Even so, the search for “RAKIA” has not gone away: industrial investors still know the zone by that name, and old directories and contracts still refer to it. Here we take an honest look at the zone’s current status, the registration route through its successor and RAKEZ’s current 2026 prices.
Why investors choose RAKIA
Or rather — why industrial investors keep searching for this name, and what actually lies behind it now:
- RAKIA developed the Al Hamra and Al Ghail industrial parks — today they form the industrial core of RAKEZ
- Companies with RAKIA licences operate without forced re-registration; they are serviced through RAKEZ
- The land plots, warehouses and power infrastructure of the former RAKIA are available to new residents
- RAKEZ has kept the industrial specialisation: guaranteed electricity, gas and water in the industrial zones
- The entry threshold is lower than in RAKIA’s day — RAKEZ packages start from AED 6,000
Steps to register a company in RAKIA
The only route in operation is through RAKEZ, which also issues the industrial licences of the former RAKIA profile:
- Approach RAKEZ — the successor to RAKIA and the emirate’s sole licensing authority
- Choose your activity, including manufacturing and industrial lines
- Choose a legal form — FZE, FZC or a branch; for manufacturing, add a site plan
- Submit documents and obtain initial approval through the RAKEZ portal
- Pay for the package, sign the incorporation documents and receive a commercial or industrial licence
- Arrange staff visas and open a corporate bank account
Basic RAKEZ packages are processed in one to four working days. Industrial projects that include a land plot take longer — the time goes into approving the site, the utilities and the development plan.
Cost of setting up a company in RAKIA (2026)
RAKIA tariffs have not existed since 2017 — RAKEZ prices apply. The zone publishes its starting figures officially, while industrial configurations are quoted individually.
| Cost item | Amount, AED | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ Biz Starter package (licence without visa) | from 6,000 | Processed in 24 hours, official offer |
| All-inclusive package with visa | 14 000 | Licence, visa and related services |
| Industrial licence | on request | Depends on the type of production and the site |
| Land plot or warehouse | on request | Al Hamra, Al Ghail and Al Hulaila industrial zones |
| Visa (per person) | on request | Medical test, Emirates ID, health insurance |
| Renewal of a legacy RAKIA licence | on request | Under unified RAKEZ tariffs |
For a manufacturing project, ask RAKEZ for a quote across two or three zones at once: land rental rates and utility requirements differ between Al Hamra, Al Ghail and Al Hulaila.
Taxation in RAKIA
Companies — both legacy ones on RAKIA licences and new ones through RAKEZ — operate under the general UAE regime: 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 per year, 0% below the threshold, and 5% VAT on most domestic transactions. Manufacturers and exporters more often than others meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person criteria and apply a 0% rate to qualifying income; RAKEZ designated zone status makes compliance even easier. The status is confirmed through annual reporting to the FTA.
Who RAKIA suits
This material answers the questions of three groups of reader:
- Industrial investors interested in the former RAKIA infrastructure — now part of RAKEZ
- Owners of active companies on a RAKIA licence — for renewal and support through the successor
- New investors who arrived on old referrals: they need to register through the current structure
“Clients look for RAKIA out of old habit and find RAKEZ instead — and that is good news: the infrastructure is the same, the entry threshold is lower, and the processes are noticeably faster than ten years ago”, notes the lead lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Set up your company in RAKIA with Dynasty Business Adviser
Dynasty Business Adviser will register a company through RAKEZ — the successor to RAKIA — or support an existing one: licence renewal, industrial site, visas and turnkey bank account opening.
Get a consultation
Pricing data is accurate as of the publication date (13 July 2026) and has been verified against public sources, including rakez.com; before paying, confirm the tariffs directly with the zone administration.
