Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone or RAKEZ is a consolidation of two free zones namely; RAK Free Zone and RAK Investment Authority. RAKEZ is located in the emirate Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Business set ups are known to flourish in Ras Al Khaimah mainly due to the economic security and steadiness that the city offers. RAKEZ companies are a live example of this. The customizable company set up options of RAKEZ and the ‘round the clock’ connectivity of Ras Al Khaimah through its seaports, airport and highways makes it a perfect landing spot for any company. That is why RAKEZ is the preferred free zone for many freelancers, small and medium enterprises, multinational enterprises and large industries.

The Benefits of Incorporating a RAKEZ Company

RAKEZ benefits its companies in the following ways:

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone permits more than four thousand (4,000) business activities.

RAKEZ companies are an affordable company set up option.

Both free zone and non-free zone options are available.

Form a company without visiting the UAE.

Minimum documents are required to set up a company.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone has dedicated zones for industrial, academic, and business activities.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone processes for company incorporation are time efficient.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone offers special licenses for freelancers.

RAKEZ has special packages for women entrepreneurs.

Minimum capital requirement of AED 10,000 (for industrial activity – AED 15,000).

Pay for your company registration and company renewals in interest free instalments lasting up to six (6) months.

One RAKEZ company can carry out several business activities on multiple licenses.

100 % repatriation of profits and capital.

Zero (0) tax (personal or corporate)

Ready to move in flexi desk, flexi office and dedicated office options are available for RAKEZ companies.

Warehousing and storage facilities options are also provided.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone offers land for development that may benefit manufacturing, logistical and service industry projects.

Provision for on-site staff and labor accommodation.

RAKEZ facilitates easy company operation.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone offers business centers and secretarial services.

Find access to all government services under the same roof.

Multiple alternatives for investor and employee visas.

Opportunity to do business with more than fourteen thousand (14,000) companies from fifty (50) different countries that are already set up with the RAKEZ.

The strategic partnership of RAKEZ with banks fast tracks the bank account opening process. This also eases the operation of bank accounts.

Investors and employees of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone companies can sponsor their families.

Investor visa granted to investors of RAKEZ companies allows freedom to travel to Gulf Cooperation Countries.

Types of Companies

The legal forms of RAKEZ companies depend on whether they are incorporated in the free zone areas or non-free zone areas of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. A free zone company can have 100 % foreign ownership. A non-free zone company is set up in association with a UAE local partner and is subject to UAE labor laws. The details of different legal forms of RAKEZ companies are tabulated below:

Zone	Legal form	Number of shareholders	Features
RAKEZ free zone	Free zone limited liability company (FZ-LLC)	One to fifty (1 – 50)	Zero corporate tax Zero income tax Zero custom duty Zero re-exported tax Freedom to source labour 100 % foreign ownership Access to local market of Ras Al Khaimah
RAKEZ non-free zone	Individual establishment	One (1)	Zero corporate tax Zero income tax Sell directly in the local market Zero custom duty on sales in markets of UAE and Gulf Co-operation Countries.
RAKEZ non-free zone	Limited liability company (LLC)	Two to fifty (2 – 50)
RAKEZ non-free zone	Branches of companies incorporated inside or outside of the UAE.	N/A

Types of Licenses

The below-listed license options are available for any RAKEZ company:

Commercial
Educational
E-commerce
General trading
Individual
Industrial
Media
Professional
Service
Freelance

The commercial and industrial licenses allow a company to function in both the RAKEZ free zone and non-free zone area. The professional license is granted for both free zone and non-free zone areas, based on the nature of the professional activity.

Documents Required

The following documents are required to form a company with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone:

Colored passport copy / emirates ID (for UAE residents).

Visa copy and entry stamp (if the person is in the UAE).

Original no objection certificate for general manager (for UAE residents).

Business plan.

Shareholders resolution resolving establishment of RAKEZ company and appointment of general manager (for corporate shareholder).

Trade license / certificate of registration of existing business (for corporate shareholder).

