- A zero-visa RAKEZ licence is reported at about AED 6,010, and one residence visa lifts the total to about AED 12,010 in a July 2026 adviser table.
- RAKEZ is the free zone authority that issues trade licences and visas. RAK ICC is a separate offshore registry and does not.
- Warehouse and land leases, dependent visas, external approvals, bank setup and adviser fees are usually quoted separately from the licence.
- Advisers report first-year totals of about AED 18,000 to AED 20,500 for a solo freelancer and AED 32,000 to AED 35,000 for a service company.
- Sources disagree on share capital and on whether the security check fee is included, so get the requirement and the full quote in writing.
A RAKEZ licence is one of the cheapest ways to get a UAE free zone company, with a zero-visa licence reported at about AED 6,010 and a licence with one residence visa at about AED 12,010 in a July 2026 adviser table.
The honest first-year cost is higher, because visas, office or warehouse space, medical tests, insurance and your adviser’s fee usually sit outside the headline licence price.
RAKEZ is the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, a free zone with commercial, service, industrial, e-commerce and freelance licences. It is not the same as RAK ICC, the separate offshore registry in the same emirate, and mixing the two up is the most common mistake in early research. This guide shows what the licence types are, how the quoted numbers fit together, where advisers disagree, and what to ask before you pay.
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence | About AED 6,010 in government cost, as reported in a July 2026 adviser table |
| Licence with 1 residence visa | About AED 12,010 reported |
| Licence with 2 or 3 visas | About AED 18,010 and AED 22,010 reported |
| SME package with 1 visa | About AED 14,000 all-in, with extra visas at about AED 4,000 each up to 3, as reported |
| Typical first-year total, solo freelancer | About AED 18,000 to AED 20,500 with flexi-desk, cards, visa and insurance, as reported |
| Typical first-year total, service company | About AED 32,000 to AED 35,000 reported |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership reported |
“The licence price is the number on the banner. The number you will actually pay is the licence, the visas, the space, the medicals and the renewal, added together.”
What RAKEZ is, and what it is not
RAKEZ is a free zone authority in Ras Al Khaimah that issues licences for commercial, service, industrial, e-commerce and freelance activities. It also offers flexi-desk, office, warehouse and land options, which is why it appeals to both consultants and small manufacturers.
RAK ICC is different. It is an offshore company registry that does not issue trade licences or residence visas. Our guide to RAK ICC compared with JAFZA offshore explains that route, and it is the right read if you want a holding company rather than an operating one.
The wider free zone picture is in our guide to free zone company setup costs, steps and mistakes. RAKEZ follows the same pattern: licence, space, visas, then bank account.
The licence types and what they suit
Advisers list five licence families, and the price depends on which one your activity falls under.
- Freelancer permit: for a single professional, reported from about AED 5,750 with one visa.
- Service or consultancy licence: for advisory, marketing and IT work, reported from about AED 11,400.
- Commercial or trading licence: for buying and selling goods, reported at AED 7,500 to AED 15,000.
- Industrial licence: for manufacturing and processing, reported from about AED 10,000 plus facility costs.
- E-commerce licence: for online selling, reported at AED 5,750 to AED 9,000.
These are adviser ranges, not a published tariff, and they overlap with the July 2026 table above. Treat them as a way to compare options, then ask for a written quote for your exact activity.
How the quoted numbers fit together
The cleanest breakdown comes from the July 2026 adviser table. A zero-visa licence is about AED 6,010, and each added visa raises the total: about AED 12,010 with one, AED 18,010 with two and AED 22,010 with three. That implies visa steps of roughly AED 6,000, AED 6,000 and AED 4,000.
The same table says the trade licence, incorporation documents and the establishment card are inside those totals. It also says warehouse and land leases, dependent visas, external approvals, bank account setup, tax registration and the adviser’s own fee are quoted separately.
Other advisers sell bundles. One reports an SME package at about AED 14,000 with one visa and AED 4,000 for each extra visa, up to three. The packages and the table do not match exactly, which is normal: they bundle different items and were priced at different times.
For a view of what typical quotes leave out, read our guide to the costs most UAE setup quotes leave out.
What the first year really costs
Advisers who add everything together report about AED 18,000 to AED 20,500 for a solo professional on a freelancer permit. That figure includes a flexi-desk, the establishment and immigration cards, one visa and basic health insurance.
A service company with a few visas is reported at about AED 32,000 to AED 35,000 in year one. Industrial and warehouse users should expect more, because space is the largest variable and is not part of the licence price.
- Licence and registration, as quoted.
- Establishment and immigration cards, unless bundled.
- Residence visa, medical test, Emirates ID and insurance for each person.
- Flexi-desk, office, warehouse or land.
- Bank account setup and any minimum balance.
- Adviser fee and any activity approvals from other authorities.
Our comparison of the cheapest free zones in the UAE, ranked, shows where this sits against other low-cost zones once the extras are counted.
Where the sources disagree
Share capital is the clearest example. One adviser table shows a paid-up capital line of AED 300,000 for a particular structure, while others show no capital deposit at all. We could not find an official RAKEZ page that settles it, so ask for the requirement for your activity in writing before you sign.
