RAKEZ E-commerce License in 2026: Packages, Amazon Partner Rates, Visa Costs and What RAKEZ Does Not Publish

A RAKEZ e-commerce license is a Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone license for trading goods and services online. As of October 2026, RAKEZ advertises its e-commerce set-up package from AED 6,000. If you plan to sell on Amazon.ae, a cheaper route is open. Amazon's RAKEZ partner page lists a business license at AED 5,499, or AED 13,500 with one UAE residence visa. The license is not the full bill. Visa, immigration file and any office upgrade cost extra. RAKEZ does not publish all of those costs in one place, so get a written quote before you pay.

What does the RAKEZ e-commerce license let you do?

RAKEZ lists e-commerce as its own license type: "trading in goods and services via electronic means". Its examples include e-trading goods, selling event tickets online, and building and running a portal. RAKEZ says it licenses more than 3,000 activities. Before you apply, check the exact wording of your activity in the RAKEZ activity list. Marketplaces and banks read the activity name on your license, not your business plan.

The license type matters for three reasons:

1. Activities from different license types need separate licenses. RAKEZ's general rule is that an activity from a different license type needs its own license, and commercial and service activities cannot sit on the same license. If you also want to offer a service, such as consultancy for other brands, budget for a second license.
2. Adding activities later is possible. If the new activity is the same license type, you apply for a "Change of Activity". If it is a different type, it counts as a new license.
3. Restricted products need approvals. Some activities need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from another authority before RAKEZ will add them. One RAKEZ example is a clinic, which needs Ministry of Health and Prevention approval. If you sell food, cosmetics, supplements or medical devices, ask RAKEZ which approvals your activity needs before you choose a package.

If you have not yet decided between a free zone and the mainland, read what license you need to sell online in the UAE first.

How much does a RAKEZ e-commerce license cost in 2026?

RAKEZ publishes package prices, not a full fee schedule. These are the figures shown on official pages as of 9 October 2026:

There is a naming mismatch on the instant license page. The price boxes say "Basic" and "Lite", but the page's FAQ says "basic" and "all-inclusive". We matched them by price order. Confirm with RAKEZ which name your invoice will use.

The e-commerce page also lists benefits: 50% off an additional media, commercial or service license, two extra activities free (which RAKEZ values at AED 4,000), one UAE residence visa, and lower rates with the payment gateway Telr. That page does not say whether the visa comes with the AED 6,000 starting package or only with a higher tier. Ask for this in writing.

For how RAKEZ compares with other emirates and zones, see UAE e-commerce license cost and the cheapest free zone e-commerce licenses.

What does the Amazon.ae and RAKEZ partnership give you?

Amazon.ae runs a programme only for RAKEZ-based small businesses. On its partner page, Amazon lists webinars, classroom training at RAKEZ premises, free onboarding support from Amazon account managers, and the two preferential license rates above. RAKEZ describes the same deal from its side: dedicated account managers to speed up onboarding, plus training. RAKEZ also lists Tradeling as a partner for B2B wholesale selling.

What the partnership does not do:

• It does not replace Amazon's own seller verification. You still need a valid license, identity documents and a bank account that pass Amazon's checks. See the Amazon.ae seller account requirements.
• It does not cover noon. noon has its own registration checks. See noon seller registration for a UAE company.
• It does not decide your fees. Amazon's referral and fulfilment fees are the same for every seller. See Amazon.ae seller fees.

To get the AED 5,499 or AED 13,500 rate, register through the form on Amazon's partner page instead of going to RAKEZ directly. The page does not say whether the rate also applies when you renew. Ask before you sign.

Do you need the TDRA e-commerce NOC as well?

RAKEZ says every e-commerce license in the UAE needs further approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). According to RAKEZ, you apply online with UAE Pass, attach your trade license and any NOCs for restricted activities, and TDRA reviews the application. RAKEZ also says the NOC usually takes two working days and costs nothing.

RAKEZ lists these conditions by channel:

• Website: you must give a national .ae domain name.
• Social media: you must give the account name and link. If the name changes, you must apply again.
• Mobile app: you must give the app name and link. If it is still in development, give the website, a description and screenshots of the main screens.

We could not open TDRA's own service page for this NOC. The link we tried returned a 404 error in October 2026. The timeline and the zero fee come from RAKEZ, not from TDRA. RAKEZ's page also does not say whether a seller who only sells on Amazon.ae or noon, with no own website or social shop, needs this NOC. Ask RAKEZ or TDRA directly. If you sell through Instagram, read Instagram business license UAE.

