Set up in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone — one of the UAE's largest free zones, formed in 2017 by merging RAK FTZ and RAKIA. 30,000+ companies, 50+ industries, five specialised operational zones.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) was established in April 2017 by merging the RAK Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) and the RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA). One of the UAE's largest free zones by client count, it hosts more than 30,000 companies across over 50 industries, spread across five specialised operational zones.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone was established in April 2017 through the merger of the long-standing RAK Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) and the RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA). The combined entity is now one of the UAE's largest free zones by client count, with more than 30,000 companies operating across upwards of 50 industries — from light manufacturing and ceramics to professional services, education and trading.
RAKEZ's distinguishing feature is its five specialised zones spread across the emirate, each tailored to a different operational profile. A single application can be matched to the right zone — Business Zone for commercial and professional services, Academic Zone for education, two industrial parks at Al Hamra and Al Hulaila for manufacturing and warehousing, and a heavy-industrial site for power-intensive and large-footprint operations. The combination of breadth, cost efficiency and a proven industrial ecosystem makes RAKEZ a default choice for manufacturers, trading houses, education businesses and SMEs that need a UAE entity with serious operational infrastructure.
RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone — was formed by merging RAK Free Trade Zone and RAK Investment Authority in 2017. It is one of the UAE's largest industrial free zones by area, spanning roughly 33 km² of specialised industrial and commercial zones, with 30,000+ active companies. The combination of industrial-scale land availability and significantly lower operating costs than Dubai equivalents makes RAKEZ a leading UAE answer for manufacturing-led setups.
Roughly 33 km² across RAKEZ's specialised zones (Al Hamra Industrial Zone, Al Ghail Industrial Zone, Al Hulaila Industrial Zone, Business Zone, Academic Zone). Industrial plots up to multi-hectare available where Dubai equivalents are full or unavailable.
Licence + facility costs typically 30-50% lower than Dubai's flagship free zones. Power tariffs, water, and industrial labour also lower than Dubai. The cost differential compounds across multi-year operating budgets.
From food & beverage to plastics, metals, building materials, automotive, pharma, electronics. The activity list specifically supports heavy and light industrial sectors that don't fit DMCC's commodities focus or DAFZA's airport focus.
Several RAKEZ industrial business parks are Designated Zones under Cabinet 59/2017 — VAT-efficient goods movements between RAKEZ industrial areas and other Designated Zones, or to export, fall outside UAE VAT scope.
RAK is 45 min from Dubai, with access to Saqr Port (one of UAE's busiest bulk-cargo ports) and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Strong for businesses serving GCC + east-Africa markets without Dubai land-cost burden.
RAK Government's industrial-strategy is RAKEZ-centric — sector-specific incentives, fast-track approvals for industrial projects, and direct engagement with the Ruler's Court for major investments. The political will sits squarely behind the zone.
RAKEZ issues licences across one of the UAE's broadest catalogues — covering trading, services, industrial production, education and a dedicated Freelance Permit.
For trading, distribution, wholesale, retail and e-commerce. The Commercial Licence covers single-activity trading; General Trading supports multi-product operations.
For consultancy, advisory, professional services and individual practitioners. Includes RAKEZ's dedicated Freelance/Individual Permit for solo founders.
Industrial covers manufacturing, packaging, assembly and heavy industry across two industrial parks; Educational supports schools, universities and education consultancy in the Academic Zone.
RAKEZ recognises two operating structures — covering both new RAKEZ entities and extensions of existing groups.
RAKEZ's standard structure. Supports 2-50 shareholders with limited-liability protection — the default vehicle for trading, manufacturing and professional partnerships.
Branch of a UAE or overseas parent. Operates under the parent's name and is used by established groups extending into RAKEZ — including international manufacturers and trading houses.
RAKEZ runs incorporation through its dedicated portal. Standard setups complete inside five to ten working days once documents are ready.
Pick the business activity from RAKEZ's catalogue. RAKEZ matches the application to the right specialised zone — Business, Academic, Al Hamra Industrial, Al Hulaila Industrial or the Heavy-Industrial Zone.
Submit the proposed name through RAKEZ. UAE-wide naming rules apply.
FZ-LLC for new RAKEZ entities or a branch for existing UAE or overseas parents.
Choose between offices, flexi-desks, warehouses or built-to-suit industrial plots inside the chosen specialised zone. Space type drives the visa quota.
Memorandum of Association is drafted to RAKEZ's current template and signed alongside payment of the application fees.
RAKEZ issues the trade licence and corporate documents. The company can then open a corporate bank account and apply for investor and employee visas.
Standard document set for individual shareholders. Corporate shareholders need additional KYC documents on the parent entity.
RAKEZ pairs serious industrial infrastructure with a broad activity catalogue and one of the UAE's largest member bases — proof that the operating environment works at scale.
RAKEZ entities follow the standard UAE Free Zone Corporate Tax regime. Designated Zone status applies to specific industrial business parks within RAKEZ — verify the exact zone designation when goods-movement VAT treatment matters to your structure.