Licence prices differ too. A table showing a licence at AED 6,000 plus a security check fee of AED 1,050 is common, and so are packages that fold the check into the price. Always ask whether a quote includes the security check, the establishment card and the registration fee.
Multi-year payment is another point. One adviser says paying for three years at once can cut the annual licence price by up to 33%, but that is a reported offer, so ask whether it is available for your licence type.
Visas, space and the quota
Visa quota usually follows the space you rent. A flexi-desk is typically linked to one or two visas, and larger offices or warehouses qualify for more. If you plan to hire quickly, pick the space with the visas you need in mind.
Our guide to choosing between a flexi-desk and a dedicated office in a free zone explains the trade-off in detail, including when a flexi-desk is not accepted by a bank or for a visa.
Remember that residence visas need an establishment card first. It is usually part of the setup, but check that it is in your quote.
Also plan the order of hiring. Each employee needs a medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance on top of the visa itself, and those items add up quickly across a team. Spreading hires across the year does not reduce the per-person cost, but it does smooth the cash you need up front.
The setup steps in order
- Choose your activity and confirm the licence type it needs.
- Pick the space: flexi-desk, office, warehouse or land.
- Submit the application and shareholder documents, including the security check.
- Pay, receive the licence and the establishment card.
- Apply for visas, medicals and Emirates ID for each person.
- Open the bank account, which is often the slowest step.
For the document side, our document checklist generator lists what each shareholder structure usually needs. Timelines depend on whether your activity needs an outside approval, so ask for a written estimate rather than a promise.
Who RAKEZ suits, and who it does not
RAKEZ tends to suit three kinds of founder. The first is the solo consultant or creator who wants a low-cost licence, one visa and a flexi-desk. The second is a small trading or e-commerce business that needs a UAE licence without a Dubai-level rent.
The third is a light manufacturer or assembler who can use an industrial unit and wants lower space costs than Dubai or Sharjah.
It suits others less well. A business that expects most of its customers inside Dubai may find that a free zone licence limits direct mainland trading, because free zone companies generally need a distributor or a separate mainland arrangement to sell onshore. If the client base is local, compare a mainland licence before you commit.
A company that needs a prestigious Dubai address for banking or tenders may also prefer a Dubai free zone, even at a higher price. That is a commercial judgement, not a legal one.
Consider a two-person marketing consultancy that sees a RAKEZ headline of AED 6,010 and assumes that is the budget. Each partner needs a residence visa, so the licence-plus-two-visa figure of about AED 18,010 applies before any space. Add a flexi-desk, medicals, Emirates ID, health insurance and an adviser fee, and the first-year total moves into the reported AED 32,000 to AED 35,000 range for a service company. The headline was real, but only a third of the bill.
Bank account and real operations
Opening a bank account is a separate step with its own approval, and a licence does not guarantee one. Banks look at the activity, the shareholders, the expected turnover and whether the company has a credible office or operations.
A flexi-desk company with no clients, no website and no contracts is harder to bank than one with a real business plan. Prepare the paperwork early, and read our guide to what UAE banks ask for when opening a business account before you apply.
Keep a simple budget sheet with one line per item and one column for the quote, the actual and the renewal. It shows at once which numbers came from the zone and which came from the adviser, and it makes the second-year decision much easier.
Renewal and the cost after year one
Licences renew every year, and visas renew on their own cycle, usually every two years. Renewal is normally close to the original licence fee, though the exact amount depends on the activity and the space.
Our guide to how UAE licence renewal costs and deadlines work explains the pattern and the penalties for renewing late.
Common mistakes when pricing a RAKEZ company
- Confusing RAKEZ with RAK ICC and expecting visas from an offshore company.
- Comparing one adviser’s licence-only price with another’s all-in package.
- Forgetting that warehouse, land and dependent visas are quoted separately.
- Assuming the capital requirement without getting it in writing.
- Ignoring renewal when comparing a cheap first year.
When professional help is worth it
A written quote that lists every government item is worth more than a low headline price. An adviser is most useful when your activity needs outside approval, when you want visas and a bank account on a schedule, or when you are weighing RAKEZ against another zone.
E.zone, which sets up RAKEZ licences and visa packages for founders, can price your exact activity and visa count. See also e.zone’s breakdown of how RAKEZ licence costs vary by activity.
This is general information and not legal or financial advice. Free zone fees change, so get a current written quote from RAKEZ or a licensed adviser before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a RAKEZ licence cost?
One July 2026 adviser table reports about AED 6,010 for a zero-visa licence, AED 12,010 with one visa, AED 18,010 with two and AED 22,010 with three. Other advisers sell bundles at different prices, so confirm what each quote includes.
Is RAKEZ the same as RAK ICC?
No. RAKEZ is a free zone that issues trade licences and residence visas. RAK ICC is a separate offshore company registry that does not issue trade licences or visas.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a RAKEZ company?
Advisers report 100% foreign ownership is allowed in RAKEZ. Confirm the rule for your licence type and activity with RAKEZ before applying.
What costs are not in the RAKEZ licence price?
Reported extras include warehouse or land leases, dependent visas, external approvals, bank account setup, tax registration and the adviser's own fee.
How many visas can a RAKEZ company have?
The quota follows the space you rent. A flexi-desk typically supports one or two visas, and larger offices or warehouses support more.
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