Compare RAK Maritime City and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park for General Trading & Import/Export setup. Side-by-side comparison of fees, processing times, substance, and bank approval.
RAK Maritime City vs Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park for General Trading & Import/Export: RAK Maritime City starts at AED 10,000 (83% bank approval) and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park at AED 5,510 (85%). On Year-1 cost, Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park 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 5,510 | 5-10 days | Moderate | R&D and innovation, technology transfer, university partnerships |
Maritime services, ship building, port operations in RAK
General trading is one of the most popular free zone activities and allows import, export, and distribution of a wide range of goods. Certain restricted items such as pharmaceuticals, weapons, and food products require additional approvals from relevant UAE federal authorities. The trade license must list the specific commodity groups the business intends to trade.
General trading qualifies for the 0% free zone rate on qualifying income, provided the goods are not sold to the UAE mainland without appropriate customs clearance. VAT at 5% applies to domestic supplies; re-exports from designated zones are zero-rated.
Trading companies should expect thorough KYC checks, especially for cross-border transactions. Letters of credit and trade finance facilities require established banking relationships. Banks will request trade references and may ask for evidence of existing supplier or buyer contracts.
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.
Both zones are evenly matched. Choose RAK Maritime City if: Maritime services, ship building, port operations in RAK. Choose Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park if: R&D and innovation, technology transfer, university partnerships.
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