HIGHLIGHTS
- RAKEZ coworking costs AED 6,000 without a visa or AED 14,000 with one visa, including the full immigration process.
- Packages support up to 10 activities, 50 shareholders, 8 visas, serviced/executive offices, and multi-year prepayment.
- No package includes the corporate bank account. That's usually what determines whether the company becomes operational — not the license price.
How much does a RAKEZ coworking license cost in 2026?
A RAKEZ coworking license costs AED 6,000 for a zero-visa company or AED 14,000 with one fully processed residence visa. Unlike many UAE free zones, the published price already includes the complete immigration process, and packages scale up to eight visas under the same coworking structure.
| Visas | Price (AED/year) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6,000 | License + coworking lease |
| 1 | 14,000 | + one fully processed residence visa |
| 2 | 18,000 | + two fully processed visas |
| 3 | 22,000 | + three fully processed visas |
| 4 | 26,000 | + four fully processed visas |
| 5 | 31,000 | + five fully processed visas |
| 6 | 36,000 | + six fully processed visas |
| 7 | 41,000 | + seven fully processed visas |
| 8 | 46,000 | + eight fully processed visas |
The pricing structure is straightforward. The first visa increases the package by AED 8,000 because it includes the complete immigration bundle. Visas two to four add AED 4,000 each, while visas five to eight increase the package by AED 5,000 per person. Because processing is already included, the published package price is much closer to the real incorporation cost than in many other UAE free zones.
In our experience, choosing the right package is less about today's headcount than where the business is likely to be over the next two or three years. Selecting the appropriate visa tier from the outset is often simpler than upgrading immediately after incorporation.
Your visa count changes the package more than any other option. Get a personalised RAKEZ cost breakdown based on your activities, team size, and banking requirements.
Get your RAKEZ cost breakdownWhat's included in a RAKEZ package?
Every RAKEZ Pro package combines company incorporation with the facilities required to start operating. The published package already includes the license, registered address, and, where applicable, the complete residence-visa process. Corporate banking remains the main operating layer outside the package.
Every RAKEZ Pro package includes:
- Trade license
- Coworking lease or selected office solution
- Registered business address
- Up to 10 business activities
- Up to 50 shareholders
- Immigration pre-approval
- Residence visa processing, including e-channel registration, entry permit, status change, medical fitness test, Emirates ID and visa stamping
In most cases, founders choose the Pro package because it provides enough flexibility to grow without changing the company structure. If additional visas or a larger workspace become necessary later, upgrading usually requires paying only the difference between the current package and the new one.
The Lite package remains available for selected General Trading and e-commerce activities, but it is limited to one business activity and one shareholder. For most operating businesses, the Pro package offers greater flexibility with only a modest increase in upfront cost.
If you're still comparing jurisdictions before choosing RAKEZ, see our UAE business setup guide for an overview of how free zones and mainland companies differ.
What does a RAKEZ setup actually cost to run?
The published RAKEZ package is already close to the real incorporation cost because it combines the license and, where applicable, the complete residence-visa process. The main costs outside the package are corporate banking, ongoing compliance and tax administration.
A practical operating budget consists of the following layers:
| Cost layer | Included in the RAKEZ Pro package |
|---|---|
| Company license and registered address | ✓ |
| Residence visa and immigration processing | ✓ |
| Corporate bank account | ✗ |
| Bank minimum-balance requirement | ✗ |
| Corporate-tax registration and compliance | ✗ |
| Ongoing accounting and business administration | ✗ |
When we prepare cost estimates, we separate incorporation costs from operating costs from the outset. The license establishes the company, but banking and compliance determine how smoothly it operates afterwards. Looking at these costs together usually provides a far more realistic budget than comparing license prices alone.
Are visa fees included, and what does each visa add?
