Company Setup in RAK Maritime City (RAKMC)
The United Arab Emirates supports sea trade with modern ports and clear rules. RAK Maritime City (RAKMC) sits beside Saqr Port in Ras Al Khaimah. The zone offers land near deep-water berths with direct highway links. It gives a single window for registrations, leases, and access passes. It serves shipping lines, terminal users, logistics firms, ship chandlers, offshore fabricators, and marine service providers. It also hosts light industry that depends on fast quay access.
This guide explains the setup route, legal choices, license options, facility types, bank steps, costs, and compliance points. It uses plain sentences for clarity. It helps founders make decisions with less risk and less delay. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing supports owners through each stage with structured checklists and timelines.
Why This Free Zone Fits Maritime and Logistics Plans
RAKMC serves operators that work with cargo, vessels, and industrial supply chains. The zone offers simple rules and practical benefits.
- Full foreign ownership: The zone lets investors keep 100% equity for eligible activities.
- At-the-port location: Plots and warehouses sit close to berths and yards.
- Duty efficiency: In-zone storage and re-export flows may avoid customs duty under UAE rules.
- Corporate tax regime: The UAE applies federal corporate tax. A firm in a free zone may get a 0% rate on qualifying income only if it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person tests and other conditions.
- Scalable facilities: Land, sheds, and open yards grow with project size.
- Straightforward licensing: Core activities sit under clear license categories.
- Banking access: UAE banks serve the zone with trade desks and online portals.
- Regional reach: The port links to the Gulf, India, East Africa, and Red Sea lanes.
These points help operators launch fast and scale with demand.
Understanding the Zone and Its Operating Environment
The authority grants plots and units on lease. It issues access passes for staff, drivers, and visitors. It checks safety and environment rules on sites. It reviews hazardous goods lists and yard storage plans. It coordinates with port and customs teams for gate control.
Tenants plan layouts that suit cargo flow. They place racks, lay concrete, and mark lanes. They plan power, water, fire systems, and IT networks. They assign safety wardens and keep incident logs. They train staff for hot-work, confined space, and forklift use. Clear site discipline builds trust with port operators.
Legal Forms You Can Choose
The zone allows several legal forms. Each form fits a different ownership plan.
- Free Zone Establishment (FZE): One shareholder owns the entity. Liability sits with the entity.
- Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC): Two or more shareholders own the entity. Liability sits with the entity.
- Branch of a Foreign Company: A foreign parent opens a branch. The parent stays liable.
- Branch of a UAE Company: A local company opens a branch inside the zone.
- Representative Office: The office promotes the parent. It does not sell or book revenue.
Founders select the form that matches control, risk, and bank comfort. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing maps each form to banking and visa needs.
License Types That Cover Your Activity
Activities define the license. The zone groups them into clear classes.
- Commercial License: Trade in goods, import, export, distribution, and storage.
- Industrial License: Basic manufacturing, assembly, steel work, fabrication, or processing with approvals.
- Service License: Marine agency, ship supply, logistics, charter broking, survey, repair services, and consultancy.
- E-Commerce License: Digital platforms that match cargo or sell marine supplies online (with scope limits).
- Freelance Permit (where applicable): Individuals deliver certain services under named categories.
Some activities need external consents. These may include environment, dangerous goods, food safety, or telecom. The authority lists these during pre-approval.
Step-by-Step Path to Register Your Entity
A clear path reduces rework. Use these simple steps.
- Define the activity list: You write goods and services in simple terms.
- Pick a legal form: You choose FZE, FZ-LLC, branch, or rep office.
- Reserve a name: You propose a name that follows zone rules.
- Prepare documents: You collect IDs, resolutions, and financials.
- File the application: You submit forms and pay initial fees.
- Sign constitutional papers: You sign MoA/AoA or branch undertakings.
- Lease a unit or plot: You sign a lease for office, warehouse, yard, or land.
- Receive the license: You get the trade license and company code.
- Apply for establishment card: You enable visa and gate pass requests.
- Open a bank account: You present licenses and KYC packs to a bank.
- Begin operations: You hire staff, place equipment, and start service.
Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing tracks each milestone with a Gantt plan. The team aligns lease terms with license dates to avoid gaps.
Documents You Should Prepare Early
Good files cut questions and save days. Keep scans clear and names consistent.
- Passport and visa copies for shareholders and managers.
- Proof of address for owners (recent utility bill or bank statement).
- Board Resolution to form the entity or open a branch.
- MoA/AoA for new companies; parent documents for branches.
