Compare RAK Maritime City and Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone for Logistics & Supply Chain setup. Side-by-side comparison of fees, processing times, substance, and bank approval.
RAK Maritime City vs Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone for Logistics & Supply Chain: RAK Maritime City starts at AED 10,000 (83% bank approval) and Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone at AED 4,999 (88%). On Year-1 cost, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone is the lower-priced option.
| Jurisdiction | Baseline Gov Fee | Processing Speed | Banking | Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 10,000 | 2-4 days | Moderate | Maritime services, ship building, port operations in RAK | |
| AED 4,999 | 1-2 days | Moderate | Fastest setup time and lowest entry cost for freelancers and startups |
Maritime services, ship building, port operations in RAK
Logistics licenses cover freight forwarding, warehousing, and supply chain management. Many free zones with port or airport proximity (JAFZA, DAFZA, AFZ) offer integrated logistics licensing with customs-bonded warehouse access. A separate transport permit from the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure may be needed for fleet operations.
Logistics qualifies as a qualifying free zone activity. International freight and transport services are zero-rated for VAT purposes. Domestic transport and warehousing services within the UAE attract the standard 5% VAT.
Logistics companies benefit from trade finance products including letters of credit and bills of collection. Banks will want to see contracts with shipping lines or airlines and evidence of an established logistics network. High transaction volumes may require dedicated relationship management.
Feb 2026: APT Global announced AED 50M investment for 700K sqft fabrication facility
2025: Launch of Saqr 2.0 port expansion supporting heavy cargo operations
2019: RAK Ports integrated Maritime City under RAK Government
Company setup in RAK Maritime City starts from AED 10,000 per year.
RAK Maritime City processes company registrations in 2-4 working days.
Bank account approval probability is 83%. Banking difficulty is rated Moderate.
Most UAE free zones including RAK Maritime City allow remote company incorporation. Bank account opening may require an in-person visit.
RAK Maritime City does not require paid-up share capital for most standard license types. Share capital is notional.
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone wins on 4 of 4 dimensions. We recommend Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone for cost-conscious founders and RAK Maritime City if maritime services, ship building, port operations in rak.
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