Memorandum and articles of association (for corporate shareholder).

Certificates of good standing or certificate of incumbency (for corporate shareholder).

Types of Offices

Well, it is mandatory to lease an office space for your RAKEZ company. Multiple office options can be scanned and analyzed before you finally settle on an office that is suitable for your RAKEZ company, and at the same time does not burn a hole in your pocket.

A certain number of fixed visas are allocated for each office options. Therefore, the first and the foremost parameter that one should consider while finalizing an office space is the number of visas, they hope to obtain on their RAKEZ company. Having put a pin on this, one should move on to considerations such as space, flexibility, privacy and additional facilities. One should also be mindful that the nature of an office space depends on type of the RAKEZ company license and not all office options are available for all licenses. To ease your decision, we have categorized below different office options that you can choose from to set up an ideal office for your RAKEZ company:

Flexi Desk:

This is an affordable workstation mostly for any business that is just starting and does not intend on getting multiple visas. It is also an attractive option for freelancers operating solo. With a flexi desk you can get up to (1) visa. RAKEZ offers two (2) flexi desk options being: ‘Felxi Desk BC’ and ‘Flexi Desk’, and the visa allocation for each flexi desk option is different. Zero (0) visa are allocated with ‘Flexi Desk BC’ while you can apply for one (1) visa if you choose a ‘Flexi Desk’. Companies with commercial, services and freelancer permits can choose this option.

Flexi Office:

A felxi office is a shared office in a large co-working space. Up to two (2) visas are allocated if you opt for a flexi office for your RAKEZ company. One also gets access to facilities such as meeting rooms, event spaces, cafes etc. The additional benefits of a flexi office include unlimited usage of open workspace, free usage of lockers and free access to RAKEZ hosted events. Flexi offices only cater to freelancers or companies with license types: commercial or services.

Serviced Office:

A suitable option for small companies looking to lease a dedicated workspace for their staff. Your staff will be given a dedicated workspace in an enclosed office. They will be sharing the room with other like-minded companies. A serviced office comes with up to four (4) visa allocations. Depending upon the visa allocations and size of the office, serviced offices are categorized into ‘Serviced Office A’ and ‘Serviced Office B’. Up to two (2) visas are allocated for ‘Serviced Office A’ and up to (4) visas are allocated for ‘Serviced Office B’. You also get a dedicated signboard of your RAKEZ company’s name at the office entrance. Serviced offices can be opted by companies having commercial, services, educational, e-commerce, general trading, professional and media license.

Executive Office: If you require up to (6) visas, a private office space in a developed facility, and a bigger space for your staff and clients then choose an executive office. Please be mindful that the executive office is only given to companies having commercial, services or general trading license. The executive office is a desirable fit for small to medium sized companies. RAKEZ also offers furniture for an executive office at an additional cost.

The fee for any office can either be paid annually or in a consolidated manner for three (3) years. If you are still unable to decide an office space that is right for you, then contact us. Our consultants will help you finalize and apply for a suitable office that will aid the operation and growth of your RAKEZ company.

Women Entrepreneurs Packages

Being a female in a middle eastern country such as the United Arab Emirates has its perks. With the evolution of gender equality, women these days have all the advantage at the palm of their hands. Women have been successful in reaching their dreams of being a girl boss by starting flourishing businesses in the UAE.

In August 2019, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, which is mostly known as RAKEZ pledged to take the idea of women empowerment forward by launching a special businesswomen package. Interestingly, RAK EZ launched these packages on the Emirati Women’s Day. The specially designed packages include exclusive deals for women, who want to step up their game in the business industry by incorporating their very own company. The packages for women allow company formation at subsidized rates and in installments.

The businesswomen packages include all the benefits of a RAKEZ company formation. Women setting up companies under the businesswomen packages will be benefitted in the following ways:

1. Company Set-up at a Low Cost

Women can set up their dream company with RAKEZ at a very affordable cost starting from AED 6,280. Under these packages, women can also use an office desk for an unlimited time for three (3) months. Normally with other free zones, the flexi desk usage is limited.