- Bank reference letter or audited statements for two years, if available.
- Simple business plan with cargo volumes, HS codes, and client types.
- Site plan request with power load and yard use notes.
- Power of Attorney, if a representative signs on your behalf.
Foreign documents need notarization and UAE legalization. Start this early to avoid backlogs.
Banking: Opening and Operating Your Account
Banks check real activity and source of funds. They also test your trade profile.
- Choose the bank: You pick a bank with trade finance and port experience.
- Send a KYC deck: You share licenses, leases, sample contracts, and invoices.
- Explain flows: You describe suppliers, buyers, routes, and currencies.
- Show substance: You present site photos, staff list, and utility bills once active.
- Monitor limits: You review transfer caps and trade lines each quarter.
Some banks need an initial deposit. Some prefer clients with audited statements. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing formats packs that meet bank templates.
Facilities and Real Estate Options Near the Port
Operators choose sites by cargo type, dwell time, and value.
- Office units: Admin and sales teams use small fitted offices.
- Warehouses: Racked or bulk storage with dock access and fire systems.
- Open yards: Steel, pipes, timber, stone, project cargo, and heavy lifts.
- Quay-adjacent plots: Fabrication and repair with crane access and utility pits.
- Build-to-suit land: Large plants that need custom sheds and power.
Your layout should mark fire lanes and muster points. Your HSE plan should define hot-work zones, spill kits, and PPE points.
Cost Drivers You Should Budget
Budget needs depend on space, power, and visas. Costs vary by size and duration.
- Registration and license fees.
- Lease rent for office, warehouse, or yard.
- Establishment card and visa quotas.
- Power connection, transformers, and metering.
- Racking, forklifts, weighbridges, or cranes.
- IT network, cameras, and access control.
- Insurance for property, cargo, and liability.
- Accounting and audit service fees.
A clean cost map protects cash flow in the first year. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing shares an itemized budget with renewal dates.
Customs, Duty, and Cargo Rules You Must Know
Free zones support in-bond cargo flows. Customs controls entries and exits.
- In-zone storage and re-export may avoid duty under set rules.
- Mainland clearance triggers duty and VAT where applicable.
- Temporary admission rules support project cargo and repairs.
- Dangerous goods need special approvals and rated stores.
- Accurate HS codes protect you from fines and delays.
Keep a tidy stock ledger. Reconcile gate passes with inventory each week.
Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Essentials
Safe sites run better and avoid stoppages. An HSE plan should include:
- Risk assessments for lifting, welding, working at height.
- Fire systems, drills, and trained wardens.
- Spill control and waste segregation plans.
- Permit-to-work for hot-work and confined spaces.
- Toolbox talks and incident reporting lines.
Track training dates and equipment inspections. Share near-miss logs with teams.
Common Pitfalls and How To Avoid Them
- Picking the wrong activity code for your scope.
- Underestimating yard size for peak months.
- Missing legalization on parent documents.
- Forgetting gate pass lead times for drivers.
- Weak HS code mapping for key SKUs.
- No calendar for license, lease, and visa renewals.
A ten-line checklist prevents most errors. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing issues that checklist on day one.
Growth Path After Launch
Once volumes stabilize, managers upgrade space or services.
- Add a second warehouse near a different berth.
- Install a weighbridge and value-add packing bay.
- Add a Service License for inspection or minor repair.
- Secure an ISO certification to win tenders.
- Open a small sales office in a second emirate.
Track KPIs by week: TEUs handled, trucks per day, damage rate, and yard turns.
How Corporate Tax and QFZP Rules May Affect You
The federal corporate tax law applies in the UAE. Free zone firms may get a 0% rate on qualifying income if they satisfy QFZP tests and meet substance, audited accounts, and other conditions. Non-qualifying income can be taxed at the standard rate. The rules evolve and need careful review.
Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing reviews income streams, drafts transfer pricing files where needed, and aligns booking practices with current guidance.
What Can Help — Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing
Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing guides your setup from the first inquiry to full operations. The team maps the right legal form, chooses license codes, and prepares documents. The team manages notarization and legalization. The team aligns lease, HSE, and utilities. The team builds bank KYC packs and opens accounts. The team sets accounting systems, tax files, and renewal calendars. With this support, you save time, cut risk, and keep momentum—because a stitch in time saves nine.
For More Information
- Visit our office: Saraya Avenue Building – Office M-06, Block/A, Al Garhoud – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
- Contact / WhatsApp: +971 50 276 2132
