You choose between a free zone entity and a non-free zone entity, pick a licence type and facility, and submit RAKEZ's forms. RAKEZ issues the licence after the documents and payment are received.
RAKEZ offers an unusually wide range of licences, from commercial and service to industrial, media and educational. NXTSTAR helps you choose the entity type and licence that match where your customers are.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
Who RAKEZ suits
RAKEZ suits manufacturers and traders that need land, warehouses or industrial units, and smaller service businesses that want a base in Ras Al Khaimah.
If you need a Dubai address for clients or banking, compare a Dubai zone.
Company structures
- Free zone entity, with full foreign ownership.
- Non-free zone entity, established under RAKEZ for business in the local market.
- Individual or professional setup, for one owner with one specialised activity.
Licences and activities
- Commercial and general trading, for trading in goods and services.
- Service and professional, for consultancy and services.
- E-commerce, for trading by electronic means.
- Industrial, for manufacturing, importing, packaging and exporting.
- Media and educational, for media businesses, training and education providers.
Documents
- Client confirmation letter
- Specimen signature form
- Memorandum of association, where applicable
- Passport copies and, for a corporate shareholder, the parent company's documents
The process, step by step
- Choose a free zone or non-free zone entity.
- Select the licence type, activities and facility.
- Submit the documents and payment.
- Receive the certificate of incorporation, licence, bank letter and partners list.
What is particular to RAKEZ
The free zone or non-free zone choice matters more here than the licence name. It decides who you can sell to directly and which labour rules apply, so we settle it first.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
- We help you choose the structure, licence and activities.
- We prepare and submit the application.
- We handle the visa and bank account steps afterwards.
- We do not decide approvals. The authority does, and banks decide on accounts.
- We are an independent consultancy and are not part of RAKEZ.
Common questions
What is the difference between a RAKEZ free zone and non-free zone company?
RAKEZ offers both. A free zone entity allows full foreign ownership. A non-free zone entity is set up for business in the local market under different rules.
Does RAKEZ license training and education businesses?
Yes. RAKEZ has educational licence categories for schools, higher education, training and education consultancy.
What do I receive when the company is formed?
RAKEZ sends the certificate of incorporation, the licence, a bank letter and, where relevant, the partners list.
How much does RAKEZ setup cost?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote that separates authority fees from our service fee.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 7 October 2026.
Talk to NXTSTAR about RAKEZ
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.