Free Zone Comparison
RAKEZ vs SAIF Zone
RAKEZ at AED 6,000 costs less than half of SAIF Zone's AED 13,100. But SAIF Zone sits at Sharjah Airport with direct air freight access — a genuine advantage if you're a trader who ships product. If you don't need that logistics link, RAKEZ is hard to beat.
RAKEZ
RAK
AED 6,000
Year 1 from
CheaperSAIF Zone
Sharjah
AED 13,100
Year 1 from
Quick Verdict
- ● Choose RAKEZ if cost is your priority — AED 7,100 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose SAIF Zone if you need more visas — up to 8
- ● 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 undercuts SAIF Zone's AED 13,100 by more than half. With one visa, the gap holds: RAKEZ's all-inclusive package is AED 14,320; SAIF Zone's is AED 18,670. Over three years, RAKEZ saves roughly AED 13,050 on the 1-visa setup before accounting for SAIF Zone's mandatory audit costs.
SAIF Zone fights back with logistics infrastructure. Located adjacent to Sharjah International Airport, it offers warehouses from AED 48,000/year and 1-hour license issuance — among the fastest in the UAE. RAKEZ processes licenses in 24 hours through its Biz Starter, but lacks airport adjacency. SAIF Zone lists six banking partners; RAKEZ lists six as well. Both require annual audits. SAIF Zone offers dual licensing through Sharjah's framework; RAKEZ offers its own dual license for mainland RAK operations. For traders who ship air cargo through Sharjah, SAIF Zone's logistics access justifies the premium. For everyone else, RAKEZ delivers more flexibility at less than half the price.
RAKEZ vs SAIF Zone at a Glance
| Metric | RAKEZ | SAIF Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | RAK | Sharjah |
| Year 1 From | AED 6,000 🏆 | AED 13,100 |
| Renewal From | AED 6,000 🏆 | AED 13,350 |
| Rating | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Max Visas | 4 | 8 🏆 |
| Processing Time | 5 days 🏆 | 10 days |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2017 | 1995 |
| Companies | 40,000+ | 8,000+ |
Year 1 From
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
SAIF Zone
AED 13,100
Renewal From
RAKEZ
AED 6,000
SAIF Zone
AED 13,350
Rating
RAKEZ
4.4/5
SAIF Zone
4.1/5
Max Visas
RAKEZ
4
SAIF Zone
8
Processing
RAKEZ
5 days
SAIF Zone
10 days
Banking
RAKEZ
Moderate
SAIF Zone
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
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
SAIF Zone Packages
Sharjah · 4 packages
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — No Visa
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,100
Year 1
Renewal: AED 13,350/yr
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — 1 Visa
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 18,670
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,550/yr
SAIF Office (Flexi Desk) — 3 Visas
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 29,810
Year 1
Renewal: AED 16,950/yr
SAIF Suite (Private Office) — 8 Visas
Up to 8 visas · Private Office
AED 75,510
Year 1
Renewal: AED 22,950/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | RAKEZ | SAIF Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Required |
| Dual License | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audit Required | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose RAKEZ if you...
- ✓ Want startups
- ✓ Want smes
- ✓ Want manufacturing
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want consultancies
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 7,100 less)
Choose SAIF Zone if you...
- ✓ Want import/export traders
- ✓ Want logistics & freight
- ✓ Want light manufacturing & assembly
- ✓ Want warehousing
- ✓ Want smes
Pros & Cons
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
SAIF Zone
Pros
- ✓ Low entry pricing: standard SAIF Office package widely quoted at AED 10,800/year with flexi-desk and 3-visa eligibility
- ✓ Ultra-fast licensing: SAIF markets license issuance within 1 hour once documents and payments are finalized
- ✓ Clear facility-to-visa logic: SAIF Office (3 visas), Executive Office (5), Suite (8)
- ✓ Strategic logistics location adjacent to Sharjah International Airport and close to major ports
Cons
- ✗ Official pricing not consistently published on SAIF website — often obtained via quote or consultant
- ✗ Visa/immigration costs add up quickly: ~AED 4,370 per visa plus ~AED 1,200 insurance per person
- ✗ Activity list not openly published — availability must be checked with SAIF/agent
- ✗ Mainland UAE sales require a distributor/agent or mainland branch structure
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, RAKEZ or SAIF Zone?
RAKEZ is cheaper by AED 7,100 in Year 1. RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000 while SAIF Zone starts from AED 13,100. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between RAKEZ and SAIF Zone?
RAKEZ is based in RAK and is best for Startups, SMEs, Manufacturing. SAIF Zone is based in Sharjah and is best for Import/Export Traders, Logistics & Freight, Light Manufacturing & Assembly. RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000 while SAIF Zone starts from AED 13,100.
Which has easier banking, RAKEZ or SAIF Zone?
Both RAKEZ and SAIF Zone 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 RAKEZ vs SAIF Zone?
RAKEZ supports up to 4 visas, while SAIF Zone supports up to 8 visas. SAIF Zone offers more visa capacity.
Is RAKEZ or SAIF Zone better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose RAKEZ if you want startups focus and lower costs. Choose SAIF Zone if you need import/export traders support and a Sharjah address. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.