Corporate Tax at 9% above AED 375,000. RAKEZ entities can elect QFZP for 0% on Qualifying Income. Manufacturing income from RAKEZ to outside-UAE customers, distribution income from a Designated Zone, and qualifying intellectual-property income are all on the Qualifying Activities list under Ministerial Decision 265/2023.
Standard UAE VAT applies. Some — not all — RAKEZ industrial business parks have Designated Zone status under Cabinet 59/2017. The relevant Designated Zone identifier needs to be confirmed per the specific RAKEZ business park where the entity operates.
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Ministerial Decision 265/2023 (Qualifying activities) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 + amendments (Designated Zones) · RAKEZ Authority published rules
RAKEZ's member base reflects its breadth — from industrial production through trading to professional services.
Avyanco runs RAKEZ engagements end-to-end — from picking the right specialised zone through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
We match the business model to the right specialised zone — Business, Academic, industrial park or heavy-industrial site — and the right licence category.
Holding, JV and supply-chain structures designed for manufacturing, trading and industrial operators.
Memorandum of Association drafted to RAKEZ's current template and the application taken through the zone's portal.
Introductions to UAE banks that actively onboard RAKEZ entities, plus the compliance file the bank's KYC will require.
Investor, partner and employee visas processed end-to-end with Emirates ID and medicals coordinated.
FTA registrations and ongoing filings — including QFZP eligibility assessment for the 0% qualifying-income rate.
Five partner-level advisors covering every leg of a RAKEZ setup — formation, sector positioning, tax and ongoing compliance.
Three things that come up in every RAKEZ engagement.
Live engagements across manufacturing, trading, education and professional services inside RAKEZ means we know which specialised zone, lease type and licence actually fits each profile.
Application, MoA, office or warehouse, bank, visa and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Recommendations shaped by how RAKEZ's typical members — manufacturers, traders, educators, professional firms — actually operate, not generic templates.
RAKEZ suits manufacturers, traders, educators and SME founders who want serious infrastructure at a lower cost base. Other zones serve different ecosystems — compare here.
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Dubai Studio City. The region's purpose-built free zone for film, TV, broadcast and production, with sound stages and back-lots, since 2005.
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Dubai International Academic City. The region's largest higher-education hub — universities, colleges and branch campuses, since 2006.
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Dubai World Trade Centre free zone. Dubai's landmark events and exhibitions district, with an early virtual-assets regulatory framework.
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Dubai CommerCity. The Middle East and North Africa's first dedicated e-commerce free zone, with integrated fulfilment — a DAFZA + wasl joint venture.
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Dubai Cars & Automotive Zone. Dubai's dedicated automotive trade and re-export zone within the DP World ecosystem, since 2000.
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Expo City Dubai. The sustainability- and innovation-led legacy of Expo 2020 — a free zone for future-economy businesses, since 2022.
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Sharjah Media City. Built for media, creative and digital businesses with light-touch licensing.
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Sharjah Research, Tech & Innovation Park. Home to deep-tech, sustainability and applied-research firms.
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Sharjah Publishing City. The region's dedicated free zone for publishing, printing and e-commerce.
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Hamriyah Free Zone. One of the UAE's largest industrial free zones, built around a deep-water port — manufacturing, oil & gas, maritime and logistics.
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Sharjah Healthcare City. A free medical zone managed by the Sharjah Health Authority — clinics, hospitals, diagnostics and wellness.
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RAK Digital Assets Oasis. The UAE's first free zone built for Web3, digital assets and DAO structures.
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Ajman Free Zone Authority. One of the UAE's most affordable free zones with quick turnaround.
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Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone. One of the UAE's longest-running, most cost-efficient free zones for SMEs and traders.
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RAK Maritime City. A Ras Al Khaimah free zone and international port — shipbuilding, tank storage, heavy industry and port-based trade.
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Ajman NuVentures Centre. A fully digital free zone for freelancers, digital nomads and SMEs — fast, online setup.
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Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. Integrated industrial, logistics and trade zone on the Gulf coast.
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Abu Dhabi Global Market. Common-law financial centre — funds, family offices, SPVs and fintech.
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Masdar City. Abu Dhabi's sustainability & cleantech hub — renewables, AI, space and R&D.
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Fujairah Free Zone. The UAE's east-coast gateway on the Gulf of Oman, beside the Port of Fujairah — trading, logistics and light industry.
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Fujairah Creative City. A flexible media and creative free zone for freelancers and content businesses — often without a physical-office requirement.
Read moreA slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE companies through Avyanco.
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleI've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleI had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleWe had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleI have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleIn so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleCommon questions about setting up in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone.
Content verified against the live Avyanco site and publicly verifiable secondary sources as of June 2026. The official RAKEZ About page returned 404 during compilation, so verification triangulated across multiple independent sources. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of RAKEZ and the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, not endorsed by either, and not affiliated with any UAE government agency.
RAKEZ specialised-zone allocation rules, industrial clearances, sector-specific approvals and Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with RAKEZ, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology where applicable, and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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Speak to an Avyanco partner about a RAKEZ licence scoped to your business — whether you're standing up a manufacturing operation, a trading house, an education business or a professional services practice.
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