RAKEZ vs FFZ
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (Ras Al Khaimah) or Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) (Fujairah)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose RAKEZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 6,180 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 5 vs 7 working days)
- More activities on one licence (up to 6)
- A smoother banking track record
- Shared office 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 FFZ for…
- Room for more visas (up to 10 vs 6)
- Popular with oil and bunkering traders
- Popular with port-linked logistics
Fujairah Free Zone, run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA), is the UAE's main free zone on the Gulf of Oman coast, next to the Port of Fujairah and its large oil and bunkering terminals. It suits petroleum traders, ship suppliers, warehousing and light manufacturing companies that want to sit outside the Strait of Hormuz. Licences typically start around AED 9,000 to 15,000 a year, and setup usually takes one to two weeks.
RAKEZ vs FFZ side by side
| RAKEZ | FFZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Fujairah |
| Packages from | AED 6,180 | AED 12,360 |
| Renewal from | AED 6,180 | AED 11,330 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 10 |
| Typical setup | ~5 working days | ~7 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 6 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse |
| Activity areas | Trading, Industrial, Consultancy, E-commerce, Freelance, Media | Trading, Industrial, Logistics, Maritime, Commodities |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2017 | 1987 |
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
FFZ in brief
Look at a map and the case for Fujairah is obvious. Every other big UAE port sits inside the Arabian Gulf, behind the narrow Strait of Hormuz. Fujairah faces the open Gulf of Oman, so ships can call without passing through the strait. That geography made the Port of Fujairah one of the busiest bunkering hubs in the world, and the free zone beside it exists to serve the trade around that port.
Strengths
- Direct access to a major deep-water port outside the Strait of Hormuz
- Close to one of the world's leading bunkering hubs and large oil storage
- Airport, port and Oman road links in one place
- Warehouse and land options for traders and light industry
Watch out for
- Not the cheapest choice for service-only businesses
- Long drive to Dubai for meetings and client work
- Regional security incidents can affect port operations and insurance costs
RAKEZ vs FFZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, RAKEZ or FFZ?
On our current packages, RAKEZ starts lower at around AED 6,180, against AED 12,360 for FFZ. Compare renewal too: RAKEZ renews from about AED 6,180 and FFZ from about AED 11,330. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, RAKEZ or FFZ?
FFZ allows up to 10 visas, depending on the office you lease. RAKEZ allows up to 6.
Which is faster to set up, RAKEZ or FFZ?
RAKEZ is typically quicker at around 5 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 Fujairah?
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 FFZ 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 FFZ? 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