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RAK Mainland

RAK mainland company setup — LLC & commercial licences for the UAE market

RAKEFZ is the only all-in-one agent that covers every RAK jurisdiction. For RAK Mainland, we help entrepreneurs, trading firms and service providers set up onshore companies that can operate across the UAE with a dedicated human Relationship Manager.

Start mainland setup →Step-by-step guide

What is RAK Mainland?

RAK Mainland is the onshore commercial jurisdiction of Ras Al Khaimah. Mainland companies can trade throughout the UAE, open branches in any Emirate, rent local premises and bid for government and private-sector contracts.

Why set up in RAK Mainland?

  • Trade anywhere in the UAE
  • Open branches in every Emirate
  • Bid for government contracts
  • 100% foreign ownership for most activities
  • Investor and employee visa options

Licence activities in RAK Mainland

General trading
Management consultancy
Real estate brokerage
Construction & contracting
Restaurant & catering
Retail & e-commerce
Logistics & transport
Manufacturing & industrial
Professional services

Mainland setup cost and timeline

Government fee from
AED 16,500
DED + licence fees
RAKEFZ service fee from
AED 2,900
Essential package
Typical setup time
10–14 days
Fully remote

Step-by-step RAK Mainland setup

1

Choose the activity and licence category

Select the DED activity group — commercial, industrial, professional, tourism or agricultural. Some activities need external approvals, such as security, F&B, health, education or transport.

2

Pick a legal structure

LLC is the default for commercial and industrial activities. A sole establishment works for many professional activities. Foreign shareholders can own most businesses 100%.

3

Reserve a trade name and initial approval

Submit 2–3 trade names and shareholder KYC to RAK DED. RAKEFZ secures initial approval and confirms the activity combination is allowed.

4

Secure a tenancy contract (Ejari)

Every mainland company needs a registered address. RAKEFZ can source a flexi desk, office, retail space or warehouse that meets municipality and civil defence requirements.

5

Prepare and notarise the legal documents

Draft the MOA, local service agent agreement if required, and government forms. Signatories may need to be present in RAK or use a legalised POA.

6

Pay government fees and receive the licence

RAKEFZ settles DED and other authority fees. The trade licence, commercial register extract and establishment card are issued, typically in 10–14 working days.

7

Process visas and Emirates ID

Entry permit → status change → medical test → Emirates ID biometric → health insurance → visa stamping. RAKEFZ schedules appointments and tracks each step.

8

Open a corporate bank account

A UAE bank usually requires the licence, MOA, tenancy contract and at least one authorised signatory with a valid Emirates ID. RAKEFZ packages the application to reduce rejection risk.

Contingencies founders must plan for

Mainland contingencies

  • • A valid Ejari tenancy contract is mandatory before licence issuance
  • • Some activities require SIRA, municipality, food control or other approvals
  • • Notarisation of MOA or a legalised POA may be needed for absent owners
  • • Visa quotas depend on office size and activity category
  • • Banks typically want a signatory with an Emirates ID and a verifiable lease

How we handle them

  • ✓ Map your activity and flag every external approval upfront
  • ✓ Source an Ejari-compliant address before filing the application
  • ✓ Prepare MOA and POA correctly for remote or multi-partner setups
  • ✓ Size the office to your visa and operational needs
  • ✓ Coordinate Emirates ID and bank-account opening after licence approval

Frequently asked questions

Start your RAK mainland company today

Choose RAK Mainland, select your activity and get a live all-in quote. Your dedicated Relationship Manager handles the rest.

Start mainland setup →