Business Setup in Ras Al Khaimah: RAKEZ Costs and the 2026 Process
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the lowest-cost UAE jurisdictions that still has real industrial capacity behind it, which makes it a serious option rather than a budget compromise. The distinction that catches founders out is between RAKEZ and RAK ICC. RAKEZ issues an operating licence with visa eligibility — you can trade, sponsor staff and take UAE residence. RAK ICC is an offshore company registry for holding assets and shares: it cannot sponsor residence visas and cannot trade inside the UAE. People buy the wrong one because the names look interchangeable. They are not.
Who this is for
Cost-conscious founders, industrial operators, and those structuring holding companies.
Who this is for: Cost-conscious founders, industrial operators, and those structuring holding companies.
Key caution: Prices are indicative and may change without notice. Final setup cost depends on business activity, licence type, legal structure, shareholder count, visa allocation, office/facility requirement, establishment card, immigration file, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, approvals, government fees, renewal terms and current authority offers. Always verify the final quote with the relevant authority or authorised partner before payment.
Get a costed setup plan
Tell us what you're planning and we'll send a transparent breakdown within 24 hours.
Your details stay private. No obligation.
What your setup actually costs
We do not publish a headline price, because the figure that matters depends on decisions you have not made yet. Anyone quoting you a single number before asking these questions is guessing.
Your business activity
The activity decides which authorities can licence you at all, whether a regulator has to approve you first, and how many visas you are allowed.
How many visas you need
Visa quota is tied to your package tier and facility. Buying the right tier upfront is consistently cheaper than upgrading later.
Facility type
A flexi-desk, a serviced office and a warehouse are different orders of cost. Mainland companies generally need physical premises with a registered Ejari tenancy.
Free zone, mainland or offshore
This single decision drives ownership, where you are allowed to trade, and whether you can sponsor residence visas at all.
What the quote leaves out
Licence fees are rarely the whole bill. Establishment card, immigration file, medical testing, Emirates ID and insurance are usually charged separately.
Tell us what you are planning and we will come back with an itemised written quote — every line visible, nothing bundled.
Compare the zones
RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone
Value SME to industrial, all-inclusive packaging, e-commerce/trading, flexibility over prestige
View detailsRAK ICC — RAK International Corporate Centre
Offshore holding, foundations, cross-border structuring, family wealth
View detailsRAK Digital Assets Oasis
Digital asset-adjacent businesses, emerging-technology ventures
View detailsThe process, step by step
- 1
Decide operating company or holding structure
RAKEZ issues an operating licence with visa eligibility. RAK ICC registers offshore holding companies, which cannot sponsor residence visas.
- 2
Select the package tier
RAKEZ tiers are priced by facility and visa allocation. Buying the right tier upfront is cheaper than upgrading later.
- 3
Reserve the trade name
Checked against the RAKEZ register and restricted-word rules.
- 4
Submit documents and pay
Passport copies, application and shareholder details. RAKEZ supports remote incorporation for most activities.
- 5
Receive licence and establishment card
Issued once the file is complete; the tier and facility you choose set the pace. We confirm the current RAKEZ timeline before you commit.
- 6
Apply for visas and open banking
Banks assess RAK entities on substance and transaction narrative in the same way as any other UAE jurisdiction.