Business setup in Ras Al Khaimah usually means a RAKEZ company. RAKEZ, the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, licenses free zone and non-free zone companies and publishes its own packages: Biz Starter at AED 6,000, with no residence visa listed, and an all-inclusive package with one UAE residence visa at AED 14,000 per year (RAKEZ offer pages, rakez.com, checked 22 October 2026). A shop, restaurant, clinic or contractor serving local customers needs a RAK mainland licence from the RAK Department of Economic Development instead, priced per activity. First Idea Consultant LLC prepares both routes from Business Bay, Dubai, and Amir Aslam, Founder, reviews each file. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Key takeaways (RAKEZ fees and rules checked 22 October 2026)
- RAKEZ is the usual Ras Al Khaimah route for a service, trading, e-commerce or consultancy business. A business serving walk-in customers in the emirate needs RAK mainland, and an offshore holding company uses RAK ICC.
- RAKEZ’s published prices are packages: AED 6,000 (Biz Starter), AED 6,000 and AED 12,000 (Instant Licence Basic and Lite) and AED 14,000 per year (all-inclusive, with one residence visa). They are RAKEZ’s figures, not First Idea’s.
- Outside a package, RAKEZ lists visa charges of AED 4,620 for an investor or partner visa and AED 3,800 for an employee visa, plus AED 985 when the applicant is already inside the UAE.
- Per RAKEZ’s FAQ, a RAKEZ free zone company (FZ-LLC) needs no local partner, takes 1 to 50 shareholders and has at least AED 10,000 of share capital, with higher minimums for some activities, such as AED 150,000 for industrial.
- The licence is renewed before it expires, yearly or for 2, 3 or 5 years at a time (RAKEZ gives no grace period and charges AED 50 per day late), and the accounts are audited within six months of the financial year end.
- First Idea quotes RAKEZ in writing. Its fixed package prices are for Meydan and IFZA.
Send my activity to Amir on WhatsApp
Company, visa and bank account: ask Amir on WhatsApp
RAKEZ or RAK mainland: which route fits your business?
Ras Al Khaimah company formation runs on three registers, and who your customers are and whether you need a residence visa decide which one fits. The table compares them so you can rule two out.
| Route | Issuing authority | Who it suits | Trade inside the UAE | Residence visas | Facility or office | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) | Services, consultancy, trading, e-commerce, media, education, light industry | Inside the zone and internationally; mainland reach through a distributor, a branch or a Dual License | Yes, the number follows the facility | A RAKEZ facility, from the coworking membership upward | See the RAKEZ section |
| RAK mainland | RAK Department of Economic Development (RAK DED) | Retail, food and beverage, contracting, clinics, local services | Yes, across the UAE | Yes, the number follows the office | An original rent contract certified by the Municipality (rak.ae) | See the RAK mainland section |
| RAK ICC offshore | RAK International Corporate Centre | Holding shares, property and intellectual property; business outside the UAE | No | No residence visa | No UAE office | See the RAK ICC section |
For a service, trading, e-commerce or consultancy business, the route is usually RAKEZ. It licenses free zone and non-free zone entities and branches. UAE customers stay reachable through a distributor, a branch, or a RAKEZ Dual License, which RAKEZ describes as combining commercial and professional activities under one licence so a company can operate on the mainland as well as in free zones (rakez.com, checked 22 October 2026). If a Dubai address matters more, compare the Dubai free zone license options first.
RAK mainland is the second route, and the right one for a shop, restaurant, clinic or contracting yard serving customers in the emirate. RAK DED prices it per activity, so there is no single mainland figure.
How much does business setup in Ras Al Khaimah cost?
Ras Al Khaimah trade license cost depends on the route: RAKEZ publishes package prices, such as AED 6,000 for Biz Starter and AED 14,000 per year for its all-inclusive package with one visa, while a RAK mainland licence is priced per activity by the RAK Department of Economic Development. Table A is the RAKEZ license cost, the RAK free zone license cost as RAKEZ publishes it, paid to RAKEZ.
| RAKEZ package | RAKEZ published price | What RAKEZ lists |
|---|---|---|
| Biz Starter Package | AED 6,000 | Up to 10 business activities (mix and match), up to 50 shareholders, coworking centre membership, business networking events. RAKEZ addresses it to UAE-based entrepreneurs, states T&Cs apply and lists no residence visa here |
| Instant licence, Basic Package | AED 6,000 | The offer page shows the price only. The FAQ on the same page describes the basic package as one shareholder, one business activity and access to a coworking facility |
| Instant licence, Lite Package | AED 12,000 | The offer page shows the price with no list of inclusions |
| All-inclusive business set-up package | AED 14,000 per year | Trade licence through to a UAE residence visa, 10 activities mixed and matched, up to 50 shareholders, up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each, 20% off dependent visas, Compass Coworking Centre access, fully digital registration and renewal, multi-year options |
Two RAKEZ packages carry the same AED 6,000 price with different stated inclusions, so ask which package your invoice is for before you compare quotes.
