Arakan

For companies

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA compliance

For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setup

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
How the platform worksAll apps

Start from where you are

I'm setting up a company in the UAEScout — Choose the right free zone or mainland licence before you pay for one.I run a UAE companyComply — Know what applies to your company and stay on top of it, whether it's a trading firm, a DNFBP or licensed by a financial regulator.I'm a firm serving clientsOnboard · Shield · Ledger · Verify — Deliver compliance, bookkeeping or KYC for many clients from one workspace.I'm researching UAE regulationLexara — Read the law itself and get answers that cite the article.

Free zones

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGM

Business activities

Mainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup report

UAE law

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

Learn

Regulatory updatesArakan Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Free — no account neededAll resources
Pricing
Sign inStart free

Products

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board complianceOnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceScoutPlanning your UAE setupVerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you

Solutions

I'm setting up a company in the UAEI run a UAE companyI'm a firm serving clientsI'm researching UAE regulation

Free tools & guides

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMMainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup reportLaws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulationsRegulatory updatesArakan Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Pricing
Start freeSign in

Loading...

Free zonesAll free zonesBy emirateCosts and visasPrice indexCost calculatorFree zone comparisonMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMBest for startupsBest for freelancersCrypto / VASP licenceFree zone authoritiesSetup guideBusiness activities →UAE law →Tax and compliance terms →

Free zone tools

By emirate Costs and visas Price index Cost calculator Free zone comparison Mainland vs free zone DIFC vs ADGM Best for startups Best for freelancers Crypto / VASP licence Free zone authorities Setup guide

Related

Business activities Qualifying Free Zone Person UAE Corporate Tax law Get a setup recommendation

Get started

Every regulation that applies
to your business. Found. Checked. Actioned.

Start free How pricing works
Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 10 apps on one company record.

Platform

  • Product
  • Solutions
  • All apps
  • Start free
  • Pricing
  • Security

Resources

  • Briefings & Lexicon
  • Industry Scenarios
  • Free Zones Guide
  • Certification
  • Institutional Guide

Free tools & guides

  • UAE free zones
  • Costs and visas by zone
  • Mainland licence activities
  • Business activity look-up
  • Laws and rulebooks
  • Regulators
  • Regulatory updates
  • Arakan Lexara Weekly

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

10 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Verify

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

  1. Home
  2. ›Free zones
  3. ›RAK
  4. ›RAKEZ

Loading...

Setting up in RAKEZ?

Setup costs, licence packages, visas and banking

See RAKEZ costs

Comparing zones?

Estimate your setup cost across every free zone

Open the cost calculator

Other free zones in RAK

  • RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO)
  • RAK Maritime City Free Zone (RMC)

Want help setting up in RAKEZ?

Leave your details and an adviser will call you back about setting up in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. There's no charge to ask.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)Free zone tax status and compliance

RAK

RAKEZ Authority

The Verdict

Consolidated Industrial Node; Legacy License Migration Risk.

I. Statutory Basis

As a Qualifying Free Zone Person, this jurisdiction requires strict adherence toCore Income-Generating Activities.Centralized RAK jurisdiction. Article 18 compliance centers on local physical CIGA. Legacy licenses must be audited to ensure 'Qualifying Free Zone Person' status is not disqualified due to outdated activity descriptions.

Compliance Roadmap

01

Legacy Audit: Comprehensive review of RAKIA/RAKFTZ legacy terms against 2026 statutory definitions

02

Annual Financial Audit: Mandatory filing of audited accounts to substantiate QFZP 0% claims

03

Physical Lease Verification: Documenting that industrial 'Core Income-Generating Activities' are performed within the RAK perimeter

Audit Hotspots

Failing to update legacy license terms to 2026 standards, leading to 'Excluded Activity' reclassification

Missing the mandatory 9-month registration window for older RAKIA entities

Assuming 'Virtual' presence satisfies the Article 18 physical asset requirement for industrial firms

Jurisdictional Connectivity

Check your RAKEZ setup

Scout scores Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone against your activity, ownership and visa needs, with full setup costs, and compares it with every other free zone and mainland.

See costs and setup options
Global Parent

15%

RAKEZ

0%

Live Node
Dubai Mainland

9%

Forensic Brief

Qualifying Income requires physical CIGA within the zone boundaries. Article 18 mapping is mandatory to maintain 0% status.