Compare RAK Maritime City and UAQ Free Trade Zone for General Trading & Import/Export setup. Side-by-side comparison of fees, processing times, substance, and bank approval.
RAK Maritime City vs UAQ Free Trade Zone for General Trading & Import/Export: RAK Maritime City starts at AED 10,000 (83% bank approval) and UAQ Free Trade Zone at AED 5,500 (82%). On Year-1 cost, UAQ Free Trade 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 5,500 | 1-3 days | Moderate | Low-cost free zone in UAE with minimal setup requirements |
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.
UAQ Free Trade Zone wins on 3 of 4 dimensions. We recommend UAQ Free Trade Zone for cost-conscious founders and RAK Maritime City if maritime services, ship building, port operations in rak.
Was comparing SHAMS and SPC Free Zone side by side. The comparison showed which one had stronger banking options — a critical factor for my nationality.
Needed processing times and visa costs across all UAE free zones in one view. Clear, objective, and fast — exactly what a time-sensitive setup requires.
Used the calculator to compare Meydan with five other zones — the Year 1 cost breakdown and banking scores made the choice clear in under 5 minutes.
Get a personalized setup quotation with real fees, banking odds, and timeline for your activity.
Email yourself a link to this comparison so you can come back to it later.
Adjust visa quotas and demographics to calculate the complete setup costing model.
Get your personalized feasibility dossier — real fees, banking odds, and timeline for your activity and nationality. Free, no obligations.