RAKEZ vs SPC
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (Ras Al Khaimah) or Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone (Sharjah)? 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 smoother banking track record
- 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 SPC for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 257 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 3 vs 5 working days)
- More activities on one licence (up to 7)
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
- Popular with small traders
SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) is a Sharjah free zone that, despite its name, licenses thousands of trading, e-commerce, consulting and media activities. It suits cost-conscious founders, online sellers and consultants who are happy with a Sharjah address on the Dubai border. Licence-only tiers start from around AED 5,000 to 6,900, and one-visa packages typically land near AED 13,000 to 15,000. Once documents are in order, the licence itself is often issued within one to three working days.
RAKEZ vs SPC side by side
| RAKEZ | SPC | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah |
| Packages from | AED 6,180 | AED 5,923 |
| Renewal from | AED 6,180 | AED 5,923 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~5 working days | ~3 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 6 | Up to 7 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office |
| Activity areas | Trading, Industrial, Consultancy, E-commerce, Freelance, Media | E-commerce, Trading, Consultancy, Media, Freelance, Tech & IT |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2017 | 2017 |
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
SPC in brief
The name puts many people off before they read further. Sharjah Publishing City was created by a 2017 decree of the Ruler of Sharjah as a home for book publishers, printers and distributors, and it still runs a busy publishing programme with stands at fairs such as Bologna and Beijing. Commercially, though, most of its licence holders have nothing to do with books.
Strengths
- Three clear tiers with VAT and government charges shown in the price, which makes budgeting simple.
- Broad activity list, so trading, e-commerce and consulting can often sit on one licence.
- Licence issuance is very quick once documents are approved.
- Easy road access from Dubai's eastern suburbs and Sharjah city.
Watch out for
- Sharjah address can be a weak point with some Dubai clients and tenders.
- Very few true office units; the flexi-desk model does not suit a team that needs a workspace.
- No warehousing or customs-bonded storage for physical stock.
RAKEZ vs SPC: common questions
Which is cheaper, RAKEZ or SPC?
On our current packages, SPC starts lower at around AED 5,923, against AED 6,180 for RAKEZ. Compare renewal too: RAKEZ renews from about AED 6,180 and SPC from about AED 5,923. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, RAKEZ or SPC?
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 SPC?
SPC 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 Sharjah?
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 SPC 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 SPC? 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