RAKEZ or Dubai mainland
Compare a Ras Al Khaimah free-zone company with a Dubai mainland company licensed by DET. The emirate, the activity and where you operate decide the route before cost does.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, selling abroad or in free zones. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
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 | Ras Al Khaimah Economic ZoneFree zone | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 14,000 12 months · promotion | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 6,000 12 months · starting price | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone 1–3 business days The current service catalogue gives a 1-3-working-day target for business setup. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone AED 14,000 The current all-inclusive SME promotion promises the same AED 14,000 annual renewal price. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Commercial, Professional, Industrial, Freelance | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Flexi desk, Office, Warehouse, Industrial | Dubai Mainland Confirm the premises are suitable for the exact activity before signing a lease or paying for fit-out. Ejari registration alone does not establish activity approval. 2 moreShow less
|
| Visa options | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. |
| Remote paperwork | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Yes | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone guideDubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
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FAQ
Can I run a Dubai operation on a RAKEZ licence?
A RAKEZ licence is issued in Ras Al Khaimah. Operating premises in Dubai, or trading onshore in Dubai, generally needs a Dubai mainland licence or additional permissions. Confirm with both authorities.
How are the prices compared?
The mainland column shows the official licence estimate, which excludes rent, visas and approvals, so it is never ranked against a free-zone package. Confirm the activity, premises and visa plan to get a like-for-like quote.
Which costs less on published figures, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone or Dubai Mainland?
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.