By visa count, RAKEZ’s own package figures come to AED 6,000 with no visa (Biz Starter), AED 14,000 with one visa, AED 18,000 with two, AED 22,000 with three and AED 26,000 with four, using the all-inclusive package plus up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each (RAKEZ offer pages, checked 22 October 2026). These are RAKEZ’s figures, not First Idea’s.
That Ras Al Khaimah free zone license cost covers the licence and what RAKEZ lists with it, before E-Channel registration, insurance and any VAT; Table B is what RAKEZ publishes for the rest.
| RAKEZ fee | RAKEZ published figure | Where RAKEZ publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Investor or partner visa, standard charges | AED 4,620, excluding VAT | New Visa, Investor/Partner service card |
| Employee visa, standard charges | AED 3,800 | New Visa, Employee service card |
| Visa activation when the applicant is already inside the UAE | AED 985 more, beside the standard charges | Both visa service cards |
| A visa on a licence package that includes one | AED 0.00 for standard processing, or AED 3,800 for RAKEZ’s VIP option | Both visa service cards, which say these two prices apply only to licence packages with visa inclusion |
| Additional visas on the all-inclusive package | AED 4,000 each, up to 3 | All-inclusive package page |
| E-Channel immigration registration | AED 2,200, plus a refundable AED 5,050 deposit, paid once | RAKEZ FAQs |
| E-Channel registration renewal | AED 1,200 a year, where it applies | RAKEZ FAQs |
| Late licence renewal | AED 50 per day | RAKEZ FAQs |
| Audited financial statements submitted late | AED 2,500 fine | RAKEZ FAQs |
RAKEZ prints no single licence renewal total: its renewal service card says prices vary by licence type, activity and facility. Table C is everything that goes on a real invoice, by route.
| Cost component | RAKEZ | RAK mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Licence or package fee | RAKEZ published package (Table A) | Per RAK DED tariff by activity |
| Coworking, flexi facility or office | RAKEZ published package (Table A) | Itemised in your written quote |
| Establishment card and immigration file, including E-Channel registration | RAKEZ published E-Channel fee (Table B); the rest itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote |
| Residence visa per person: entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID | RAKEZ published visa charges (Tables A and B); anything else itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote |
| Health insurance for each visa holder | Itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote where required |
| Trade name and initial approval | Itemised in your written quote | Per RAK DED tariff by activity |
| Rent contract | Not applicable | Itemised in your written quote |
| RAK Chamber of Commerce membership | Itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote |
| MOA notarisation for an LLC | Itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote |
| First Idea professional fee | Itemised in your written quote | Itemised in your written quote |
Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Compare emirates on our cost of setting up a business in Dubai page and our cheapest free zone license in UAE page.
Company, visa and bank account in Ras Al Khaimah
If you want a company, a residence visa and help opening a business bank account together, for RAKEZ or RAK mainland that has no fixed First Idea price: send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
The bundle First Idea prices in writing is in Dubai: Premium, which is company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance, at AED 28,136 in Meydan Free Zone or AED 28,436 in IFZA.
Our cost of setting up a business in Dubai page also prices Premium with local bank account opening assistance, where the bank requires your presence: AED 33,136 in Meydan Free Zone or AED 33,436 in IFZA.
Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank’s requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next.
See Meydan free zone, IFZA free zone, bank account opening assistance and Dubai company setup packages.
Example: what a two-visa RAKEZ company adds up to
On RAKEZ’s own published figures, a company with two residence visas on the all-inclusive package comes to at least AED 18,000 in package and visa fees for the first year, before E-Channel registration, insurance, any other immigration file or Chamber of Commerce line and VAT. The case below shows where each figure comes from.
