Hi Tom,

I'm Sagar, and the cost of setting up a Ras Al Khaimah mainland company depends on your business activity, office requirement and the number of visas you need.

For 2026, a new RAK mainland business should generally budget around AED 15,000–AED 40,000 for the first year. The economic licence itself can be much lower, with the base DED fee ranging from approximately AED 400 to AED 10,000, depending on the applicable activity category. However, the licence fee is only one part of the overall setup cost.

RAK Mainland Licence Cost Breakdown

The business activity is one of the biggest factors affecting the licence fee. A professional or service-based business may have a relatively lower licensing cost, while commercial, trading or regulated activities can involve additional requirements.

Don't Forget the Office Cost

For a mainland company, Tom should also factor in the cost of an approved business premises. Depending on the activity and location, this could range from a relatively economical office arrangement to a significantly more expensive commercial property.

If the company requires employees or investor visas, those should also be added to the budget. Additional approvals may apply to specific regulated activities.

So, I would recommend looking beyond the advertised licence price. A better way to estimate your investment is to combine licensing fees + approvals + office + Chamber/service charges + visas.

For a straightforward new business, AED 15,000–AED 40,000 is a reasonable starting range for first-year planning, but your exact quotation will depend on the activity and setup structure.