RAKEZ wins by about AED 1,130. Since most founders take a residence visa, RAKEZ is usually the cheaper answer in practice.
What makes RAKEZ different from other low-cost zones?
Facilities. RAKEZ offers industrial land, warehousing and manufacturing units alongside desk-based licences, which most budget free zones cannot. If your business needs to physically make, store or move things, RAKEZ is one of very few zones that is both cheap and equipped for it.
Can a RAKEZ company do business in Dubai?
It can serve clients across the UAE and internationally. Like any free-zone company it cannot trade directly onshore without a local distributor or a mainland branch, but consulting, manufacturing for export, e-commerce and international trade are unaffected.
Does the price include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure here is government cost paid to RAKEZ. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently.
How long does RAKEZ setup take?
Typically 5–10 working days from a complete document set to a licence in hand. Residence visas run after the licence and establishment card are issued, usually adding one to two weeks per person.
Do I need to be in Ras Al Khaimah?
No. Incorporation can be completed remotely and there is no requirement to live in the emirate. You will need to enter the UAE for medical testing and Emirates ID biometrics if you take a residence visa.
Can I open a bank account with a RAKEZ licence?
Yes. Banks assess your business substance, activity and documentation rather than the emirate alone. Expect the same requirements and timelines as any other free-zone company, and expect more questions if your activity is high-risk regardless of where you licence.
What does renewal cost?
Less than first-year setup, because registration and establishment-card costs are one-off. The licence and any visas renew on their own cycles. Exact renewal figures are in the fact sheet.
Does a RAKEZ company pay corporate tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above it. A qualifying free-zone person can access 0% on qualifying income subject to strict substance and activity conditions — it is not automatic. VAT registration becomes mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.
Should I choose RAKEZ or a Dubai zone?
Choose RAKEZ if cost matters, you need industrial or storage space, or your customers are international. Choose Dubai if your clients are Dubai-based and expect a Dubai address, or you need a specific ecosystem such as DMCC for commodities. The licence costs roughly half as much in RAKEZ; whether that saving is worth it depends entirely on who is buying from you.
Pricing note. Figures on this page are indicative government costs as at July 2026, published so you can budget realistically. They are set by the relevant UAE authorities, vary by activity, legal form, visa mix and office type, and change over time. They exclude Avyanco’s professional service fee, office rent and any external-approval charges. This is general guidance, not a quotation — confirm your specific position with us before acting.