# RAK Maritime City Free Zone (RMC) > RMC publishes a licence fee from AED 25,000 but no full package price (checked 2026-10-24). RAK Maritime City Free Zone (RMC) is a industrial and logistics free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, licensed by RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority (RMC FZA), established in 2009. - Emirate: Ras Al Khaimah - Licensing authority: RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority (RMC FZA) - Official website: https://www.rakports.ae/ports/saqr-port-and-free-zone/ - Last checked: 2026-10-24 - Page: https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rak-maritime-city ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Solo, no visa (year 1): one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity | Not published | | Founder + 1 visa (year 1): one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office | Not published | | Team, 3 visas (year 1): three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office | Not published | | Lowest package of any size, without stated conditions (year 1) | Not published | | Lowest licence fee | AED 25,000 | | Largest visa quota in a package | Not published | | Minimum office | Not published | | Licence types | Industrial, Other | | Minimum share capital | Not published | | Incorporation time (stated) | — | | On the FTA VAT Designated Zone list | Yes | ## Identity and legal basis - Licensing / regulating authority: RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority (RMC FZA) - Parent group / government body: RAK Ports (Government of Ras Al Khaimah) - Zone type: Industrial, Logistics - Year established: 2009 - Official website: https://www.rakports.ae/ports/saqr-port-and-free-zone/ - Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars: Yes Physical locations / campuses: RAK Maritime City: free zone area of Saqr Port, Ras Al Khaimah; Free zone area at Ras Al Khaimah (Khor) Port, reported to fall under RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority jurisdiction. [1] Public contact email: info.rmc@rakports.ae. [2] Public contact phone: +971 7 202 5100. [2] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.rakports.ae/ports/saqr-port-and-free-zone/) · [2] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.moet.gov.ae/documents/20121/416990/RAK+Martime+eng.pdf/a340147c-2904-e6a0-2c1a-8b21c3a64c87?t=1631908140049) ## Business activities - Licence types offered: Industrial, Other Activity categories offered: Industrial: Manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging; Commercial: Construction contracting, Maritime Services, Rental Business, Maintenance, Repair; Trading: Import, export, distribution, warehousing and trading of goods. [1] Restricted activities: Sponsorship; Bank; Insurance; Assurance; Chamber; Municipal. [2] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.moet.gov.ae/documents/20121/416990/RAK+Martime+eng.pdf/a340147c-2904-e6a0-2c1a-8b21c3a64c87?t=1631908140049) · [2] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Checklist-for-Amendments.pdf) ## Cost - year one - Lowest licence fee (zero-visa): AED 25,000 ## Visas and residency Investor / partner visa available: yes. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Checklist-for-Amendments.pdf) ## Office and facilities - Office / facility types: Land plot, Warehouse - Warehouse available: Yes Private office cost per sqm per year: AED 650. [1] Warehouse sizes: Ras Al Khaimah (Khor) Port: Warehouse Type 1 1512 sqm; Warehouse Type 2 1944 sqm; Transit Shed 1748 sqm; Retail Outlet 2199 sqm. Other RAK Ports warehouses/transit sheds: sizes not stated (POA). [1] Cold storage available: yes. [2] Land plots for build-to-suit: yes. [3] Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Common user meeting rooms at Saqr Port (pre-booked, AED 75 per hour). [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAK-Ports-Tariff-2026.pdf) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.rakports.ae/services/warehousing/) · [3] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://www.rakports.ae/services/free-zone-and-land-lease/) ## Legal structure and ownership - Entity types available: FZCO (several shareholders), FZE (single shareholder), Branch of a foreign company, Branch of a UAE company Corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [1] Foreign corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Guidelines-for-New-Company-Registration.pdf) ## Tax status - VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list): Yes Which areas of zone are designated: Listed as 'RAK Maritime City Free Zone' (effective 01/01/2018); the list gives no boundary detail. 'RAK Port Free Zone' is listed separately (also from 01/01/2018). [1] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://tax.gov.ae/DataFolder/Files/Legislation/Designated%20Zones%20-%2021%2009%202021%20sep21.pdf) ## Compliance and reporting - Annual audited financial statements required by the zone: Yes - Beneficial-owner register filing required: Yes Annual return and renewal documents: Request letter from the company signed and stamped by the Manager; Medical insurance for all employees; Property All Risk insurance; Third-party liability insurance; Workmen's compensation insurance; 'Preventive Fire Safety Requirements' certificate from RAK Civil Defence; Environmental Protection & Development Authority certificate; Protection certificate for cameras from RAK Police; Audited financial report; UBO declaration; Source of Wealth declaration; RAK Chamber membership certificate (optional); Manager passport and visa copy if records expired; Good standing certificate of corporate shareholder/parent (if