UAE Designated Zone • 0% Corporate Tax

RAKEZ Free Zone Company Formation

Form your company in RAKEZ — one of UAE's 21 Designated Zones with 0% corporate tax on qualifying distribution activities.

WhatsApp Easy Setup View RAKEZ Packages

Designated Zones

of 21 in UAE

Corporate Tax

on qualifying activities

16,550

AED Starting

complete package

100%

Foreign Ownership

no sponsor needed

Understanding RAKEZ

What Is RAKEZ Free Zone?

RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) is a multi-award-winning economic zone that operates 3 of only 21 Designated Zones in the UAE — providing unique corporate tax advantages not available in regular free zones.

RAKEZ companies benefit from:

UAE Cabinet-recognized Designated Zone

0% corporate tax on qualifying activities

Multi-award-winning economic zone

Full repatriation of capital & profits

Designated Zone vs Regular

Regular Free Zones (40+)9% Corp Tax

Designated Zones (Only 21)0% Corp Tax*

*On qualifying distribution activities. Based on Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017.

0% Corporate Tax

Qualifying Activities

RAKEZ Designated Zones offer 0% corporate tax on qualifying distribution activities.

Trading & General Trading

Import, export, re-export activities and high-sea trading of tangible/movable goods.

Warehousing & Logistics

Storage, transportation, logistics management, and inventory control of tangible goods.

Distribution Functions

Activities involving tangible handling or movement of goods for resellers or processors.

Industrial & Manufacturing

Manufacturing, processing, and production activities within the designated zone.

5 Critical Criteria for 0% Tax Qualification

To qualify, ALL five criteria must be met:

Designated Zone Operation

Distribution activities must be conducted in or from a RAKEZ Designated Zone.

Title Ownership

Distributor must hold title to products and transfer ownership to the buyer.

Customer Type (Not End Users)

Must sell to customers who resell or process goods for resale — NOT to end consumers.

Import Through Zone

If importing goods to UAE, they must enter through the Designated Zone (for UAE distribution).

Adequate Substance

Maintain qualified employees, adequate assets, and incur operating expenditures in the zone.

Important: Selling to end consumers (people/companies who use the product) does NOT qualify. Distribution of intangible products, services, licenses, software, or financial products is also excluded.

RAKEZ Packages

Business Setup Packages

Choose the package that best fits your business needs.

Co-working Packages

From AED 16,550

1-4 Visas

Flexi-desk access in co-working space
Business license included
Lease agreement included
Government fees included
Trade name reservation
Perfect for startups & small businesses

Get Started

Designated Zone Packages

Contact for pricing

Up to 6 Visas

Warehouses 2,400-10,000 sq ft
0% corporate tax benefits
Import/export & distribution
Customs facilitation
Industrial or trading license
Ideal for trading & logistics

Get Started

Office Packages

From AED 25,000

2-8+ Visas

Dedicated office spaces 100-600+ sq ft
Annual office lease
Utilities connection support
Parking allocation
Visa allocation based on size
For established businesses

Get Started

Step by Step

RAKEZ Formation Process

Typically takes 5-10 business days depending on documentation readiness.

Initial Inquiry & Consultation

Discuss requirements and receive package recommendations.

Activity & License Selection

Choose business activities and confirm license type.

Name Reservation

Submit 3 preferred trade names for approval.

Documentation Submission

Passport copies, address proof, business plan (if required).

Initial Approval & Lease

RAKEZ review, select facility, sign lease agreement.

License Issuance

Pay fees and receive your official RAKEZ trade license.

Visa Processing

Apply for investor/employee visas with medical & Emirates ID.

Visa Options

RAKEZ Visa Services

Investor/Partner Visa

AED 4,190 - 5,000

For license shareholders
Managing directors
Company partners

Employee Visa

AED 4,490 - 5,500

Minimum salary AED 2,000/month
Health insurance mandatory
Labor contract registration

Dependent Visa

AED 3,690 - 4,000

Spouse, children under 18
Parents (salary requirements)
Based on sponsor income

Dependent Visa Requirements

Spouse only

AED 4,000/month

Spouse + 1 child

AED 6,000/month

Spouse + 2+ children

AED 8,000/month

Parents

AED 20,000/month

Value Added Services

Additional Business Services

Accounting Services

Bookkeeping, financial statements, audit preparation

Corporate Tax Services

Registration, tax return filing, compliance

VIP Bank Account Opening

Priority processing with dedicated relationship manager

Attestation & Translation

MOFA, embassy attestation, legal translation

VAT Registration

Registration, TRN obtainment, return filing

PRO Services

Government liaison, document processing

Designated Zone Advantage

Why Choose RAKEZ?