Example: you are setting up a marketing consultancy in RAKEZ. You need a residence visa for yourself and one for an employee, and you are both outside the UAE when the visas are issued. The case is made up to show how RAKEZ’s published figures add up; it is not a real client.
| Line | Source | AED |
|---|---|---|
| All-inclusive package, with your own residence visa | RAKEZ all-inclusive package page | 14,000 |
| Employee’s visa, as one of up to 3 additional visas | RAKEZ all-inclusive package page | 4,000 |
| Subtotal on RAKEZ’s package figures | 18,000 | |
| E-Channel immigration registration, if not already inside the package price | RAKEZ FAQs | 2,200 |
| E-Channel deposit, paid once and refundable | RAKEZ FAQs | 5,050 |
| Health insurance for two visa holders | RAKEZ visa cards list it at additional cost on the standard option | Itemised in your quote |
| Work Protection Insurance for the employee | RAKEZ employee visa card | Itemised in your quote |
| First Idea professional fee | First Idea | Itemised in your quote |
| Share capital, AED 10,000 minimum for an FZ-LLC: not a fee, and deposited in a UAE bank account in the company’s name unless RAKEZ approves otherwise | RAKEZ FAQs and Companies Regulations, regulation 32 | 10,000 |
RAKEZ’s package page does not say whether the E-Channel registration is inside the AED 14,000, and RAKEZ’s FAQ says every company with an immigration file must register. So on published figures, this company pays RAKEZ at least AED 18,000, plus AED 2,200 if the E-Channel registration is charged separately (with AED 5,050 more held as a refundable deposit), plus health insurance, the employee’s Work Protection Insurance, any immigration file or Chamber of Commerce line RAKEZ invoices outside the package, and any VAT. The AED 10,000 minimum share capital is not a fee and is not part of that total.
Had you both been inside the UAE, each visa card lists AED 985 for visa activation beside its standard charges, so ask RAKEZ whether that line applies to visas inside a package. In this example, the figure to compare between consultants is not AED 6,000 or AED 14,000 but the full first-year list, with RAKEZ’s fees shown separately from the consultant’s own.
How does RAK free zone company formation with RAKEZ work?
RAK free zone company formation for most activities means RAKEZ. RAKEZ, the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, licenses free zone and non-free zone companies, and one authority issues the RAKEZ free zone licence, holds the immigration file and handles the renewal. Ras Al Khaimah free zone prices are in Tables A and B above.
Older articles still list RAK Free Trade Zone or RAK Media City as separate free zones. RAKEZ’s own zones page lists six RAKEZ zones, below (checked 22 October 2026). Ras Al Khaimah also has Innovation City, a tech free zone for AI, Web3, gaming and digital businesses, which the old rakdao.com address now leads to (innovationcity.com, checked 22 October 2026). This page covers RAKEZ.
| RAKEZ zone | What RAKEZ says it is for |
|---|---|
| Al Nakheel Business Zone | SMEs and freelancers, with business centres |
| Al Hamra Business Zone | A business zone between the city centre and the neighbouring emirates |
| RAKEZ Academic Zone | Educational institutions and service providers |
| Al Hamra Industrial Zone | Light industries as well as heavy industry projects |
| Al Ghail Industrial Zone | Large-scale industrial manufacturing |
| Al Hulaila Industrial Zone | Heavier industrial manufacturing |
Which company types can RAKEZ register, and what share capital do they need?
RAKEZ registers three free zone forms and five non-free zone forms, and a free zone company (FZ-LLC) needs at least AED 10,000 of share capital, more for some activities, according to RAKEZ’s FAQ (checked 22 October 2026). The same FAQ says a free zone company needs no local partner, so it can be fully foreign owned.
| Zone | Form RAKEZ lists | What RAKEZ says about it |
|---|---|---|
| Free zone | Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC) | 1 to 50 shareholders, subject to the Registrar’s approval (Companies Regulations, regulation 12(2)); minimum share capital AED 10,000, in shares of AED 1,000 (FAQ) |
| Free zone | Branch of a UAE-based company, including one registered in another free zone | No capital required; the branch carries the parent’s name and all or some of its activities (FAQ) |
| Free zone | Branch of a foreign company | As above; the parent’s authorised signatory signs the resolution (FAQ) |
| Non-free zone | Individual Establishment | One natural person, and the owner’s liability is not limited; a non-UAE national can hold one for professional activities with a UAE national as local service agent (FAQ) |
| Non-free zone | Single Person LLC | One natural or corporate person, with limited liability (FAQ) |
| Non-free zone | Limited Liability Company (LLC) | Up to 50 shareholders (FAQ) |
| Non-free zone | Branch of a UAE-based company, or of a foreign company | A non-free zone entity also needs a licence from RAK DED, besides its RAKEZ licence (FAQ) |
For the non-free zone forms, RAKEZ’s FAQ still says a non-free zone commercial or industrial licence needs a UAE national holding at least 51% of the capital, and it cites Federal Law No. 2 of 2015. The UAE Government portal says that law was amended to allow up to 100 per cent foreign ownership of mainland companies for most activities, with some activities still restricted (u.ae, checked 22 October 2026). So we confirm the current ownership and local service agent rules for your activity with RAKEZ and RAK DED before the application.
