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The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone has expanded its service offerings to include assistance with banking, tax compliance, auditing, notary services and insurance, according to an announcement distributed by the Emirates News Agency. This move enables the authority to strengthen its role as one-stop business partner beyond licensing, providing integrated solutions that streamline operations for both new and established companies. RAKEZ officials emphasised that the enhanced support helps investors navigate regulatory requirements while focusing on core business activities, building on the zone’s established infrastructure and digital platforms. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to position Ras Al Khaimah as a competitive hub for international enterprises seeking efficiency and scalability in the UAE.
RAKEZ recorded strong performance in 2025 with the addition of 19,000 new companies, a 44 percent increase from the previous year that brought the total registered entities to more than 40,000, a RAKEZ assessment found. Services-related licences accounted for 40 percent of those registrations, followed by commercial and trading activities at 33 percent and e-commerce at 17 percent, according to the same figures. India led source markets with 33 percent of new companies, followed by Pakistan at 8 percent and the United Kingdom at 7 percent, RAKEZ data shows. The growth underscores sustained investor interest in the emirate’s business environment, which combines competitive costs with comprehensive facilitation services.
In the third quarter of 2026, the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development reported a 33.5 percent rise in new economic licences compared with the preceding quarter, with active licences reaching 22,447 by the end of September. Registered capital for those licences climbed to AED11.96 billion, reflecting 12 percent annual growth, according to the department’s statistics. RAKEZ has integrated its operations with such licensing trends by offering post-setup support that includes manpower services, product registration and compliance tools, the economic zone said in its announcement. These measures aim to reduce administrative burdens that could otherwise slow business expansion in the region.
The expanded value-added services portfolio covers end-to-end banking facilitation, corporate tax registration, VAT compliance and outsourced CFO support, RAKEZ stated. Additional offerings include assistance securing no-objection certificates, professional auditing through approved partners and AML compliance registration, according to the announcement. Such services build upon the zone’s self-service digital portal, which allows investors to handle requests and documentation remotely, RAKEZ reported. By centralising these functions, the authority seeks to create a seamless experience that extends from initial company formation through ongoing operational needs.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad highlighted the importance of evolving beyond traditional free zone models in remarks carried by the Emirates News Agency. “Our continued investment in value-added services reflects our commitment to supporting businesses at every stage of their journey in Ras Al Khaimah,” he said. The approach has contributed to the zone’s recognition for innovation and digital transformation in 2026, following similar advancements launched in the first quarter, according to RAKEZ. Officials noted that partnerships with financial institutions and regulatory bodies underpin the reliability of these extended services.
Active economic licences in Ras Al Khaimah have grown steadily, with the department recording a 4.1 percent year-on-year increase by September 2026 alongside reductions in licence cancellations, its data indicated. RAKEZ has aligned its enhancements with these trends by focusing on sectors such as information technology, project management consultancies and marketing services that formed a significant share of recent registrations. The authority’s one-stop model also incorporates coworking facilities and networking events to foster connections among its diverse business community, it added. This comprehensive framework continues to attract investors from more than 100 countries seeking to establish and scale operations in the UAE.
