RAKEZ — the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone — is one of the most cost-effective places to establish a company in the UAE, and a common choice for trading, industrial and service businesses that want a competitive setup without a Dubai overhead.
RAKEZ was formed in 2017 when the RAK Free Trade Zone merged with the RAK Investment Authority, bringing free zone and non-free zone company formation under a single government authority. That combination is unusual and useful: the same authority can license a business that trades internationally from the free zone, or one that needs a presence on the mainland.
Elite Edge works with RAKEZ on company formation. We handle the process end to end — choosing the right licence and facility, preparing and submitting documentation, arranging visas, and helping open a corporate bank account.
Free zone companies can be wholly owned by their foreign shareholders, with no requirement for a local partner.
RAKEZ issues both free zone and non-free zone licences, so you can choose based on where your customers actually are rather than being forced into one structure.
Facilities range from flexi-desks and serviced offices through to warehouses and industrial land — one reason RAKEZ suits manufacturing and light industry particularly well.
Setup and ongoing facility costs are generally lower than the Dubai free zones, which matters most for businesses that do not need a Dubai address to win work.
Best suited to: Trading companies, manufacturers and light industry, consultancies, and founders who want a credible UAE company at a lower running cost than a central Dubai address.
Most business-setup agents hand over the licence and disappear. Because we are an accounting and audit firm, the company we register is one we can also keep compliant — bookkeeping and VAT, corporate tax, audit and AML obligations where they apply. Structures chosen for setup convenience alone often turn out to be expensive at the first tax filing.
It depends on the licence type, the facility you take (flexi-desk through to warehouse or land) and how many visas you need. Rather than quote a headline figure that will not match your situation, we price the specific setup you need — contact us and we will prepare a current, itemised quote.
Yes. A RAKEZ free zone company can be wholly owned by its foreign shareholders, with no local partner requirement.
A free zone company trades freely within its own zone and internationally. To sell directly into the UAE mainland it generally needs an appropriate route — such as a mainland branch, or a distributor. RAKEZ also issues non-free zone licences, which is often the cleaner answer where mainland trade is the main activity. We will advise on which structure fits before you commit.
Not necessarily. RAKEZ offers flexi-desk and shared-desk options as well as private offices, warehouses and land. The facility you choose also affects how many residence visas the company can sponsor.
Yes. We handle the licence, establishment card and residence visa process, and we support corporate bank account opening — including preparing the documentation banks ask for, which is where most applications stall.
A UAE company must keep proper books, and corporate tax registration applies regardless of free zone status — free zone companies are within the corporate tax regime even where a 0% rate may apply on qualifying income. VAT registration depends on turnover. As an accounting firm we set this up correctly from day one rather than leaving it as a problem for later.
We also handle company formation in SPC Free Zone, and advise on mainland and offshore structures — see our company formation services.
Tell us what you plan to do and we will come back with an itemised cost for the licence, facility and visas you actually need — not a headline figure. Elite Edge Accounting & Bookkeeping, Office No. 1810, Tamani Arts Building, Business Bay, Dubai.