RAKEZ’s FAQ sets higher minimum share capital for some activities. A few of them, as RAKEZ lists them:
| Activity | RAKEZ minimum share capital |
|---|---|
| Publishing; film, TV or radio production; schools and other education providers | AED 50,000 |
| Logistics and transportation; insurance consultancy; investment consultancy | AED 100,000 |
| Industrial | AED 150,000 |
| Aviation; insurance broker; real estate consultancy, broker or agent | AED 500,000 |
| Insurance agent; real estate development; TV or radio broadcasting | AED 1,000,000 |
Under regulation 32 of the RAKEZ Companies Regulations of 2023, the share capital is deposited in a UAE bank account opened in the name of the company under formation unless RAKEZ approves otherwise, and RAKEZ can waive the rule that it be fully paid up. The suffix itself is explained in our guide to FZE vs FZCO vs FZ-LLC.
RAKEZ licence types
| Licence type | What RAKEZ says it covers |
|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading in services and goods |
| General Trading | Trading in multiple goods |
| E-Commerce | Trading in goods and services via electronic means |
| Services | Conducting services or consultancies across any industry |
| Professional | For individuals who provide professional services |
| Individual / Professional | One owner with one activity in a specific specialty or expertise |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, importing, packaging and exporting products |
| Media | Operating media-related business activities |
| Educational | Opening an education-related institution or consultancy company |
| Business Invest | Listed in the RAKEZ activity list filter |
| Freelance Permit | For media, education, IT and analysts professionals |
One RAK trade license can carry several activities, but only within the per-licence limits in RAKEZ’s FAQ, so the activity check comes before the trade name. Regulated activities can need another authority’s approval before the licence is issued.
RAKEZ activity list
RAKEZ publishes a searchable licence activity list, and it is the only list that counts when your application is assessed. Work through it in order:
- Zone first. Freezone or Non-Freezone; the same activity can sit in both and the rest of the licence follows.
- Then licence type. Commercial, Services, Professional, Industrial, Media, E-Commerce, General Trading, Educational, Individual / Professional, Business Invest or Freelance Permit.
- Then activity group. This narrows RAKEZ’s list to your family of business.
- Then keyword. Search the words your customers use, not the words on your website.
Each row in the RAKEZ business activity list shows the activity code, name, licence type, group and description, and that activity name is what has to appear on your application.
RAKEZ’s FAQ sets a limit for each free zone licence: five activities from the same group or two from different groups on a Commercial licence, two from any group on a Services licence and two from the same group on an Industrial licence. Any activity from a different licence type needs a separate licence, so commercial and service activities cannot share one (RAKEZ FAQs, checked 22 October 2026). Biz Starter and the all-inclusive package in Table A say up to ten activities, mixed and matched, and the FAQ on the instant licence page describes its Basic Package with one activity, so ask RAKEZ which limit applies to your package.
Send your activity on WhatsApp and we check it against RAKEZ’s list before the name reservation. Adding an activity after the licence is issued is an amendment, covered in how to add activities to your trade licence.
RAKEZ’s three steps for Ras Al Khaimah company formation
RAKEZ publishes three steps on its getting started page (checked 22 October 2026):
- Customise your business setup package. You select the legal entity, licence type and facility with RAKEZ’s business development professionals. The entities RAKEZ names are Free Zone Entity, Non-Free Zone Entity and Branches. RAKEZ’s FAQ adds that every investor, partner and manager, of any nationality, needs pre-approval before the company is formed or a visa is issued.
- Submit application and documents. You fill out the application form and submit the documents, then RAKEZ sends the invoice.
- Receive your business setup licence. RAKEZ issues the licence with the registration set and a bank letter on completion of the licensing formality, and the visa process starts after that.
Before step 1 we check your activity against the RAKEZ list, prepare three trade name options that survive the name rules, and check every shareholder and manager document. After step 3 come the establishment card and immigration file, then the visa steps below.
RAKEZ freelancer permit and freelance visa
RAKEZ’s freelancer permit is aimed at media and education professionals, and its licence types page adds IT and analysts professionals. Per RAKEZ, the freelancer works in his or her own birth name rather than a company name and can select only one activity per permit. RAKEZ lists eligibility for a UAE residence visa with the permit and offers 1 and 2 year packages. RAKEZ also states freelancers cannot open a corporate bank account, appoint staff or obtain an additional visa under it, that no memorandum of association or certificate of incorporation is issued, and that the freelancer is personally liable for the debts of the work (rakez.com, checked 22 October 2026).
