IFZA or RAKEZ
Compare a Dubai free-zone licence with a broad Ras Al Khaimah zone that runs from simple desks to industrial facilities. The trade-off is the emirate on your licence against the facility range and the package scope each authority publishes.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, Dubai address not needed. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose IFZA if a Dubai address matters, or Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone publishes the faster licence, 1–3 business days against 3–5 business days for IFZA. IFZA and Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone both show starting figures, but they cover different scopes, so neither is the cheaper route on this evidence.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | IFZAFree zone | Ras Al Khaimah Economic ZoneFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | IFZA AED 20,650 12 months · current package | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 14,000 12 months · promotion |
| Lowest package price | IFZA AED 12,900 12 months · current package | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 6,000 12 months · starting price |
| Licence issued in | IFZA 3–5 business days | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone 1–3 business days The current service catalogue gives a 1-3-working-day target for business setup. Fastest |
| Residency visa in | IFZA 1–2 business days | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | IFZA AED 12,900 No visa; AED 17,100 with one visa, AED 19,100 with two (card included) | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 14,000 The current all-inclusive SME promotion promises the same AED 14,000 annual renewal price. |
| Licence types | IFZA Commercial, Professional, Industrial | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Commercial, Professional, Industrial, Freelance |
| Facility options | IFZA Flexi desk, Smart office, Office | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Flexi desk, Office, Warehouse, Industrial |
| Visa options | IFZA Investor or partner visa against the licence for shareholders 3 moreShow less
| Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | IFZA Yes | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | IFZA 823 | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Start with IFZA | Explore Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone |
Check before choosing
IFZA
- The lowest possible first-year cost, where Ajman is materially cheaper
- Warehouse, land or industrial operations that need real premises
- Activities carrying a third-party approval before licence issuance, which breaks the fast timeline
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone guideAsk an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Does the emirate on the licence matter?
It can for client perception, banking and where you plan to operate. IFZA licences carry a Dubai address; RAKEZ licences sit in Ras Al Khaimah. Confirm what each licence allows when selling to customers onshore.
Which suits a business that needs warehouse or industrial space?
RAKEZ publishes industrial and warehouse facility options alongside desks. IFZA is aimed at office-based trading and service licences, so confirm facility needs before comparing prices.
Which costs less on published figures, IFZA or Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone?
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone publishes the faster licence, 1–3 business days against 3–5 business days for IFZA. IFZA and Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone both show starting figures, but they cover different scopes, so neither is the cheaper route on this evidence.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.