RAKEZ vs Meydan FZ
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (Ras Al Khaimah) or Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)? 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 6,695 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- 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 Meydan FZ for…
- Faster setup (around 3 vs 5 working days)
- More activities on one licence (up to 10)
- A Dubai address on your licence
- Popular with consultants
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai free zone run from the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba, close to Downtown Dubai. It works well for service businesses, online sellers and holding structures that want a central Dubai address and a mostly digital process. Licences start from around AED 12,500 a year without visas, and its Fawri service can issue a licence in about an hour for eligible solo founders.
RAKEZ vs Meydan FZ side by side
| RAKEZ | Meydan FZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai |
| Packages from | AED 6,180 | AED 12,875 |
| Renewal from | AED 6,180 | AED 12,875 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~5 working days | ~3 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 6 | Up to 10 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office |
| Activity areas | Trading, Industrial, Consultancy, E-commerce, Freelance, Media | Trading, Consultancy, E-commerce, Tech & IT, Media, Holding / SPV |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2017 | 2009 |
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
Meydan FZ in brief
Picture a free zone that lives inside a horse-racing stadium. Meydan Free Zone has its offices in the Meydan Grandstand, the long building beside the racecourse that hosts the Dubai World Cup each spring. The legal basis goes back to Dubai Law No. 5 of 2009, which set up Meydan City Corporation, but the zone only became a serious name in company formation after it relaunched with low-cost digital packages a few years ago.
Strengths
- Central Dubai address near Downtown and Business Bay
- Fawri licence can be issued in about an hour for solo founders
- Mostly paperless process with an online cost calculator
- Wide activity list with up to three groups per licence
Watch out for
- No warehouses and not a VAT Designated Zone, so poor fit for goods traders
- Flexi-desk visa limits push growing teams into paid office upgrades
- Package quotes often exclude immigration fees, which surprises first-time buyers
RAKEZ vs Meydan FZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, RAKEZ or Meydan FZ?
On our current packages, RAKEZ starts lower at around AED 6,180, against AED 12,875 for Meydan FZ. Compare renewal too: RAKEZ renews from about AED 6,180 and Meydan FZ from about AED 12,875. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, RAKEZ or Meydan FZ?
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 Meydan FZ?
Meydan FZ is typically quicker at around 3 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 Dubai?
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 Meydan FZ 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 Meydan FZ? 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