Send your profession and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
RAK mainland: a RAK DED licence step by step
A Ras Al Khaimah trade license on the mainland comes from the RAK Department of Economic Development, and the Ras Al Khaimah Government portal publishes the sequence.
| Step (rak.ae wording) | Who does it | What you sign or provide | Typical working days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Determine the type of business activity | You with First Idea | A written description of what the business will do | Confirmed in your quote |
| 2. Determine the legal category of the establishment | You with First Idea | Shareholder structure and manager details | Confirmed in your quote |
| 3. Registering the trade name | First Idea with RAK DED | Three trade name options | Confirmed in your quote |
| 4. Obtaining approvals of concerned authorities | First Idea, with the named authority | Activity-specific forms and qualifications | Confirmed in your quote |
| 5. Issuance of the business licence | RAK DED | Payment, and the tenancy contract before issue | Confirmed in your quote |
Around those steps rak.ae names RAK DED as the issuing authority, with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, the Monitoring and Consumer Protection Administration, the Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality, and the Ministry of Economy, the Civil Defence Division, the Health Division, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for particular activities or company types. For several licence types it asks for an original rent contract certified by the Municipality and a copy of the property ownership, once the Inspection Division has approved the site.
Three things First Idea adds, none of them rak.ae’s: the tenancy contract has to be in place before the licence is issued, not after; RAK Chamber of Commerce membership is part of the file; an LLC needs its memorandum of association notarised.
On ownership, rak.ae addresses foreign companies, GCC companies and expatriate partners rather than publishing a general rule. A foreign company opening a branch needs initial approval from Ras Al Khaimah’s economic authority, with its licence and memorandum translated into Arabic and certified by the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; a GCC company’s licence needs the same two approvals; an expatriate partner who works elsewhere needs a no objection letter certified by the Chamber of Commerce.
If a Dubai mainland licence serves the same customers, compare our mainland license page and LLC company formation in UAE.
Offshore in Ras Al Khaimah: RAK ICC
A RAK ICC offshore company is registered with the RAK International Corporate Centre, Ras Al Khaimah’s registry for international business companies. It can hold shares, property and intellectual property and do business outside the UAE. It cannot trade inside the UAE or sponsor a residence visa, so it does not replace a RAKEZ or mainland licence for anyone who needs to live or trade here. For RAK ICC company types, documents and the registry’s own fees, see RAK offshore company cost and RAK ICC formation; for Dubai’s offshore options, see offshore business setup in Dubai.
Documents required for RAKEZ and RAK mainland
Twelve documents cover almost every application on either route.
| Document | RAKEZ | RAK mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Passport copy of every shareholder and manager | Yes | Yes |
| UAE visa or entry stamp copy | Yes | Yes |
| Emirates ID copy, if a UAE resident | Yes | Yes |
| Passport photo | Yes, for the visa | Yes |
| Proof of home address | If requested | If requested |
| No objection certificate from a current sponsor, if you hold a UAE residence visa | Yes, the original, for a shareholder or general manager who is a UAE resident | Yes, for a resident partner who works elsewhere, certified by the Chamber of Commerce |
| Three trade name options | Yes, under RAKEZ’s trade name guideline for free zone entities | Yes, trade name registration is rak.ae step 3 |
| Business plan or activity description | If requested; RAKEZ’s checklist asks for one only for specific activities, and its FAQ says no specific format is required | If requested |
| Original rent contract certified by the Municipality | No; the company leases a RAKEZ facility instead, such as the coworking access in a package | Yes, with a copy of the property ownership after site approval |
| Memorandum of association | Yes for a company, on RAKEZ’s MOA template | Yes for an LLC, notarised |
| Parent company documents, attested, with a board resolution | If a corporate shareholder | If a corporate shareholder, in Arabic and certified by the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Signed application forms | RAKEZ’s application for registration and licensing, Chamber of Commerce membership application and ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) declaration form | RAK DED forms |
What does a RAKEZ visa cost, and how does it work?
A RAK free zone visa comes through your own company, with RAKEZ as the sponsor. RAKEZ holds the immigration file and the visa count follows the facility, which is why it is chosen at step 1. On the mainland the quota follows the office.
