RAKEZ vs SPC: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
RAKEZ (licences from about AED 6,000) and SPC (from about AED 5,750) are both UAE free zones — SPC has the lower entry price. RAKEZ best suits: Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. SPC best suits: Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
RAKEZ and SPC side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | RAKEZ | SPC |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 6,000 | AED 5,750 |
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah |
| Location | Al Hamra Industrial Zone & Al Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah | Sharjah Publishing City, Sharjah |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace, not bought freely. | Visa packages are configured in SPC's cost calculator rather than published as a fixed quota per licence — your allocation depends on the package and facility. |
| Activities | RAKEZ maintains a comprehensive activity list across manufacturing, trading, services, media, education, IT, logistics and more. | 2,000+ business activities are available, and SPC publishes its activity list online with a name-check tool. |
Lower entry price: SPC.
Which one should you pick?
Choose RAKEZ if
Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. A common pick for Dubai-based founders who want a cheaper free zone licence and don't need a Dubai address on the trade licence.
Think twice if
Businesses that need to sell directly to the UAE mainland or take government contracts (a free zone licence alone doesn't allow that — you'd need a mainland licence or local distributor). Also not ideal for founders who want a prestigious Dubai address, or those needing many employee visas on a small flexi-desk.
Choose SPC if
Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub.
Think twice if
Regulated financial-services firms (DIFC or ADGM fit better), businesses that specifically need a Dubai-emirate address for clients or staff, and heavy industrial or port-side operations — JAFZA, RAKEZ or UAQ FTZ industrial facilities fit those better.
Cost breakdowns
RAKEZ
from AED 6,000
Trade licence (zero-visa, with flexi-desk)
Starter/zero-visa packages; varies by licence type and activities
AED 6,000–9,000/yr
All-inclusive licence with 1 visa (incl. flexi-desk)
Bundled trade licence + 1 visa quota + coworking access
from AED 14,000/yr
Establishment card (immigration registration)
Required once before processing any residence visa
from AED 1,000
Investor / partner residence visa
Approx, excludes medical and Emirates ID below
from AED 4,500
Medical test + Emirates ID
Per person, paid to government / typing centres
approx AED 700
Name reservation + initial approval
Usually bundled in the package; standalone fees are nominal
often included
Flexi-desk / coworking workspace
Included in most starter packages; private offices cost extra
usually included
UAE corporate tax registration
Registration is mandatory; 0% on qualifying free zone income, 9% above AED 375k otherwise
no government fee
SPC
from AED 5,750
Business setup package
SPC's published starting price; the total is configured in its online cost calculator from activities, visas and facility
From AED 5,750 (published)
Licence with lease agreement
A lease agreement comes with every business licence
Included
Visa packages
Configured per package in the cost calculator; residency processed in as fast as 5 working days
Quote-based
Paid-up share capital
SPC requires zero paid-up share capital
AED 0
UAE corporate tax registration
Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is free of charge
Government fee: AED 0
Strengths and trade-offs
RAKEZ
- Genuinely low cost — among the cheapest credible UAE free zones to start and renew
- Excellent for industrial, manufacturing and logistics thanks to warehouses and land plots
- Flexible activity mixing — up to 7 in a category or ~10 mixed on one licence
- Fast issuance, 100% foreign ownership, and full profit repatriation
- Dual-licence option lets a single entity hold both free zone and mainland activities
- It's in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai — the trade licence and registered address are RAK, which some clients or banks prefer to see as Dubai
- Like any free zone, you can't sell directly to the UAE mainland without a mainland licence or distributor
- Visa quota is capped by workspace — a cheap flexi-desk limits you to a small number of visas
- Some bank branches and processing happen from RAK, which can mean extra travel or coordination
SPC
- Published entry price of AED 5,750 — with the lease agreement included, the licence covers your legal address without a separate flexi-desk line.
- Speed: about 45 minutes to complete setup with an advisor, residency in as fast as 5 working days, immigration on site.
- Zero paid-up share capital and 100% foreign ownership across the 2,000+ activity list.
- Government of Sharjah backing with a fully digital portal for setup, amendments and renewals.
- Deep value-added bench: banking assistance, spouse/dependant visas, documentation, customs code and financing support under one roof.
- The AED 5,750 headline is a starting price — visas, extra activities and facilities move the calculator total up, so always compare the itemised quote.
- A Sharjah address, not Dubai: fine for most online and service businesses, but clients who expect a Dubai-emirate licence or address should weigh Dubai zones.
- No fixed published visa quota per licence — your allocation is configured per package and confirmed at quote stage.
- Like any free zone, direct mainland UAE retail requires additional licensing or arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, RAKEZ or SPC?+
RAKEZ licences start from about AED 6,000 (zero-visa licence, flexi-desk, approx — visa packages cost more). SPC starts from about AED 5,750 (from / published — SPC states business setup packages start from AED 5,750; the final price is built in its online cost calculator from your activities, visas and facility, and government and visa fees are added on top). SPC has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
Who is RAKEZ best for?+
Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. A common pick for Dubai-based founders who want a cheaper free zone licence and don't need a Dubai address on the trade licence.
Who is SPC best for?+
Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub.
How do I decide between RAKEZ and SPC?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. RAKEZ: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace, not bought freely. SPC: Visa packages are configured in SPC's cost calculator rather than published as a fixed quota per licence — your allocation depends on the package and facility. If you are still unsure, our free zone selector or a free 30-minute PRO Health Check will confirm the better fit for your case.
Still torn between RAKEZ and SPC?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need, and we'll confirm the better-fit zone and its real cost — in writing, line by line.