Free zone company
Company setup in RAKEZ, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone
RAKEZ, the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, is the Government of Ras Al Khaimah authority that licenses free zone and non-free zone companies in the emirate. Formed in 2017, it runs business zones for trading and service firms and industrial zones for manufacturers. It suits founders who want anything from a co-working desk to a factory plot under one authority.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Emirate
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Authority
- Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), Government of Ras Al Khaimah
- Location
- Business zones at Al Nakheel and Al Hamra; industrial zones at Al Hamra, Al Ghail and Al Hulaila
- Known for
- Manufacturing and industrial projects, plus trading and service companies
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership for free zone companies
- Office options
- Co-working, flexi and private offices, warehouses, land, staff accommodation
Overview
Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost emirate of the UAE. RAKEZ was formed in 2017, when two earlier Ras Al Khaimah free zones were brought together under one authority. The result is unusual among UAE zones: a single body that licenses a freelancer at a co-working desk, a trading company in an office and a heavy manufacturer on a large plot, each in a different part of the emirate.
The zones are specialised. Al Nakheel and Al Hamra Business Zones serve trading, service and consultancy firms. Al Hamra Industrial Zone is geared to light manufacturing and logistics. Al Ghail hosts advanced manufacturing and construction materials producers, and Al Hulaila, close to Saqr Port, is for heavy industry. There is also an Academic Zone for schools, universities and training providers.
RAKEZ also issues non-free zone licences for companies that want to sell directly in the UAE market from Ras Al Khaimah, so one authority can serve both sides of a group. Compared with a Dubai zone, RAKEZ is further from Dubai's customers and offers a wider spread of industrial land and warehouses. Service companies that do not need a Dubai address use its desk and office options. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
What makes RAKEZ different
Free zone and non-free zone, one authority
RAKEZ licenses both types of company. You pick the structure that matches where your customers are without changing authority.
A zone for each kind of industry
Light manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and heavy industry each have their own area, with warehouses and land for development.
Start small, scale up
Facilities run from a desk at the Compass Coworking Centre in Al Hamra to standard, executive and shell and core offices, then warehouses and plots.
A port and an airport in the emirate
Saqr Port, a major bulk-handling port, and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport serve exporters, and highways link the emirate to the others.
Space for your workforce
Industrial tenants can arrange staff and labour accommodation on site, which matters when a factory runs shifts.
Education has its own zone
Schools, universities, institutes and training companies are licensed through the RAKEZ Academic Zone.
What to bring to the first meeting
- Passport copy of every shareholder and of the proposed manager
- A passport-size photo of each person
- The UAE visa page or Emirates ID of anyone already resident
- Three trade name options
- A clear description of the activity, so we can place it in the right RAKEZ zone
- The facility you expect to need: desk, office, warehouse or land
- For factories: your products, raw materials, machinery and utility needs
- For a corporate shareholder or a branch: attested incorporation documents and a board resolution
Industrial and educational projects go through extra review. Your consultant lists the additional papers once the activity is fixed.
How setup in RAKEZ works
Free consultation
You explain the business. We decide with you between a free zone and a non-free zone company and identify the RAKEZ zone that fits.
Legal form, licence and facility
We choose the company type, the licence type and the facility together, because each one limits the others.
Application and documents
Caliph prepares the application and submits it with your documents to RAKEZ.
Signing and lease
You sign the company documents and the lease or facility agreement for your desk, office, warehouse or plot.
Licence issued
RAKEZ issues the licence and the company documents once the formalities are complete. Your consultant gives you a timeline at the start.
Visas
The visa process starts after the licence. We handle the establishment card, entry permits, medical fitness tests and residence visas.
Bank account and running the company
We prepare the bank file and keep renewals, amendments and new visas with the same consultant.
Good to know
- A RAKEZ free zone company and a RAKEZ non-free zone company follow different rules on ownership and local sales. Decide which one you need before you apply.
- RAKEZ is not RAK ICC. RAK ICC is the emirate's separate registry for offshore companies.
- The zones are in different parts of the emirate. Visit the one you are considering before you sign a lease.
Questions people ask
What does RAKEZ stand for?
RAKEZ is the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. It is the Government of Ras Al Khaimah authority, formed in 2017, that licenses companies and manages business, industrial and academic zones across the emirate. It issues both free zone and non-free zone licences.
Which RAKEZ zone should I choose?
It follows your activity. Trading, service and consultancy companies go to the Al Nakheel or Al Hamra Business Zones. Light manufacturing and logistics fit Al Hamra Industrial Zone, advanced manufacturing and construction materials fit Al Ghail, and heavy industry fits Al Hulaila near Saqr Port. Education providers use the Academic Zone.
Can a RAKEZ company sell in the UAE market?
A RAKEZ free zone company trades within the zone and internationally, and normally reaches the local market through a distributor or agent. If direct local sales matter, RAKEZ can issue a non-free zone licence instead. The ownership and activity rules differ, so your consultant checks them for your business first.
Do I need to live in Ras Al Khaimah to have a RAKEZ company?
No. You can live in another emirate or abroad. What you need is a facility in a RAKEZ zone that matches your licence, from a co-working desk upward. A residence visa issued through the company lets you live anywhere in the UAE.
Is RAKEZ a good choice for a factory?
It is one of the UAE options manufacturers look at first. RAKEZ has three industrial zones with warehouses, land for development and on-site labour accommodation, and Saqr Port handles bulk cargo. Whether it beats an industrial zone in Dubai or Abu Dhabi depends on your raw materials, customers and utilities.
How does RAKEZ compare with a Dubai free zone?
Dubai zones put you closer to Dubai's customers, airports and banks. RAKEZ is in the northernmost emirate and covers a wider range, from desks to heavy industry, under one authority. It tends to suit service firms that do not need a Dubai address and manufacturers that need land. Compare the rules and running costs for your own case.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
- VisitHapag-Lloyd Building, Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai. P.O. Box 8070
Open in Google Maps