On RAK free zone visa cost, the figures here are RAKEZ’s own (checked 22 October 2026). The all-inclusive package includes one UAE residence visa and lists up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each, with a 20% discount on dependent visas. Outside a package, RAKEZ’s service cards list standard charges of AED 4,620 for an investor or partner visa and AED 3,800 for an employee visa, plus AED 985 for visa activation when the applicant is already inside the UAE. On a licence package that includes a visa, RAKEZ shows standard processing at AED 0.00 and its VIP option at AED 3,800. A RAKEZ visa beyond those is quoted line by line.
RAKEZ’s investor visa card sets out the stages after the company’s establishment card and immigration file are in place:
- Entry permit. The application is made on RAKEZ Portal 360, and the e-visa is valid for 60 days from issue, subject to immigration approval. RAKEZ’s card notes that applicants from Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka or Kenya receive an Approval instead of an entry permit and must visit the UAE Embassy within 45 days to complete it.
- Activation. Inside the UAE, RAKEZ activates the visa for you; from outside, UAE immigration activates it when you arrive.
- Medical fitness test. At the RAKEZ Medical Fitness Centre or any UAE-approved medical centre.
- Emirates ID and biometrics. For a first residence visa, at the RAKEZ Medical Fitness Centre or the Emirates ID centre in Ras Al Khaimah. RAKEZ lists preferred medical centres in Dubai for its paid VIP option.
- Issue. The residence visa and Emirates ID are issued digitally through the ICP app, and the Emirates ID card is delivered.
RAKEZ asks for a passport valid for at least six months, a recent photo on a white background and valid health insurance from an immigration-approved provider, and some nationalities add a national identity card, an attested medical report or a good conduct certificate. RAKEZ also reminds visa holders that a residence visa stays valid only if they return to the UAE no later than 180 days after leaving. The company card behind every visa is explained in our establishment card guide.
Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Timeline: from first WhatsApp message to licence in hand
A RAKEZ company moves through six stages, from the activity check to the residence visa, and a RAK mainland company also needs a certified rent contract before its licence is issued. RAKEZ’s visa service cards give working days for the visa stage, and no RAKEZ or RAK DED page sets one time for a whole company with visas.
| Stage | RAKEZ | RAK mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Activity check and trade name options | Against RAKEZ’s licence activity list | Against RAK DED’s schedule, rak.ae steps 1 to 3 |
| Document collection | Passport set, photos, MOA template | The same, plus the certified rent contract |
| Application and payment | Filed through RAKEZ’s online channels | Filed with RAK DED; approvals at rak.ae step 4 |
| Licence issue | Licence, registration set and bank letter (RAKEZ step 3) | Issued once the tenancy contract is certified |
| Establishment card and immigration file | Held by RAKEZ, with the E-Channel registration | Held with RAK DED and Residency |
| Residence visa | Entry permit, activation, medical, Emirates ID | Entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID |
A file slows down when an activity is described in your own words rather than the authority’s, a trade name breaks the rules, a no objection certificate is missing, corporate documents are not attested, an external approval is needed, or a rent contract is not yet certified.
How does licence renewal work in Ras Al Khaimah?
A RAKEZ licence is renewed on RAKEZ Portal 360 or the mobile app before it expires, and a RAK mainland licence is renewed with RAK DED once the rent contract covers the new period.
RAKEZ licence renewal
No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply.
Send your RAKEZ licence number and expiry date on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
What a RAKEZ renewal involves, as RAKEZ publishes it (checked 22 October 2026):
- RAKEZ’s licence renewal service card sets out four steps: initiate the request on Portal 360 or the mobile app, pay the renewal fees, upload the required documents, and receive the renewed e-licence.
- RAKEZ states the renewed licence is issued digitally with any applicable Immigration File e-card and Chamber of Commerce Certificate.
- RAKEZ publishes a Licence Renewal Checklist (Free Zone) and one for Non-Free Zone on its licensing and renewals page.
- Per RAKEZ’s FAQ, the renewal quotation is emailed about 60 days before expiry and can only be generated in the last two months.
- RAKEZ’s renewal support pages offer renewal for 2, 3 or 5 years as well as year by year, and say there is no grace period after the expiry date and that freezing a licence is not currently available.
Renewing late costs AED 50 per day under RAKEZ’s FAQ, and the same FAQ lists a licence not renewed for six months from its expiry date as a ground for striking the company off the register. RAKEZ prints no renewal total, because its renewal service card says prices vary by licence type, activity and facility, so any RAKEZ trade license renewal figure we quote is the figure on RAKEZ’s own quotation.
Residence visas expiring in the same period are quoted separately.
