RAK Maritime City at a glance
RAK Maritime City is a free zone focused on marine, shipping, ship-repair and offshore services. It offers waterfront facilities, yards and offices for maritime operators in Ras Al Khaimah.
Who is RAK Maritime City suitable for?
- Ship-repair and marine services
- Offshore and oil-and-gas support
- Maritime trading and shipping agents
Industries commonly considered
Logistics, Engineering. Confirm your exact activity is permitted before applying.
RAK Maritime City company formation cost
Quote required No reliable public price list — a written quote is needed for an exact figure.
Year-one budget: Quote required. Renewal: Annual licence and lease renewals.
Not included: professional-service fees, extra residence visas, office upgrades, bank minimum balances and external approvals. Estimate your own visa count with the cost calculator.
Licences and company structures at RAK Maritime City
The authority (RAK Maritime City Authority) decides which activities and licence categories are currently available. The table shows the activities most associated with RAK Maritime City and the licence category you would typically ask about — confirm the exact activity code before applying.
| Activity | Typical licence category (confirm) |
|---|---|
| Marine services | Marine / maritime services licence |
| Ship repair and maintenance | Confirm the licence category with the authority |
| Offshore support | Confirm the licence category with the authority |
| Maritime trading | Trading licence |
Company structures
Typically a free zone establishment (FZE) for one shareholder, a free zone company (FZ-LLC) for two or more shareholders, or a branch of an existing company. Names and rules differ by zone — confirm the options with the authority.
Requirements and documents
- Passport copies and passport photos for shareholders, directors and managers
- Proof of residential address and, for some applicants, a bank reference
- A completed application and a business plan or activity description where requested
- Attested incorporation documents if a shareholder is a company
- Approvals from other authorities for regulated activities (health, education, finance, food, media)
Requirements vary by activity, nationality and structure. Always use RAK Maritime City’s current checklist. Full guide: how UAE company formation works.
How to set up a company in RAK Maritime City
- Choose the activity and confirm eligibilityCheck your activity against RAK Maritime City’s permitted list and any external approval it needs.
- Reserve the trade nameSubmit name options; approval commonly takes a few working days.
- Submit documents and pay feesGovernment fees are paid to the authority; service fees are separate.
- Sign incorporation documentsSign the Memorandum/Articles digitally or in person, as the zone allows.
- Receive the licenceTiming at RAK Maritime City: 1–3 weeks, subject to the authority.
- Establishment card, visas and Emirates IDEach visa holder completes entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID.
- Bank account and tax registrationApply for a corporate account and register for corporate tax (and VAT if required).
Office requirements and visas
In a sector district such as RAK Maritime City, premises range from small desks to full offices. The type and size you choose typically sets your visa allocation — confirm what is currently offered for your activity.
Visa information
Four different things are often blurred together: the company licence, the establishment/immigration card, the investor/partner residence visa and employee residence visas. At RAK Maritime City: Linked to facility. A visa is never guaranteed and requires the applicant to complete medical testing and biometrics in the UAE. See the visa guide.
Banking, tax and compliance
Banking
Banking is decided by each bank, not by the free zone, and approval is never guaranteed. Our editorial view is that banks are generally moderate in their familiarity with RAK Maritime City entities, but they assess shareholders, activity, source of funds and documents case by case. Documents commonly requested include the licence, incorporation documents, passports and proof of address, a business plan or contracts, and source-of-funds evidence. Read the corporate banking guide.
Tax
A RAK Maritime City licence does not by itself decide your tax position. Corporate tax registration is required for free zone entities, the 0%/9% structure applies, and qualifying-income rules determine whether a free zone entity keeps a 0% rate on part of its income. VAT registration depends on your turnover and supplies. Read the corporate tax and compliance guide and confirm with a licensed adviser.
Compliance
Ongoing duties typically include annual licence renewal, keeping accounting records, corporate tax registration and filing, VAT if registered, economic-substance or beneficial-owner filings where applicable, and any activity-specific reporting. Confirm current duties with the authority and a licensed adviser.
