You can set up a licensed company by applying online to a free zone authority with your company details and documents. For a RAKEZ free zone company setup, the UAE government says free zone licences are usually issued within 14 working days after approval. This guide covers who it suits, the steps and the documents.
Key Takeaways
- Free zone licence applications are submitted online through the relevant free zone authority’s website, with basic company information and the required documents.
- Once the application is reviewed and approved, the licence is usually issued within 14 working days.
- The UAE government lists several legal forms for free zone companies, but not every free zone allows all of them.
- Fees and package prices are not covered by the government pages used here, so you need RAKEZ’s current schedule before you budget.
Who is RAKEZ for?
Government guidance says free zones serve sectors such as technology, logistics and media, with benefits tailored to each sector. If your business fits one of those groups, a free zone is worth comparing. RAKEZ’s own pages describe the specific businesses and owners it targets, so read them before you decide.
Some limits apply, and the sources are clear about them. Not every free zone registers every company type, so the right question is whether RAKEZ allows the structure you want. Customs exemptions in free zones are described for goods that do not enter the local market. If your plan depends on selling locally, ask how that works for your activity.
You may also want to compare other zones before committing. Our pages on UAQ Free Trade Zone free zone company setup: licences, steps and costs and Ajman Media City free zone company setup: licences, steps and costs show how other zones present their options.
What do you get with RAKEZ?
The government lists these legal forms for free zone companies: a limited liability company, a free zone company (LLC), a free zone establishment (LLC), a public joint stock company, or a branch of a local or international company. Requirements differ depending on the number and type of shareholders, whether they are individuals or companies.
The licence types and activities RAKEZ offers sit on RAKEZ’s own licensing pages. This article does not list them, because the government pages used here do not. Ask RAKEZ which licence covers your exact activity, and check that the wording on the licence matches what you plan to do.
Free zones generally bundle services around the licence. The government describes company registration, trade name reservation and licences for different activities. It also lists visa and residency services, including Emirates ID and medical tests, flexible offices, coworking spaces and warehouses. What your specific RAKEZ licence includes is set by RAKEZ, so ask for it in writing before you pay.
Steps for RAKEZ free zone company setup
The process follows five stages. The table gives the overview, and the notes below explain each one.
| Step | What you do | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose your business activity and trade name | |
| 2 | Choose the licence type, legal form and package | |
| 3 | Submit the online application and documents | |
| 4 | Pay the fees and sign the agreements | RAKEZ confirms |
| 5 | Receive the licence, then complete registrations |
1. Choose your business activity. Start with what the company will actually do. Your trade name must suit that activity and legal form, and it must not be registered or used for the same or a similar activity. It also cannot include sectarian names, ruling authority names, or names and logos of local, Arab or international bodies, and it cannot match a trademark registered with the Ministry of Economy. If you are weighing a service business, our guide to a consultancy business in a UAE freezone shows how activity choice shapes the setup. For a mainland comparison, see starting a cleaning company in Dubai.
2. Choose the licence type and package. Match the licence to your activity and pick a legal form that your free zone permits. Packages are set by RAKEZ, so ask what each one includes and what it leaves out.
3. Submit the application and documents. You apply online through the free zone authority’s website, entering basic company information and uploading the required documents. Complete files tend to move faster than files that need follow-up.
4. Pay the fees and sign the agreements. RAKEZ issues the invoice and the agreements. Read them closely before you sign, especially anything about renewal and what the package covers.
5. Receive the licence and complete the registrations. After the application is reviewed and approved, the licence is usually issued within 14 working days. Residency and Emirates ID services follow if you need them. Budget for these costs early, and read UAE Employment Visa Fees: Hidden Extras Employers Miss. If you hire staff, understand your obligations too, such as those in UAE Employee Vacation Pay Ruling: Key Rules. Once visas are issued, How to Check UAE Visa Validity: Simple Steps for Any Visa shows you how to confirm the status.
What does it cost in RAKEZ?
Fees: check the current fee schedule with RAKEZ before you decide.
How long does it take?
The UAE government says that after the authority reviews and approves your application, the licence is usually issued within 14 working days (checked 2026-11-03). Read this as the licence stage that follows approval. It is not a promise for the whole journey from first enquiry to opening a bank account or issuing visas. RAKEZ publishes its own processing times, so check those for your licence type.
The sources do not list what slows applications down, so treat these as common-sense risks. An unclear activity, a trade name that clashes with existing registrations, or a legal form the zone does not accept can all send you back to the start. Missing or inconsistent documents are the other usual cause. If speed matters, Express Business Formation Services: How Fast Is Fast? explains what “fast” realistically means.
Which documents do you need?
The government says you upload the “required documents” with your online application, but the excerpt does not list them. RAKEZ publishes the exact checklist for your licence, so work from that rather than from a generic list.
For owners and shareholders, expect personal identification and details of each shareholder. Requirements vary with the number of shareholders and whether they are individuals or companies. If a company will hold shares, ask RAKEZ what it needs to see about that company.
For the business, prepare your chosen activity, your trade name and your legal form. Have a second trade name ready in case the first conflicts with an existing registration. Ask RAKEZ whether any document needs attestation or translation, so you do not discover it after submission.
How does RAKEZ compare with other free zones?
Each of these has its own rules, fees and licence types, so check them with the authority before you choose.
| Name | Location | Authority website | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAK ICC | Ras Al Khaimah | rakicc.com | Coming soon |
| DMCC | Dubai | dmcc.ae | DMCC guide |
| JAFZA | Dubai | jafza.ae | JAFZA guide |
| DAFZA | Dubai | dafz.ae | DAFZA guide |
| IFZA | Dubai | ifza.com | IFZA guide |
| Meydan | Dubai | meydanfz.ae | Meydan guide |
What is the next step?
Before you start your RAKEZ free zone company setup, write down your activity, the number of owners and whether you plan to hire staff. With those answers, a licensed advisor can compare RAKEZ’s licences and packages against your plans, check your trade name and prepare your document set. Book a free consultation with Al Ain Business Center to go through your activity and shareholder structure before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About RAKEZ Free Zone Company Setup
Where can I confirm the current official requirements?
The exact details depend on your situation and can change, so confirm them with the responsible official authority before you act.
Sources
Published 3 November 2026
Rules and fees change. The figures in this article were checked against the official sources linked above on the dates shown. For a decision about your own case, confirm with the authority or speak to us.