Send your licence number and expiry date to Amir on WhatsApp
For the Dubai side of the same job, see trade license renewal Dubai.
RAK mainland licence renewal
A RAK license renewal on the mainland is handled with RAK DED, and the rent contract has to be valid for the period being renewed, so a lapsed contract has to be replaced before the renewal can complete.
Send your licence number and expiry date on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
What else does a RAKEZ company do each year?
Besides the renewal, a RAKEZ company has its accounts audited within six months of its financial year end, and a company with an immigration file may also renew its E-Channel registration.
| Duty | What RAKEZ publishes |
|---|---|
| First financial year | Starts on the date of incorporation and runs for not less than 6 and not more than 18 months (regulation 75(1)); RAKEZ’s standard MOA uses January to December |
| Audited accounts | Prepared, approved and examined by an auditor within six months after the end of the financial year (regulation 76(4)); RAKEZ’s FAQ says the auditor must be on RAKEZ’s approved auditors list and a late submission is fined AED 2,500 |
| E-Channel registration | RAKEZ’s FAQ says registered companies may have to renew it yearly, at AED 1,200 |
0% personal income tax. Corporate tax is 9% only on profit above AED 375,000, and registration is included in every package from Standard upward.
Standard and Premium are First Idea’s Meydan and IFZA packages; for a RAKEZ or RAK mainland company, corporate tax registration is itemised in your quote.
Business setup consultants in Ras Al Khaimah
First Idea Consultant LLC has worked on UAE company formation since 2015, from Park Regis, ParkLane Tower, Office 812, Business Bay, Dubai, and prepares RAKEZ applications for filing through RAKEZ’s online channels and RAK mainland applications with the RAK Department of Economic Development. A mainland step needing someone in Ras Al Khaimah can be handled under a power of attorney.
Amir Aslam, Founder, reviews every RAK file before submission: the activity, the trade name options, the shareholder documents and the visa count against the facility. Call or WhatsApp him on +971 56 500 6694. Our reviews are on our Google Business Profile.
The licence is issued by RAKEZ or RAK DED, never by a consultant. Ask any consultant to show the authority’s fees separately from their own, and check them against rakez.com before you pay.
Related guides: RAK ICC offshore company formation and cost, free zone visa in Dubai, Sharjah free zone company formation and FZE vs FZCO vs FZ-LLC.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trade licence cost in Ras Al Khaimah?
RAKEZ publishes its own packages: Biz Starter at AED 6,000, the instant licence Basic Package at AED 6,000 and Lite Package at AED 12,000, and an all-inclusive package with one UAE residence visa at AED 14,000 per year (RAKEZ offer pages, checked 22 October 2026). Visas, the E-Channel immigration registration and health insurance can add to that, as the fee tables above show. A RAK mainland licence is priced per activity by RAK DED, so it has no single figure. Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
What is the minimum share capital for a RAKEZ company?
RAKEZ’s FAQ gives AED 10,000 for a free zone company (FZ-LLC), in shares of AED 1,000, and higher minimums for some activities, such as AED 150,000 for industrial, AED 100,000 for logistics and transportation and AED 500,000 for a real estate broker (checked 22 October 2026). A branch needs no capital. Under the RAKEZ Companies Regulations of 2023, the capital is deposited in a UAE bank account in the company’s name unless RAKEZ approves otherwise.
What is the RAKEZ activity list and how many activities can one licence hold?
It is RAKEZ’s searchable list on rakez.com, filtered by zone, then licence type, then activity group, then keyword, with the code, name, licence type, group and description in each row. RAKEZ’s FAQ sets a limit for each free zone licence: five activities from the same group or two from different groups on a Commercial licence, two from any group on a Services licence and two from the same group on an Industrial licence, and commercial and service activities need separate licences. Its Biz Starter and all-inclusive package pages say up to ten activities, mixed and matched, so ask RAKEZ which limit applies to your package (rakez.com, checked 22 October 2026). Send your activity and we check it against RAKEZ’s list before the name reservation.
How do I renew a RAKEZ licence, and what if I renew late?
Per RAKEZ, you start the renewal on Portal 360 or the mobile app, pay the renewal fees and upload the required documents, and the renewed e-licence is issued digitally. RAKEZ gives no grace period after expiry, charges a late renewal penalty of AED 50 per day, and lists a licence not renewed for six months from expiry as a ground for strike-off (checked 22 October 2026).
No professional service fee on licence renewals; government and authority fees still apply.
Send your RAKEZ licence number and expiry date on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Do I need to travel to Ras Al Khaimah or rent an office to set up a company?
