RAKEZ Tech Business Setup
for Software and IT Founders
You have probably priced a Dubai free zone and closed the tab. RAKEZ gives you a real UAE licence, a real residence visa and a real corporate bank account from AED 6,000 a year. We are a channel partner, so we handle the setup and everything after it.
Who we help
Solo, and want the lowest entry point instead? UAQ starts lower and includes medical insurance →
Need a Dubai address for banking or enterprise clients? See how the zones compare →
Why RAKEZ is a sensible place to start
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone is one of the larger free zones in the country, home to tens of thousands of companies across more than fifty sectors. For a software or IT founder it does the three things that actually matter at the start: it is cheap, it is fast, and it gives you a licence that banks and clients recognise.
The activity list covers software development, IT consultancy, technical services and the adjacent things agencies do. You get 100% ownership, full profit repatriation, and a residence visa that makes the rest of UAE life possible. What you are giving up is a Dubai postcode, and for most bootstrapped founders that is a good trade.
What it costs, and what moves the number
A coworking licence with no residence visa starts at AED 6,000 a year. That is the floor, and for a solo founder who is not yet relocating, it is often the whole bill.
Two things are worth knowing before you compare that against anything else. Renewal is the same price as year one, so there is no cheap first year followed by a jump. And five things move the number up:
Residence visas
The single biggest lever. A licence with no visa is the cheapest entry point. Each visa included in the package adds to it.
Business activities
A handful of activities is cheaper than a wide list. Extra activities are charged annually, not once.
Shareholder count
The entry packages cap the number of shareholders. More founders on the licence means a different package.
Workspace
Coworking is the cheapest. A serviced or standard office costs more and is rarely needed by a software business at the start.
Bundled services
Some packages include bank account opening, VIP visa processing and Corporate Tax filing. Worth taking only if you were going to pay for them anyway.
Multi-year terms are discounted further. Offices and designated zone packages exist if you need them. As a channel partner we quote you the zone's own pricing, and we will tell you which package genuinely fits rather than the largest one you would agree to.
The package that bundles Corporate Tax, and why we will point it out
Some RAKEZ packages bundle extra services on top of the same licence: corporate bank account opening, VIP visa processing with the medical done in Dubai, business consultations, one free corporate amendment, and Corporate Tax registration and filing.
That last one is worth saying out loud, because it is our own service. If your package already includes Corporate Tax registration and filing, we will not charge you for it again. What we would still do is the bookkeeping the return is built from, your VAT, and your management accounts. We would rather you knew that before you chose a package than after.
The visa quota is better than it looks
Most low cost zones tie a flexi-desk to two or three visas. On most of the RAKEZ coworking packages the quota is eight, even though the package itself includes one or two. That means you can hire without moving to an office or changing zones, which is the thing that usually forces a restructure eighteen months in. The cheapest entry package is the exception, capping at one visa and two shareholders, which is the trade you make for the lower price.
What the package price does not cover
Four things, and none of them are hidden, they are simply not in the headline number.
Health insurance for anyone on a visa, which is mandatory and the one people forget. Extra business activities beyond those included, charged on a recurring annual basis. Amendments after setup, such as changing your trade name or shareholder structure. And the accounting: your books, your VAT returns, and unless your package bundles it, your Corporate Tax.
Corporate Tax, answered honestly
Every RAKEZ company must register for Corporate Tax, including one expecting to pay nothing, and late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty. Whether you actually pay is separate.
Most small software businesses reach 0% through Small Business Relief, which applies where revenue is at or below AED 3 million, is elected on your return, and needs no audit. The Qualifying Free Zone Person route also reaches 0% but requires audited accounts every year, and for a lean company the audit often costs more than the tax it saves.
We handle all of it
We are a RAKEZ channel partner, so the setup is done by us rather than handed to a third party: activity selection, trade name, licence application, residence visa, Emirates ID, establishment card and the corporate bank account, which we stay with until it opens.
Then the part most setup agents are not able to do. Corporate Tax registration and filing, VAT registration and quarterly returns, and cloud bookkeeping with monthly management accounts, all by a chartered accountant. One firm from the licence to the year end, and the same people in month thirteen as on day one.
What we handle for RAKEZ companies
RAKEZ setup and accounting FAQs
How much does a RAKEZ licence actually cost?
A coworking licence with no residence visa starts at AED 6,000 a year. What you pay above that depends on how many visas you need, how many business activities you want on the licence, how many shareholders there are and whether you take a package with bundled services. The figure that matters as much as the first year is the renewal, and RAKEZ charges the same price to renew as to start, which is not true of every zone. Tell us what you need and we will give you the exact number for your case.
What do the bundled packages add?
Corporate bank account opening, Corporate Tax registration and filing, VIP visa processing with the medical done in Dubai, business consultations, and one free corporate amendment in the year. If you take one of these, note that Corporate Tax registration and filing is already included, so we would not charge you for that part again. We would tell you that before you signed.
Is RAKEZ a good choice for a software or IT business?
For a bootstrapped one, yes. You get a real UAE licence, a real residence visa and a real corporate bank account at roughly half what a Dubai free zone costs, and the activity list covers software development, IT consultancy and related services. What you do not get is a Dubai address, which matters only if your clients or your bank care about one.
How many visas can I get on a coworking package?
Most of the coworking packages carry a visa quota of eight, even though the package itself includes fewer. That is generous compared with most low cost zones, where a flexi-desk typically caps you at two or three. The cheapest entry package is the exception and caps at one visa and two shareholders, which is why it undercuts the tier above it.
Will I pay Corporate Tax on a RAKEZ company?
You must register regardless, and late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty. Whether you pay anything is a separate question. Most small software businesses reach 0% through Small Business Relief, which applies where revenue is at or below AED 3 million and needs no audit. That is usually the simpler route than the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, which requires audited accounts every year.
What is not in the package price?
Health insurance for anyone on a visa, which is mandatory and commonly overlooked. Additional business activities beyond those included, charged annually. Amendments after setup, such as changing your trade name or shareholder structure. And everything on the accounting side: bookkeeping, VAT returns and, unless your package bundles it, Corporate Tax.
Do you actually handle the setup, or just the accounting?
Both, in house. We are a RAKEZ channel partner, so the licence application, activity selection, visa processing and establishment card are handled by us directly rather than passed to a third party. Then we keep the books, file the VAT and file the Corporate Tax return. One firm, one relationship.
Disclaimer
Licence pricing is set by RAKEZ, is current at the time of writing and is subject to change. Any figure here is indicative and RAKEZ's own quotation governs. The information on this page is general guidance only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. UAE tax rules and free zone regulations change, and every business is different. Please consult a qualified professional, such as Khizr UAE, before making any decision. Khizr UAE accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the content of this page.
Start in RAKEZ from AED 6,000.
Book a free consultation with Sadik Panjwani, ACA. We will tell you which package actually fits, set the company up, and keep it compliant afterwards.
Other free zones we work with