applicable). [1] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Checklist-Licence-Renewal.pdf) ## Setup process and speed Documents for an individual shareholder: Application form signed by the Authorized Signatory; Business plan; Passport, visa and Emirates ID (if any) of proposed Manager and Directors; No Objection Certificate for Manager (if applicable); Individual shareholder: passport, visa and Emirates ID (if any) and proof of residence; UBO Declaration; Sanction Policy Declaration; Source of Wealth Declaration; Power of Attorney (if applicable). [1] Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: UAE-registered corporate shareholder: shareholders resolution attested by a UAE notary public. Foreign corporate shareholder: licence/registration certificate, resolution, MoA and incumbency certificate legalised up to the UAE Embassy. Originals required for the resolution and incumbency certificate. [1] Trade name rules: Name must end with RMC FZE / RMC FZC / RMC BFC / RMC Branch; give three options; Arabic or English only (no mixing); reserved up to 2 months; no restricted words (religious, political, government, country/city names, 'United Arab Emirates', 'Ras Al Khaimah', company types not offered such as Inc., Corp., Holding, Ltd.), no symbols, no names of other persons without consent, no names similar to existing companies or brands. [2] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Guidelines-for-New-Company-Registration.pdf) · [2] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Checklist-for-Amendments.pdf) ## Operations, ecosystem and flexibility Adding shareholders: Share transfer requires amendment application, resolutions, incoming shareholder documents, UBO, sanctions and source-of-wealth declarations, a share transfer agreement and supplemental MoA deed (signed before RMC staff or notarised/legalised), plus RAK Immigration pre-approval for a new individual shareholder. RMC fees apply (amounts not published). [1] Multiple licences under one group: yes. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Checklist-for-Amendments.pdf) ## Freelancer and solo founder - Freelancer permit available: No ## Industry-specific regulation Hazardous goods and environmental approvals: New companies process an EPDA (RAK Environment Protection and Development Authority) NOC and a Civil Defence certificate after licensing; renewal needs RAK Civil Defence 'Preventive Fire Safety Requirements' certificate, EPDA certificate, RAK Police camera protection certificate and property, liability and workmen's compensation insurance. [1] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Guidelines-for-New-Company-Registration.pdf) ## Notes and history - **Legal basis (2009-12-09):** RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority was established by Emiri Decree No. 21 of 2009 on 9 December 2009 to provide an industrial and maritime complex for port-related industries, according to its company-registrar profile published by the Ministry of Economy. The same profile names its rules as the RAK Maritime City Free Zone Companies Implementing Regulations 2017 and the RAK Maritime City Free Zone Rules 2017. [source](https://www.moet.gov.ae/documents/20121/416990/RAK+Martime+eng.pdf/a340147c-2904-e6a0-2c1a-8b21c3a64c87?t=1631908140049) - **Good to know:** The zone is the free zone area of Saqr Port, which RAK Ports says is also known as RAK Maritime City, and it has no separate website: its forms and guidelines are published on rakports.ae. RAK Ports' 2026 tariff lists RAK Maritime City FZA as one of five entities in the RAK Ports network, alongside Saqr Port, Ras Al Khaimah Port, Al Jazeera Port and Al Jeer Port. [source](https://www.rakports.ae/ports/saqr-port-and-free-zone/) [source](https://www.rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAK-Ports-Tariff-2026.pdf) - **Good to know:** The Ministry of Economy and Tourism's list of free-zone company registrars shows the zone as Ras AlKhaimah Maritime, listed separately from RAKEZ and Innovation City. [source](https://www.moet.gov.ae/en/company-registrars-in-free-zones) - **History (2026-05):** The zone's May 2026 Guidelines for New Company Registration list two licence types, Industrial and Commercial. Its earlier registrar profile at the Ministry of Economy, with company figures up to 2015, also listed a Trading licence. [source](https://rakports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Guidelines-for-New-Company-Registration.pdf) [source](https://www.moet.gov.ae/documents/20121/416990/RAK+Martime+eng.pdf/a340147c-2904-e6a0-2c1a-8b21c3a64c87?t=1631908140049) ## FAQ ### How much does a RMC licence cost? RMC publishes a licence fee from AED 25,000. Visa, office and registration costs are extra. ### Is RMC a VAT Designated Zone? RMC appears on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones. Often only some areas of a zone are designated; see the tax section and confirm with the zone. ## Compare with - [RMC vs INC](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=rak-innovation-city&z=rak-maritime-city) - [RMC vs RAKEZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=rak-maritime-city&z=rakez) - [RMC vs AFZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=afza&z=rak-maritime-city) Rules that apply to every zone: [corporate tax](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax.md), [VAT Designated Zones](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zones.md), [mainland access](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainland.md) --- Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice. --- Source: FreezoneGuide (https://freezoneguide.com/). AED, as published by each zone on its official channels. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.