For RAKEZ, every company leases a facility (RAKEZ FAQ), but on the Biz Starter and all-inclusive packages that facility is coworking centre access, and the all-inclusive package page describes a fully digital registration and renewal process (rakez.com, checked 22 October 2026). Some activities need a specific facility type, such as a physical office or retail space, so check yours before you choose a package. The visa can need a visit, because RAKEZ’s investor visa card places first-time Emirates ID biometrics at the RAKEZ Medical Fitness Centre or the Emirates ID centre in Ras Al Khaimah, with preferred medical centres in Dubai on its paid VIP option. A RAK mainland licence does need premises, with an original rent contract certified by the Municipality (rak.ae). We prepare the file from Business Bay in Dubai.
How long does business setup in Ras Al Khaimah take?
RAKEZ’s visa service cards list 3 working days for end-to-end visa and Emirates ID issuance on the VIP option and 6 working days on the standard option (checked 22 October 2026), but no RAKEZ or RAK DED page sets one time for a whole company with visas, so the working days for your file go in your written quote, in the order of the timeline table above. Time is added when an activity has to be reworded to match the authority’s list, a trade name is rejected, or an external approval is needed.
Can I get a residence visa with a RAKEZ licence, and what does it cost?
Yes, and with a RAK mainland licence too; the number follows the RAKEZ facility or the mainland office, and a RAK ICC offshore company cannot sponsor one at all. RAKEZ’s all-inclusive package includes one UAE residence visa and lists up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each. Outside a package, RAKEZ’s service cards list standard charges of AED 4,620 for an investor or partner visa and AED 3,800 for an employee visa, plus AED 985 when the applicant is inside the UAE (checked 22 October 2026). Send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote.
Can I get a company, visa and bank account together in Ras Al Khaimah?
For a RAKEZ or RAK mainland company it is quoted in writing: send your business activity and visa count on WhatsApp and you get an itemised written quote. The bundle First Idea prices in writing is Premium in Dubai, which is company, one residence visa and business bank account opening assistance, at AED 28,136 in Meydan Free Zone or AED 28,436 in IFZA. Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We prepare the file, pre-check it against the bank’s requirements, and if one bank declines we apply to the next. See bank account opening assistance.
Send your business activity and how many visas you need. Amir comes back with RAKEZ and RAK mainland options and a written cost breakdown, and we usually reply on WhatsApp within a couple of hours.
WhatsApp Amir about a company in Ras Al Khaimah
First Idea Consultant LLC, Office 812, ParkLane Tower, Park Regis, Business Bay, Dubai. Call or WhatsApp +971 56 500 6694, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 14:00. Amir Aslam, Founder.
Sources and how we checked
Every RAKEZ figure and rule on this page, including the RAKEZ column of the route and documents tables, was read on rakez.com, RAKEZ’s own website, on 22 October 2026. Where two RAKEZ pages describe the same offer differently, this page prints the figure from the offer page for that package, and the invoice is what counts. The RAK mainland steps, the RAK mainland column of the documents table and the RAK ICC row of the route table were read on rak.ae and the RAK International Corporate Centre on 21 September 2026; rak.ae did not respond when we rechecked it on 21 and 22 October 2026, so those parts stand as read in September. Fees change, so check the source before you pay.
- RAKEZ: Biz Starter Package, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: All-inclusive business set-up package, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: UAE trade licence, instant licence packages, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Getting started, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Licence types, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Licence activity list, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Freelancer permit, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Zones, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: FAQs (local partner, share capital, entity types, non-free zone ownership, activities per licence, facility lease, business plan, pre-approval, E-Channel, late renewal, strike-off, audited accounts), checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Required documents checklist, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: RAKEZ Companies Regulations of 2023 (regulations 12, 32, 75 and 76), checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: New Visa, Investor/Partner service card, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: New Visa, Employee service card, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Licence Renewal, Free Zone service card, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Licensing and renewals, checked 22 October 2026
- RAKEZ: Renewal support, checked 22 October 2026
- Innovation City: Ras Al Khaimah tech free zone, checked 22 October 2026
- Government of Ras Al Khaimah: Starting a business, checked 21 September 2026
- UAE Government portal: Full foreign ownership of commercial companies, checked 22 October 2026
- First Idea Consultant: cost of setting up a business in Dubai, for the Premium prices, checked 22 October 2026
About the reviewer
Amir Aslam is the Founder of First Idea Consultant LLC, a business setup firm in Dubai since 2015. He works from Park Regis, ParkLane Tower, Office 812, Business Bay, Dubai.
