FREE ZONE · RAS AL KHAIMAH · UAE
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Free Zone (UAE): Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
- Activity combinations
- 351 45 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 6,000* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 5,505 – 6,000* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 5–15 days fastest → slowest filed
About RAKEZ
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) accounts for 351 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 45 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is Software Development & IT with 25 packages, followed by General Trading (23 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 5,505*, the median combination runs from AED 6,000*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 6,000*. Filed setup timelines range from 5 to 15 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
RAKEZ is the largest free zone of Ras Al Khaimah, the northern-emirate hub for cost-effective industrial and services setups. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
Fit check
Who is RAKEZ best for?
- Industrial, manufacturing and trading companies seeking Ras Al Khaimah's cost-effective base
- Warehousing and light-production businesses serving the UAE and GCC markets from the north
- Service and IT firms that want wide activity coverage at the northern emirates' entry level
- Companies balancing Dubai market access with lower operating overheads
Verdict
Pros & cons
Pros
- RAKEZ is the largest free zone of Ras Al Khaimah
- Broad catalog: 351 combinations across 45 clusters, from machinery and building materials to R&D
- Cost-effective positioning for industrial and services setups
- Filed setups complete in 5 to 15 days in the snapshot
Cons
- Ras Al Khaimah sits further from Dubai, so client visits and logistics take longer
- A free-zone licence restricts direct onshore UAE sales without a distributor or branch
- Industrial and storage activities carry site requirements that narrow the choice of packages
- The local RAK market is smaller than Dubai or Abu Dhabi for onshore-facing services
Activities
Top activity clusters at RAKEZ
| Activity cluster | Packages at RAKEZ | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Software Development & IT | 25 | from AED 6,000* |
| General Trading | 23 | from AED 6,000* |
| Building Materials Trading | 23 | from AED 6,000* |
| Research & Development | 23 | from AED 6,000* |
| Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading | 22 | from AED 6,000* |
| Business Consulting | 19 | from AED 6,000* |
| Media Production & Broadcasting | 17 | from AED 6,000* |
| Auto Parts & Accessories Trading | 17 | from AED 6,000* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at RAKEZ
- Establishment card
- 68% of the catalog 3,161 packages platform-wide include the step
- Corporate bank account
- 61% of the catalog 2,840 packages platform-wide include the step
- Investor visa
- 44% of the catalog 2,047 packages platform-wide include the step
- Head office address
- RAKEZ HQ, Al Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah
The typical RAKEZ sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Ras Al Khaimah jurisdictions.
FAQ
RAKEZ: questions
How much does a RAKEZ license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 351 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 5,505*. The median package runs from AED 6,000* and the range stretches to AED 6,000*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at RAKEZ take?
Filed packages at RAKEZ complete in 5 to 15 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a RAKEZ license cover?
The catalog maps 351 RAKEZ combinations onto 45 activity clusters. The strongest are Software Development & IT; General Trading; Building Materials Trading. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is RAKEZ located and who is it for?
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone is based in Ras Al Khaimah — the largest free zone of Ras Al Khaimah, the northern-emirate hub for cost-effective industrial and services setups. As a free zone jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Where is RAKEZ located?
The authority is headquartered at RAKEZ HQ, Al Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah. License applications are submitted to this authority — online or at its customer service desk, depending on the license type.
Which authority issues licenses in RAKEZ?
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Ras Al Khaimah emirate) is the issuing authority. Its September 2026 catalog tracks 351 activity combinations, with entry packages from AED 5,505*.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in RAKEZ?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.