Yes. Unlike many UAE free zones, RAKEZ includes the complete immigration process in the published package price. There are no separate government invoices later for the e-channel, entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, visa stamping or status change.
| Visa package | Additional cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| First visa | +8,000 |
| Second visa | +4,000 |
| Third visa | +4,000 |
| Fourth visa | +4,000 |
| Fifth visa | +5,000 |
| Sixth visa | +5,000 |
| Seventh visa | +5,000 |
| Eighth visa | +5,000 |
In practice, having the immigration process bundled into each package makes incorporation costs easier to estimate before the application begins.
For a broader explanation of UAE residence-visa costs across different jurisdictions, see our full UAE visa fees breakdown.
What does a RAKEZ license cost to renew — and to prepay multi-year?
RAKEZ uses a straightforward renewal model. If your company structure remains the same, the annual renewal fee stays at the original package rate. Founders can also prepay several years in advance, reducing the total amount paid upfront without changing the annual package value.
| Package | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coworking, 0 visas | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 |
| Coworking, 1 visa | AED 14,000 | AED 14,000 | AED 14,000 |
| Coworking, 2 visas | AED 18,000 | AED 18,000 | AED 18,000 |
| Coworking, 3 visas | AED 22,000 | AED 22,000 | AED 22,000 |
Across the renewals we manage, businesses with stable long-term plans often choose prepayment because it simplifies future renewals while reducing the total amount paid over time.
| Term | 0 visa | 1 visa | 2 visas | 3 visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 | AED 18,000 | AED 22,000 |
| 3 years | AED 15,300 | AED 37,800 | AED 48,600 | AED 59,400 |
| 5 years | AED 25,500 | AED 59,500 | AED 76,500 | AED 93,500 |
| 10 years | AED 51,000 | AED 105,000 | AED 135,000 | AED 165,000 |
Coworking or office — what does each cost?
RAKEZ offers several workspace formats, allowing companies to expand without changing jurisdictions. Most founders begin with a coworking package and move to serviced, standard or executive offices as their team grows. Each option includes the same core company setup, while the workspace and visa capacity increase to support larger operational requirements.
| Visas | Serviced office | Standard office | Executive office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AED 20,500 | AED 27,000 | — |
| 2 | AED 24,500 | AED 31,000 | — |
| 3 | AED 28,500 | AED 35,000 | — |
| 4 | AED 34,050 | AED 38,050 | — |
| 6 | — | — | AED 48,050 |
Across the businesses we help establish, most founders begin with coworking because it keeps initial costs low while preserving flexibility. As staffing requirements grow, upgrading to a larger workspace within RAKEZ is usually simpler than relocating the business or changing jurisdictions.
Can a RAKEZ company actually open a UAE bank account?
Yes — but the bank account is not part of the RAKEZ package, and no free zone, including RAKEZ, guarantees corporate bank approval. The package creates a legal company, but whether it becomes operational depends on the bank's assessment of the shareholder profile, source of funds, business activity and expected transaction pattern — not on the free zone itself.
Banks commonly assess:
- The company's business activity
- The shareholder's background and source of funds
- Expected transaction volumes and countries involved
- The company's commercial substance in the UAE
- The quality and completeness of the compliance documentation
Based on the cases we handle, a well-prepared banking application usually has a greater impact on approval than the choice between one UAE free zone and another. Spending more time preparing the compliance file before incorporation often reduces delays during bank onboarding.
For a detailed explanation of the onboarding process, read our guide to opening a corporate bank account in the UAE.
Before choosing RAKEZ, evaluate whether your shareholder profile, business activity, and transaction model are likely to satisfy bank compliance requirements.
Review my banking fitIs RAKEZ a free zone or offshore — and a qualifying free zone?
RAKEZ is a UAE free zone, not an offshore jurisdiction. A RAKEZ company can obtain residence visas, lease business premises, operate from the UAE, and apply for a corporate bank account, subject to the bank's approval. Offshore companies serve different business purposes and follow different legal rules.
