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Business License Categories and
Legal Structures

Company Formation Services
In United Arab Emirates

Business License Categories

Depending on the proposed activities, clients can take a licence falling under any one of the following categories:

Consulting/ Service Licence

This licence serves those who wish to set up management, consultancy, real estate, marketing, academic and other professional service firms. Clients may choose up to 3 different consulting activities, or 5 similar activities.

Trading Licence

This licence is suitable for those companies involved in trading, import/export, warehousing and goods distribution activities. Clients may choose from 3 different activities or 5 similar activities to conduct business.

General Trading Licence

This licence category is the same as that of a trading licence except that the client may do business from a varied range and number of activities

Commercial Licence

This licence category covers contracting, repairing, maintenance, logistics and similar activities of business. Clients may choose up to 3 different activities.

Industrial Licence

This licence covers clients whose activities include manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging and other similar activities with a single product line.

Processing time for all licence types will take approximately 2-3 working days.

Legal Structure

RAK Investment Authority hosts entities that are starting a new business, those that are a branch of an existing company, local or international.

Companies can be incorporated under following legal structures:

Establishment (E) for a Non Free Zone company with a single shareholder.

Limited Liability Company (LLC) for a Non Free Zone company with two or more partners. The partners may be individuals, companies or a combination of both.

Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for a Free Zone company with a single shareholder.

Free Zone LLC (FZ LLC) for a Free Zone company with two or more partners. The partners may be individuals, companies or a combination of both.

Branch of a local or foreign company/establishment wishing to set up in RAK Investment Authority. This company should be essentially holding a valid licence from any licensing authority in UAE or outside.

Business Set-Up Procedures

RAK Investment Authority observes a simple and customer friendly business formation procedure. Before starting the company registration process, investors can define the kind of entity for their business with the following categories:

Company Type
Licence Category
Legal Structure
Business Facility

RAKIA Free Zone Business Setup Procedure

Immigration Pre-Approval
Company Registration
Payment for Licence and Facilities (Cash, Cheque, Credit Card, Bank Transfer)
Legal and Contractual Agreements & Approvals
Receive Business Licence and Lease Contract

RAKIA Non Free Zone Business Setup Procedure

Business Name & Activities Approval from Department of Economic Development (DED)
Immigration Pre-Approval
Company Registration
Payment for Licence and Facilities
Legal and Contractual Agreements & Approvals
Receive Business Licence and Lease Contract