Ras Al Khaimah · United Arab Emirates
Company Formation in Ras Al Khaimah
RAK is where UAE manufacturing goes when Dubai gets expensive — and where holding structures go when they need a serious offshore registry. Both live in the same emirate.
Ras Al Khaimah does two very different things well. RAKEZ, the emirate’s economic zone, is one of the largest free zones in the UAE by company count and is built around industrial and trading businesses that need real space at a sensible price. Separately, RAK ICC is one of the region’s most respected offshore registries.
Because these two sit under the same emirate name, people mix them up constantly. A RAKEZ company is an operating company with staff, premises and visas. A RAK ICC company is a holding vehicle with none of those. This guide keeps them apart.
Why Companies Choose Ras Al Khaimah
RAK’s pull is different from the media-heavy free zones further south:
Industrial land at sensible rates
RAKEZ offers warehouses and land plots at costs that make manufacturing and assembly viable in a way Dubai often does not.
A serious offshore registry
RAK ICC is well recognised by banks and can hold approved Dubai property, making it a genuine alternative to JAFZA offshore.
Strong SME packages
RAKEZ has built its business on small and medium companies, so the entry packages are competitive and well documented.
Proximity to Dubai
Around an hour from Dubai by road, close enough to serve clients there without paying Dubai facility costs.
Wide activity list
RAKEZ covers trading, services, industrial, educational and media activities under one authority.
Full foreign ownership
Both RAKEZ and RAK ICC companies are entirely foreign-owned.
RAKEZ vs RAK ICC
Same emirate, completely different vehicles. Picking the wrong one wastes months:
| Comparison | RAKEZ (Free Zone) | RAK ICC (Offshore) |
|---|---|---|
| Can trade internationally | Yes | Yes |
| Can trade inside UAE | Through distributor or branch | No |
| Residence visas | Yes, quota based on facility | None |
| Physical premises | Flexi-desk, office, warehouse or land | No UAE premises |
| Own Dubai property | Not the usual route | Permitted in approved developments |
| Best for | Operating businesses with staff | Holding, asset protection, property |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Comparing your options across the country? Our guides to offshore company formation in the UAE and business setup in UAE free zones cover the alternatives in detail.
RAKEZ or RAK ICC — which one do you need?
One short call sorts this out. Tell us whether you need visas and UAE premises and the answer is usually immediate.
RAKEZ Licence Types
RAKEZ groups activities into a handful of licence types:
Commercial Licence
For trading, importing, exporting and distribution. Pairs with warehouse or storage space depending on volume.
Trading
Professional Licence
For consultants, service providers and professionals. Works with flexi-desk or a small office.
Services
Industrial Licence MANUFACTURING
For manufacturing, processing and packaging. Needs a land plot or industrial unit plus relevant approvals.
Manufacturing
Educational Licence
For training providers, institutes and education businesses, subject to the relevant education authority approvals.
Education
Documents Required
Standard for RAKEZ; RAK ICC asks for slightly different paperwork:
Passport copies
All shareholders and the manager, valid at least six months.
Passport photographs
White background, meeting UAE specifications.
Application form
Completed with your chosen activities and facility type.
Business plan
Required for industrial, educational and some regulated activities.
How RAK Company Formation Works
- Decide RAKEZ or RAK ICC. Operating business with visas points to RAKEZ; holding structure points to RAK ICC.
- Select activities and licence type. Activities must match your licence; mixing incompatible activities causes rejections.
- Reserve the trade name. Standard UAE naming rules apply.
- Choose your facility. Flexi-desk through to industrial land. Facility drives both cost and visa quota.
- Submit and pay. RAKEZ reviews the application and issues the licence.
- Establishment card, visas and banking. Then staff visas and the corporate account.
We handle the whole process for you
Licence, facility, establishment card, visas and bank account — you sign, we run the paperwork.
RAK Company Formation Cost
Costs vary widely between a flexi-desk service company and an industrial plot:
RAKEZ or RAK ICC
Offshore registration is far cheaper than an operating free zone licence with premises.
Licence type
Industrial and educational licences carry more approvals and cost than service licences.
Facility type
Flexi-desk, office, warehouse and land sit at completely different price levels.
Visa quota
Tied to facility size, with per-visa medical, Emirates ID and stamping costs on top.
Approvals
Manufacturing and education activities need external clearances that add both fees and weeks.
Get an exact figure, not a guess
Because costs move so much with activity and visa count, a generic price range helps nobody. Send us your activity and headcount and we will put together a full written cost breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between RAKEZ and RAK ICC?
Can a RAKEZ company sponsor visas?
Is RAK good for manufacturing?
Can RAK ICC companies own property in Dubai?
How long does RAKEZ setup take?
Form Your RAK Company with IRHA
We set up both RAKEZ operating companies and RAK ICC offshore structures, and we make sure you end up with the right one.
Office 312, City Bay Business Centre, Abu Hail, Dubai · info@irhabiz.com