One of only 21 Designated Zones in UAE
0% corporate tax on qualifying distribution activities
Multi-award-winning economic zone
Most competitive pricing in the UAE
One-stop shop for end-to-end assistance
3 separately recognized designated zones
Warehouses, offices, co-working & land options
Full repatriation of capital and profits

Designated Zone0% Corporate Tax • RAKEZ

RAKEZ Specialists

Your Trusted Partner

Why Choose Easy Setup?

RAKEZ-experienced consultants
Activity & structure advisory
Office, visa & banking under one roof
Transparent costs & timelines
Ongoing compliance & renewal support
Corporate tax qualification guidance

We focus on long-term operability and tax optimization.

Common Questions

RAKEZ FAQs

RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) is a multi-award-winning economic zone in the UAE offering business setup solutions for companies of all sizes. It operates 3 of the only 21 Designated Zones in the UAE, providing significant corporate tax advantages for qualifying activities.

A Designated Zone is a fenced free zone recognized by the UAE Cabinet for special tax benefits. Only 21 such zones exist in the UAE, and RAKEZ operates 3 of them. Companies in Designated Zones can benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying distribution activities, while regular free zones are subject to 9% corporate tax.

Qualifying activities include: Trading & general trading (import, export, re-export), warehousing & storage, transportation & logistics, inventory control of tangible goods, and similar distribution functions. The activities must involve physical handling of goods and sales to resellers/processors (not end users).

1) Operations must be conducted in/from a Designated Zone, 2) You must hold title/ownership of products, 3) Sell to customers who resell or process goods (NOT end users), 4) If importing to UAE, goods must enter through the Designated Zone, 5) Maintain adequate substance (employees, assets, operating expenditure) in the zone.

Adequate substance means undertaking core income-generating activities in the Designated Zone, maintaining adequate assets, employing qualified full-time employees, and incurring adequate operating expenditures related to core income-generating activities that generate revenue.

No. If you distribute goods to end users (people or companies who consume the product rather than resell or process it), this does NOT qualify for the 0% corporate tax rate. You must sell to customers who resell or process the goods for resale.

RAKEZ offers: Co-working packages starting from AED 16,550 (1-4 visas), Designated Zone packages with warehouses (up to 6 visas), and Office packages from AED 25,000+ (2-8+ visas). Each includes license, lease, registration, and government fees.

Available entities include: Free Zone Company (FZC) with 1-50 shareholders, Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for single owners, and Branch of Foreign Company for international expansion. All offer 100% foreign ownership with minimum AED 1,000 share capital.

RAKEZ company formation typically takes 5-10 business days depending on documentation readiness. This includes activity selection, name reservation, application submission, initial approval, lease signing, and license issuance.

RAKEZ offers: Investor/Partner visas (AED 4,190-5,000), Employee visas (AED 4,490-5,500), and Dependent visas (AED 3,690-4,000). All have 2-year validity. Visa quota depends on your package and office size.

Spouse only: minimum AED 4,000/month. Spouse + 1 child: AED 6,000/month. Spouse + 2+ children: AED 8,000/month. Parents: AED 20,000/month. Accommodation proof and attested marriage/birth certificates are required.

No. Marketing and advertising do NOT qualify as standalone activities for the 0% corporate tax rate. They are only considered ancillary activities if they naturally complement a main qualifying activity of distribution.

Distribution of the following is EXCLUDED from 0% tax benefits: Intangible products, services, licenses, software (standalone), and financial products or services. Goods with embedded software/firmware that cannot be separately identified ARE included.

No. You need only a single Corporate Tax registration application. Companies with multiple activities/licenses complete one application, registered in the name of the primary license/head office, not secondary licenses/branches.

Late renewal penalties of AED 100 per day apply. It is recommended to renew at least 30 days before expiry for visas and 60 days before for leases to avoid disruption to your business operations.

Ready to Start?

Start Your RAKEZ Company Now

Benefit from 0% corporate tax with UAE's leading Designated Zone.

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