2. Pay in Instalments

Another great benefit with these packages is that women can pay for the company set up in installment, and as per their convenience. RAKEZ has several instalments plans for payment staring from three (3) months onwards.

3. Zero Balance Bank Account Exclusively for the RAKEZ Businesswomen Package

RAKEZ only gives this offer exclusively to women. This is a huge advantage from a businesswoman’s perspective. Women can open a zero-balance business account for their company with RAK bank. The bank account can be opened in multiple currency denominations. This account can be opened without going through the hassle of going back and forth with a bank for their approvals.

4. Priority Ticket at One Stop Shop (OSS) Centers of RAKEZ

Patience is indeed a virtue, but when you are offered a priority ticket at a RAKEZ one stop shop center, it is certainly something you cannot pass on. The service requests of women are taken on a high priority basis. Again, this advantage is also exclusively for owners of companies formed under the RAKEZ businesswomen package.

5. Business Card Printing Free of Charge

Depending on the specific pack you opt for under the businesswomen packages, women will have the advantage of free printing of their business cards (in any design they wish for!).

We know that by this time you are quite impressed with the benefits of the businesswomen package. Here is what you need to additionally know to form a company using the businesswomen packages:

Packages are only applicable to new clients opting for shared workstation / office space with a free zone license.
A company can only be formed under these packages if it is fully owned by women. Women are required to have 100% ownership of the company.
Women can choose the following type of licenses for their RAKEZ company:
- Commercial license
- Educational license
- E-commerce license
- Media license
- Professional license
- General trading license
- Services license
Packages can be upgraded and downgraded if the eligibility remains intact.
The renewal cost for the second year would be AED 1,000 lesser than the company set-up cost.
Women entrepreneurs can have zero to six (0 to 6) visas with their RAKEZ company.
There are various office spaces that women would wish to lease for their RAKEZ company. The following options are available:
- Flexi Desk
- Flexi Office
- Service Office
- Executive Office

Advantages

No corporate and personal income tax
100% ownership & profit repatriation
No customs duty on re-exported goods
Cost effective flexi facilities
Warehouses – the cost-effective warehouses in a variety of sizes available, located in proximity to seaports and airports
Industrial Land – unlimited space to grow your industrial operations with the plots of land for development

Features

Key Features

Here are the benefits of RAKEZ companies

Most amount of business activities	Do more than four thousand (4,000) business activities.
Do business in free zone and non-free zone	RAKEZ provides company solutions for both free zones and non-free zones
Women empowerment	RAKEZ supports women by offering special pricing for them.
Minimum share capital	Form a company with just a share capital of AED 10,000.
Special economic zones	RAKEZ has special industrial, academic, and business activity zones.
Freelancers can operate in RAKEZ	RAKEZ has dedicated licenses for freelancers
Flexible payment options	Payment for license renewals can be done annually or after three years. Interest free instalment options for company formation and license renewals are also available.
All inclusive	You pay one amount for your RAKEZ company, its office space, and visa allocations.

Pricing

Each activity of a company falls under a specific type of License. Below is the list of license and facility types available in RAKEZ.

The fees of each type of license depend on visa eligibility, the office facility, and type of ownership (FZE – one single ownership and FZ LLC is a partnership from 2 to 5 partners).