A RAKEZ company can:
- Obtain UAE residence visas
- Lease offices, warehouses and industrial facilities
- Conduct business from the UAE
- Apply for a UAE corporate bank account, subject to the bank's approval
By contrast, a RAK ICC offshore company is designed primarily for holding assets, intellectual property and international ownership structures. In our experience, founders often compare it directly with RAKEZ even though the two structures are intended for different purposes. RAK ICC does not provide residence visas or an operational business presence in the UAE. If your objective is asset holding rather than operating a UAE business, see our guide to RAK ICC offshore company formation.
Another common question is whether a RAKEZ company is a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP).
The answer is: not automatically.
A company incorporated in RAKEZ may qualify for the QFZP regime only if it satisfies the applicable corporate tax requirements relating to qualifying income, economic substance and ongoing compliance. Incorporation in RAKEZ alone does not create an automatic entitlement to the 0% corporate tax rate.
A Designated Zone is a VAT concept, while QFZP is a corporate tax concept. They are governed by different rules and should not be confused.
For a detailed explanation, see our guide to UAE corporate tax.
When is RAKEZ the wrong choice?
RAKEZ offers one of the UAE's most cost-effective company setup models, but it isn't the best choice for every business. Companies that value predictable pricing, flexible workspace options and long-term cost planning often benefit from RAKEZ, while businesses prioritising a prestigious Dubai address or specialised industry ecosystems may find another jurisdiction more suitable.
| RAKEZ is usually a good fit if... | Another jurisdiction may suit you better if... |
|---|---|
| You want transparent visa-inclusive pricing | A premium Dubai business address is essential |
| Predictable renewals matter | Your clients expect a central Dubai location |
| You expect to scale gradually from coworking to office space | Your business requires specialised sector ecosystems |
| Long-term cost planning is important | Your decision is driven primarily by prestige rather than operating costs |
Across the jurisdiction comparisons we prepare, the best long-term outcome rarely comes from choosing the lowest first-year price. Selecting a jurisdiction that matches your expected business model, staffing plans, and banking profile is usually the more sustainable decision.
If RAKEZ doesn't seem like the right fit, explore our guides to IFZA, Meydan, and DMCC to see how other UAE free zones differ in pricing, setup options, and long-term suitability.
Bottom line
RAKEZ combines one of the UAE's lowest entry costs with unusually transparent package pricing. A zero-visa Pro coworking package costs AED 6,000, while AED 14,000 includes one fully processed residence visa. With support for up to 10 business activities, 50 shareholders and multi-year prepayment, the package is straightforward to budget.
The one layer no package includes is the corporate bank account. For businesses whose banking profile, operating model and long-term plans already align, RAKEZ offers one of the clearest and most predictable routes into the UAE free-zone market.
Related reading
- Business setup in the UAE: full guide
- UAE free zone company formation
- UAE residence visa routes 2026
- UAE corporate tax
Price your case
Get a component-by-component RAKEZ cost breakdown for your exact visa count and workspace — package, renewals, and multi-year prepayment in one number.
Get your RAKEZ cost breakdownHow Emirabiz works with RAKEZ
Every RAKEZ setup starts with understanding how your business is expected to operate after incorporation — not simply with selecting the lowest-cost package. Our role is to recommend the structure that best supports your commercial plans, visa requirements and banking objectives over the long term.
- Business structure first. We review your planned activities, ownership structure and growth plans before recommending a package or jurisdiction.
- Visa planning. We recommend a visa tier based on your expected staffing needs over the next two to three years, helping reduce unnecessary upgrades as the business grows.
- Banking assessment. In our experience, banks evaluate the shareholder profile, source of funds and expected business activity — not the emirate where the company is registered. We assess whether RAKEZ is likely to support your banking objectives before you commit to incorporation.
- Formation and ongoing support. We coordinate company registration, residence visas, license renewals, amendments and future upgrades as your business develops.
If another jurisdiction is likely to support your banking profile or long-term plans more effectively, we'll explain why before you register. Our objective is to recommend the structure that fits your business — not simply the license with the lowest advertised price.
Reviewed by
Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
115 articles verified
Published July 1, 2026 · Updated July 1, 2026 · How this article was made →