RAKEZ – Doing Business in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

Date Posted:Thu, 19th Feb 2026

RAKEZ – Doing Business in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

Looking to expand or relocate to the UAE? Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) provides a cost-efficient, scalable, and strategically located platform for international businesses seeking market entry into the region. Our team offers clear guidance on company formation structures, licensing pathways, facility solutions, and regulatory considerations to ensure a smooth and compliant establishment process. Through a fully integrated, one-stop service model, RAKEZ supports investors across visas, banking assistance, VAT registration, compliance, and operational setup, enabling businesses to focus on growth from day one.

 

Holly Garforth, Head of Business Development at RAKEZ, was pleased to join the Business Landscape panel discussion at the recent British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCD) “Doing Business in Dubai and Northern Emirates” London event on 4 February 2026. The session focused on providing UK companies with clarity around market entry, operational structuring, and building long-term scalability from the UAE as a regional and global hub.

During the discussion, Holly outlined three principal routes for British businesses entering the UAE:

  1. Free Zone establishment, offering 100% foreign ownership, streamlined licensing, and flexible facility options tailored to sector requirements.
  2. Mainland (non-free zone) formation, suitable for businesses targeting the wider UAE domestic market.
  3. Industrial and commercial set-ups, designed for manufacturing, trading, logistics, and export-oriented operations operating from Ras Al Khaimah’s strategically connected hubs.

With over 40,000 companies from more than 100 countries, including more than 3,600 UK-owned or UK-shareholder businesses; RAKEZ continues to strengthen UK–UAE business connectivity. Backed by Ras Al Khaimah’s diversified economy, strong credit ratings, expanding tourism and manufacturing sectors, and access to five seaports and an international airport, RAKEZ offers a stable and future-focused base for international expansion.

For further guidance, we invite you to explore RAKEZ’s business setup solutions and investment offerings.

More information about RAKEZ can be found on our website.

If you would like to speak with a member of our team, please feel free to get in touch directly:

Aminta Beatrice Zettel

Strategic Country Manager – Europe and the United Kingdom

E-mail: [email protected] 

Phone Number: +971 56 6332191