RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone

A free zone entity is licensed by RAKEZ itself, can be formed without a local partner and reaches the UAE local market through a local agent. A non-free zone entity has to obtain its licence from the RAK Department of Economic Development (RAK DED); RAKEZ describes it as established in association with a UAE partner, able to make direct sales in the local market with no customs duty on sales in local and GCC markets, and subject to the UAE Labour Law. RAKEZ offers both routes from one platform, which is the structuring flexibility this page refers to. We advise on the route that matches where your customers are.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Company Registration Services in UAE | Business Formation in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (accessed 24 October 2026)

Only through an agent, in RAKEZ's words: a free zone entity may trade its products outside the free zone and within the UAE only through an agent. A free zone company can also open a branch in the mainland, but a local service agent must be appointed. RAKEZ's Dual Licence is a further option; the free zone describes it as combining commercial and professional activities and including a free zone licence together with a free zone company branch licence, so the business can operate on the mainland as well as in the free zone. We assess which of these routes fits your sales model before incorporation.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Business Licence Types in the UAE | RAKEZ (accessed 24 October 2026)

RAKEZ advertises an all-inclusive SME business set-up package at AED 14,000 per year, covering the business licence, a shared workstation, a mix of up to 10 activities and SME visa eligibility, with multi-year options available; its BusinessWomen Package starts from AED 6,000 per year. The minimum share capital of a RAKEZ Free Zone LLC is AED 10,000, with each share valued at AED 1,000. These are RAKEZ's published figures at the date of access and change with its promotions, so we confirm the live quotation with the authority before you pay anything.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Business Setup | Freezone Business Setup in UAE; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes, RAKEZ states that it is mandatory to lease a facility to open a company, but the smallest facility is a shared workstation or flexi desk, and flexi desks are limited to one visa. Downgrading from a physical office to a shared workstation therefore reduces the visa quota. Shareholders themselves are not required to hold a RAKEZ visa. Facilities run from flexi desks and standard or executive offices through to warehouses and land for development, so a trading or light-industrial business can scale within the same zone. We size the facility to your visa needs rather than the other way round.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 24 October 2026)

Three things matter. RAKEZ licences are generally valid for one year from the issue date, and the late renewal penalty is AED 50 per day. All companies incorporated in RAKEZ must prepare and submit audited financial statements to RAKEZ within six months of their financial year-end; a company that fails to do so is fined AED 2,500. Free zone entities are governed by the RAKEZ Companies Regulations of 2017 and Operating Rules of 2018. As your registered agent we track the renewal date, arrange the audit and file the statements so neither penalty arises.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes. RAKEZ issues a Freelancer Permit to media and education professionals who operate as independent contractors in the form of a sole practitioner, trading in their own name rather than under a company name. The permit makes the holder eligible for a UAE residence visa, is offered in one- and two-year packages, and RAKEZ advertises it from AED 6,100. The documents are a passport copy and a portfolio or sample of work or a qualification certificate; existing UAE residents can take the permit without a visa. We arrange freelance permits in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman for individual professionals.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Freelance Visa - Get Your Freelance Visa & Permit with RAKEZ; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Freelance Visa - Get Your Freelance Visa & Permit with RAKEZ (accessed 24 October 2026)

No on both counts for a free zone entity. RAKEZ confirms that you do not need a local partner to form a free zone company and that an owner or partner in a licence is not required to be resident in the UAE. A Free Zone LLC can have between one and fifty shareholders, the owner's liability is limited, and a company cannot have more than one manager, so the manager appointment should be planned carefully. Non-resident owners can hold and run a RAKEZ company from abroad; we act as the local point of contact with the authority.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — RAKEZ – Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 24 October 2026)

RAKEZ lists ten: commercial (trading in services and goods), general trading (multiple goods), service (services or consultancies across any industry), professional (individuals providing professional services), individual/professional (one owner with one activity), industrial (manufacturing, importing, packaging and exporting products), educational, e-commerce, media, and the freelancer permit. Some licences allow more than one activity, and the Dual Licence combines commercial and professional activities under one licence. We match the licence type to your revenue model, since the type determines what the company may invoice for and which facility it must hold.

Sources: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Business Licence Types in the UAE | RAKEZ; Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) — Business Licence Types in the UAE | RAKEZ (accessed 24 October 2026)