RAKEZ vs AMCFZ
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (Ras Al Khaimah) or Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMCFZ) (Ajman)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose RAKEZ for…
- More activities on one licence (up to 6)
- A smoother banking track record
- Private office and warehouse options
- Popular with budget startups
- Popular with manufacturers and industrial companies
RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) is the government authority that licenses free zone and non-free zone companies across several business and industrial areas in Ras Al Khaimah. It suits cost-conscious founders, small traders and consultants, and also manufacturers who need land or warehouses. A no-visa licence starts from around AED 6,000 a year, and a one-visa setup typically lands around AED 12,000 to 15,000 in fees before medical and ID costs. A licence is usually issued within a few working days once documents are complete.
Choose AMCFZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 1,031 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 2 vs 5 working days)
- Virtual office options
- Popular with freelancers
- Popular with content creators
Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMC) is a low-cost Ajman free zone for media, digital, consulting and small trading businesses. It suits creators, freelancers, agencies and first-time founders who mainly need a legal UAE company and perhaps one or two visas. Published packages have been around AED 4,999 without a visa, about AED 13,000 with one and about AED 18,000 with two. Licences are commonly issued within one to three working days for standard activities.
RAKEZ vs AMCFZ side by side
| RAKEZ | AMCFZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Ajman |
| Packages from | AED 6,180 | AED 5,149 |
| Renewal from | AED 6,180 | AED 5,149 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~5 working days | ~2 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 6 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Shared office |
| Activity areas | Trading, Industrial, Consultancy, E-commerce, Freelance, Media | Media, Freelance, Consultancy, E-commerce, Trading, Tech & IT |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2017 | 2018 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
RAKEZ in brief
Ras Al Khaimah set up RAKEZ in 2017 to bring two older bodies under one roof: the RAK Free Trade Zone, which had been licensing small companies since around 2000, and the RAK Investment Authority, which handled industrial land. The result is one regulator that can give a solo consultant a desk and a steel fabricator a 20,000 square metre plot, using the same application system.
Strengths
- One authority covers everything from a solo freelancer desk to industrial land with staff housing
- Entry and one-visa packages are among the lower-cost options in the UAE
- A non-free zone entity is available for selling inside Ras Al Khaimah
- Ready warehouses, open yards and self-storage at Al Hamra Industrial Zone
Watch out for
- Your licence address is in Ras Al Khaimah, a long commute if your team and clients are in Dubai
- Desk packages carry very few visas, so growth often means paying for a bigger facility
- No grace period on renewal and daily late penalties from the expiry date
AMCFZ in brief
Ajman Media City was launched around 2018 as Ajman's answer to Dubai's media free zones, aimed at producers, publishers, marketers and creative studios. Since 2021 it has sat under the Ajman Free Zones Authority, the same umbrella as Ajman Free Zone and the NuVentures Centre, which shares back-office systems and some services between the three.
Strengths
- Published, simple package prices.
- Among the lowest entry costs in the UAE.
- Broad activity list beyond media.
- Quick licence issuance.
Watch out for
- Limited physical facilities.
- Some media activities need a separate federal permit.
- Ajman address.
RAKEZ vs AMCFZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, RAKEZ or AMCFZ?
On our current packages, AMCFZ starts lower at around AED 5,149, against AED 6,180 for RAKEZ. Compare renewal too: RAKEZ renews from about AED 6,180 and AMCFZ from about AED 5,149. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, RAKEZ or AMCFZ?
RAKEZ allows up to 6 visas, depending on the office you lease. Both zones allow a similar maximum, so the office type decides your real quota.
Which is faster to set up, RAKEZ or AMCFZ?
AMCFZ is typically quicker at around 2 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a RAKEZ licence valid for business in Ajman?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from RAKEZ to AMCFZ later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
RAKEZ or AMCFZ? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place