Commercial – FZE

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 14,800	AED 13,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 19,800	AED 18,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 24,500	AED 23,500
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 22,400	AED 21,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 30,500	AED 29,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 25,150	AED 24,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 40,500	AED 39,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 37,800	AED 36,800

Commercial – FZ LLC

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 17,300	AED 13,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 22,300	AED 18,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 27,000	AED 23,500
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 24,900	AED 21,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 33,000	AED 29,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 27,650	AED 24,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 43,000	AED 39,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 40,300	AED 36,800

Services License – FZE

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 18,300	AED 17,300
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 23,300	AED 22,300
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 28,000	AED 27,000
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 25,900	AED 24,900
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 34,000	AED 33,000
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 28,650	AED 27,650
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 44,000	AED 43,000
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 41,300	AED 40,300

Services License – FZ LLC

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 20,800	AED 17,300
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 25,800	AED 22,300
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 30,500	AED 27,000
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 28,400	AED 24,900
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 36,500	AED 33,000
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 31,150	AED 27,650
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 46,500	AED 43,000
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 43,800	AED 40,300

General Trading FZE

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 21,800	AED 20,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 26,800	AED 25,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 31,500	AED 30,500
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 29,400	AED 27,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 37,500	AED 36,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 32,150	AED 31,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 47,500	AED 46,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 44,800	AED 43,800

General Trading – FZ LLC

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 24,300	AED 20,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 29,300	AED 25,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 34,000	AED 33,000
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 31,900	AED 28,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 40,000	AED 36,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 34,650	AED 31,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 50,000	AED 46,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 47,300	AED 43,800

E-commerce – FZE

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 19,800	AED 18,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 24,800	AED 23,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 29,500	AED 28,500
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 27,400	AED 26,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 35,500	AED 34,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 30,150	AED 29,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 45,500	AED 44,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 42,800	AED 41,800

E-commerce – FZ LLC

FACILITY TYPE	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
Flexi Desk (No Visa eligibility)	AED 22,300	AED 18,800
Flexi Desk (1 Visa eligibility)	AED 27,300	AED 23,800
Flexi Desk (2 Visas eligibility, *A.D.)	AED 32,000	AED 28,500
Flexi Office (2 Visas eligibility)	AED 29,900	AED 26,400
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 38,000	AED 34,500
Standard Office (3 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 32,650	AED 29,150
Executive Office (3 Visas eligibility)	AED 48,000	AED 44,500
Executive Office (4 Visas eligibility, *Al Hamra)	AED 45,300	AED 41,800

Freelance Permit

PACKAGE TYPE	DETAILS	1st YEAR	2nd YEAR
1 Year Package	Business license registration fees include Freelancer Permit for 1 year, Pre-approval (one-time), Establishment Card, E-channel registration	AED 9,520	AED 9,235
2 Years Package	Business license registration fees include Freelancer Permit for 2 years, Pre-approval (one-time), Establishment Card, E-channel registration	AED 14,820	AED 14,535

Residence Visa in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone

The cost of each visa varies depending on the status of an applicant’s current location, whether the application is taking place inside or outside the UAE. Amendment of visa can be done only if the applicant has canceled his previous Residence Visa or is transferring within RAKEZ.
In case you would like to apply for the UAE Residence Visa inside UAE, you can just apply for the Status Change service, which will not require you to exit the country so that you could enjoy the hassle-free process.

SERVICES	FEES
Investor Visa Fees (Valid for 3 years)	AED 3,950
Employment Visa Fees (Valid for 2 years)	AED 2,970
Employment Visa Guarantee Deposit	AED 2,000
Visa Status Change	AED 885
Medical Test, Emirates ID & Photo	AED 1,250

Note:
*The company must be registered with the Immigration E-channel, if it is not, then the cost for registration will be AED 2,150 and AED 5,000 for the deposit, which will be refunded in case of company liquidation.

Additional Costs

Additional Fees Applicable for RAKEZ Visa Packages:

AED 100 is additionally payable for each shareholder of a company (Pre-approval fee)
AED 500 is additionally payable as a facility deposit for a serviced Office A
AED 650 is additionally payable as a facility deposit for a serviced Office B
AED 900 is additionally payable as a facility deposit for an executive office
E-channel registration: AED 2,200
E-channel renewal: AED 1,200
Emirates ID: AED 375
Visa status change: AED 885
Investor visa (3 years) cost: AED 3,950
Employee visa (3 years) cost: AED 2,970
Medical check-up: AED 320