Free Zone Comparison
HFZA vs RAKEZ
RAKEZ at AED 6,000 costs half of Hamriyah's AED 12,000. But Hamriyah gives you Sharjah's deep-water port and 25+ years of heavy-industry infrastructure. If you need industrial warehousing and port access, Hamriyah earns the difference. For general trading and services, RAKEZ is the better deal.
HFZA
Sharjah
AED 12,000
Year 1 from
RAKEZ
RAK
AED 6,000
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
- ● Choose RAKEZ if cost is your priority — AED 6,000 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose HFZA if you need more visas — up to 50
- ● Choose RAKEZ for overall quality — rated 4.4/5
- ● Choose RAKEZ for faster setup — 5 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
RAKEZ at AED 6,000 is half of Hamriyah's AED 12,000 for a zero-visa license. Add one visa: RAKEZ totals AED 14,320; Hamriyah totals AED 15,785. The gap narrows but RAKEZ stays cheaper. RAKEZ also processes visas in 5 business days versus Hamriyah's 10, and doesn't require a physical office for its base package.
Hamriyah's value is industrial infrastructure. Its deep-water port, 6,500-company ecosystem, and specialised zones for food processing, oil and gas, and maritime operations serve manufacturers that RAKEZ's lighter-touch facilities cannot match. Hamriyah scales to 50 visas on industrial land and warehouse leases. RAKEZ caps at 4 on standard packages. Both require annual audits. Both are located in the northern emirates — Hamriyah in Sharjah (30 minutes from Dubai), RAKEZ in RAK (60+ minutes). Hamriyah offers dual licensing through Sharjah's mainland framework; RAKEZ offers its own dual license for mainland RAK operations. For heavy industry and port-linked operations, Hamriyah is the clear pick. For general trading and services, RAKEZ delivers at half the cost.
HFZA vs RAKEZ at a Glance
| Metric | HFZA | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Sharjah | RAK |
| Year 1 From | AED 12,000 | AED 6,000 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 12,000 | AED 6,000 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 4.0/5 | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 50 🏆 | 4 |
| Processing Time | 10 days | 5 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 1995 | 2017 |
| Companies | 6,500+ | 40,000+ |
Year 1 From
HFZA
AED 12,000
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
Renewal From
HFZA
AED 12,000
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
Rating
HFZA
4.0/5
RAKEZ
4.4/5
Max Visas
HFZA
50
RAKEZ
4
Processing
HFZA
10 days
RAKEZ
5 days
Banking
HFZA
Moderate
RAKEZ
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
HFZA Packages
Sharjah · 4 packages
Business Center Package 1 (Zero-Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 12,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,000/yr
Business Center Package 1 (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 15,785
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,000/yr
4-Visa Office Package (2 Visas Processed)
Up to 2 visas · Private Office
AED 23,870
Year 1
Renewal: AED 16,300/yr
General Trading 7-Visa Package
Up to 7 visas · Private Office
AED 58,995
Year 1
Renewal: AED 32,500/yr
RAKEZ Packages
RAK · 4 packages
Biz Starter Package (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 6,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 6,000/yr
SME Business Set-Up (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 14,320
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,320/yr
SME Business Set-Up (2 Visas)
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 18,640
Year 1
Renewal: AED 18,640/yr
SME Business Set-Up (4 Visas)
Up to 4 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 27,280
Year 1
Renewal: AED 27,280/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HFZA | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Audit Required | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose HFZA if you...
- ✓ Want manufacturing
- ✓ Want industrial & heavy industry
- ✓ Want logistics
- ✓ Want warehousing
- ✓ Want import/export trading
Choose RAKEZ if you...
- ✓ Want startups
- ✓ Want smes
- ✓ Want manufacturing
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want consultancies
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 6,000 less)
Pros & Cons
HFZA
Pros
- ✓ Entry package from AED 11,000/year with 1-visa provision — competitive for industrial zones
- ✓ Scalable visa tiers: e-office packages from AED 20,000–35,000/year with up to 7 visas
- ✓ Industrial facilities: warehouses from AED 85,000–150,000 with office space included
- ✓ Industrial land plots starting from 2,500 sq m for manufacturing and assembly
Cons
- ✗ Published package prices exclude visa-related costs and P.O. box (~AED 1,000/year) — budget accordingly
- ✗ Package pricing can differ across brokers; always confirm directly with HFZA
- ✗ Sharjah location lacks the prestige of a Dubai address for client-facing businesses
- ✗ Industrial/regulated sectors may require additional approvals and inspections
RAKEZ
Pros
- ✓ Lowest entry point in the UAE — Biz Starter promotion at AED 6,000 with 24-hour setup
- ✓ All-inclusive SME bundle at AED 14,000 includes trade license + 1 UAE residence visa, with same renewal price guaranteed
- ✓ Predictable visa add-ons: up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each
- ✓ Massive activity catalog: 3,000+ activities across 50+ sectors
Cons
- ✗ Mandatory annual audit for all companies — ongoing cost even for small firms
- ✗ Minimum share capital of AED 10,000 for FZ-LLC; higher for regulated activities
- ✗ AED 6,000 Biz Starter may be restricted to UAE-based entrepreneurs
- ✗ Bank accounts still subject to standard due diligence despite partner facilitation
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, HFZA or RAKEZ?
RAKEZ is cheaper by AED 6,000 in Year 1. RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000 while HFZA starts from AED 12,000. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between HFZA and RAKEZ?
HFZA is based in Sharjah and is best for Manufacturing, Industrial & Heavy Industry, Logistics. RAKEZ is based in RAK and is best for Startups, SMEs, Manufacturing. HFZA starts from AED 12,000 while RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000.
Which has easier banking, HFZA or RAKEZ?
Both HFZA and RAKEZ are rated "Moderate" for banking difficulty, meaning there is no significant difference in how easily you can open a corporate bank account.
How many visas can I get with HFZA vs RAKEZ?
HFZA supports up to 50 visas, while RAKEZ supports up to 4 visas. HFZA offers more visa capacity.
Is HFZA or RAKEZ better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose HFZA if you want manufacturing focus and a Sharjah address. Choose RAKEZ if you need startups support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.