Licence renewal
Annual licence and lease renewals. Renewal dates are set by your licence; late renewal can bring fines and complicate visas and banking. Check the authority’s renewal fee schedule before budgeting a second year.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Marine and shipping-focused free zone
- Waterfront and yard facilities
- Suited to ship-repair, offshore and maritime services
- Ras Al Khaimah cost base
- 100% foreign ownership and full profit repatriation
Limitations to weigh
- Narrow sector focus
- Public fee data is limited — get a written quote
RAK Maritime City vs mainland
A RAK Maritime City licence is designed for its zone and does not automatically let you sell directly to mainland UAE customers. If most of your revenue comes from UAE customers, or you want government work, compare a mainland licence; if you mainly serve international clients or operate online, a free zone can be simpler. Neither is universally better — the decision framework walks through it.
Similar free zones
| RAK Maritime City | RAKEZ | FFZ | HFZA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | Fujairah | Sharjah |
| Best for | Marine, shipping & offshore services | Multi-sector, industrial & SME | Trading, marine & industrial | Industrial, maritime & trading |
| Licence cost | Quote required | From about AED 6,010 (zero-visa) · about AED 12,010 with one visa | Quote required | Packages advertised from about AED 8,800 |
| Setup time | 1–3 weeks | 2–5 working days | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| Banking ease (editorial) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fee data | Quote required | Published fees | Quote required | Indicative band |
RAKEZ · Fujairah Free Zone · Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) · KEZAD · Compare any zones
RAK Maritime City company formation: FAQs
What is RAK Maritime City company formation?
RAK Maritime City company formation means registering a company under RAK Maritime City's rules in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Maritime City is a free zone focused on marine, shipping, ship-repair and offshore services. Activities, fees and eligibility are set by the authority (RAK Maritime City Authority) and vary by licence.
How much does it cost to set up a company in RAK Maritime City?
There is no reliable public price list for RAK Maritime City, so we do not publish a number. Costs depend on activity, premises and visas — request a written quote from the authority or ZoneWise.
Can foreigners own 100% of a RAK Maritime City company?
UAE free zones generally allow up to 100% foreign ownership and repatriation of profits. Some regulated activities carry conditions, so confirm eligibility for your exact licence with RAK Maritime City's authority.
What licences are available in RAK Maritime City?
Licence categories offered depend on the zone's current rules. For RAK Maritime City the activities most associated with it include marine services, ship repair and maintenance, offshore support; these typically map to: Confirm the licence category with the authority; Marine / maritime services licence; Trading licence. Confirm the current licence list and activity codes with the authority.
Can I get a UAE residence visa through RAK Maritime City?
A free zone can usually sponsor investor/partner and employee residence visas, subject to package or office-based quotas and the applicant's eligibility. The trade licence and the visa are separate steps, and approval is never guaranteed. Visa allocation at RAK Maritime City: Linked to facility.
What documents are required for RAK Maritime City company formation?
Commonly requested: passport copies and photos for shareholders and directors, proof of address, a completed application, and a business plan for some activities. Corporate shareholders provide attested incorporation documents; regulated activities need additional approvals. Confirm the current checklist with the authority.
Does RAK Maritime City require an office?
In a sector district such as RAK Maritime City, premises range from small desks to full offices. Confirm the current requirement for your licence type and number of visas.
Can a RAK Maritime City company do business in mainland UAE?
Not freely. Free zone companies generally cannot trade directly with mainland customers without a distributor, a dual-licence arrangement where the zone offers one, or a separate mainland licence or branch. If most customers are onshore, compare a mainland licence.
What are the benefits of RAK Maritime City?
Marine and shipping-focused free zone; Waterfront and yard facilities; Suited to ship-repair, offshore and maritime services. Weigh these against the limitations listed on this page.
How do I start a company in RAK Maritime City?
Choose your activity and check it against RAK Maritime City's permitted list; reserve a trade name; submit documents and pay the fees; sign the incorporation documents; receive the licence; then arrange the establishment card, visas, bank account and tax registration. Timelines: 1–3 weeks, subject to the authority.
Is RAK Maritime City only for shipping companies?
It targets marine and maritime activity, so eligibility depends on your business. Confirm with the authority.
Sources and verification
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official website | Not yet verified in this edition — use only the domain published by the authority; we do not link unverified sites. |
| Licensing / operating authority | RAK Maritime City Authority |
| Fee data status | Quote required — No reliable public price list — a written quote is needed for an exact figure |
| Last reviewed | September 2026 (fees: July 2026) |
| Government sources to check | UAE Government portal · Federal Tax Authority · ICP (residency) |
Fees and eligibility change. Confirm the zone’s current licence list, activity codes and fee schedule with the authority before paying; ZoneWise is not the authority and does not guarantee outcomes.
Get a written quote for RAK Maritime City
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.