Can a RAKEZ company sell to customers across the UAE?

This is the question to settle before you pay. RAKEZ's FAQ says a free zone entity cannot trade in the UAE mainland. It "may trade its products outside the free zone area and within the UAE only through an agent, representative, distributor or its parent company" that holds a relevant license. The same FAQ says a free zone entity cannot carry out retail trading inside the free zone either. It can only display products there for marketing.

How this applies to marketplace selling is not set out on any RAKEZ page we opened. Amazon.ae clearly accepts RAKEZ-licensed sellers, because it runs a programme for them. But Amazon's acceptance is not a legal opinion on mainland trading. Read can a free zone company sell in mainland UAE, and if you plan your own warehouse, shop or B2B deliveries to mainland businesses, get the answer from RAKEZ in writing.

RAKEZ also offers other structures:

• A mainland branch. A free zone company can open mainland branches. RAKEZ's FAQ says this needs a local service agent and a UAE national holding at least 51% of the free zone company's capital. That rule is a bigger change than most sellers expect.
• The RAKEZ Dual License. This combines a free zone license with a free zone company branch license, for businesses that want to work on the mainland as well as in free zones. RAKEZ does not publish a Dual License price on the pages we opened.
• A non-free zone license. RAKEZ issues non-free zone industrial, commercial and professional licenses.

For a side-by-side comparison, see free zone vs mainland for e-commerce.

How do you apply for a RAKEZ license?

RAKEZ describes an online process that issues the license immediately after payment:

1. Prepare documents. You need a valid passport. UAE residents also need a visa or Emirates ID.
2. Pick a package. Choose Basic or the higher package, or go through the Amazon partner form if Amazon.ae is your main channel.
3. Apply online. Enter your details and choose your activities from the RAKEZ list.
4. Pay online. Pay the package price and any extra fees.
5. Receive the license. RAKEZ says the license is issued instantly after a successful submission and payment.

After the license is issued:

6. Apply for the TDRA NOC if your channel needs it (see above).
7. Open a business bank account. See business bank account for UAE e-commerce.
8. Register for tax when you have to. See corporate tax for free zone e-commerce and VAT for free zone sellers.
9. Register on the marketplaces.

The RAKEZ FAQ also says leasing a facility is mandatory to open a company. In the packages above, the coworking membership meets that requirement.

What do visas add to the cost?

The license price does not include the full cost of a visa. If your company will sponsor any visa, it needs an immigration file. RAKEZ's FAQ says every company with an immigration file must register on the E-Channel immigration system. The registration fee is AED 2,200, plus a one-time refundable deposit of AED 5,050. Renewing the E-Channel registration costs AED 1,200 a year.

Desk type also matters. RAKEZ says flexi desks are limited to one visa. If you plan to hire staff on your own visas, a coworking or flexi desk package will not be enough.

A RAKEZ announcement page about an adjustment to the immigration file fee now returns "page not found". So the E-Channel figures above may not be current. RAKEZ also does not publish visa medical, Emirates ID or entry permit fees on the pages we opened. Ask for them in writing.

Worked example (illustrative, year one). Suppose you are a UAE resident on another sponsor's visa and only need a license to sell on Amazon.ae. Through Amazon's partner rate, the license is AED 5,499. Now suppose you need your own residence visa. The partner package is AED 13,500. If RAKEZ confirms that the E-Channel registration is extra, add AED 2,200 plus the AED 5,050 refundable deposit. That gives AED 20,750 paid in year one, of which AED 5,050 comes back when you close the immigration file. Visa medical and Emirates ID fees come on top. RAKEZ shareholders do not have to hold a RAKEZ visa, so if you already have residency, the license-only route avoids most of these costs.

How does RAKEZ license renewal work?

RAKEZ licenses are generally valid for one year from the date of issue. Free zone e-commerce, commercial, service, general trading and individual/professional licenses can be issued and renewed for three years at discounted rates. After the first year, a business may choose a three-year license but does not have to.

RAKEZ publishes renewal document checklists for free zone and non-free zone companies, as well as checklists for activity changes and cancellation. When you renew, you can also pay the immigration file renewal and any late-renewal penalties on it.

What RAKEZ does not publish on the pages we opened:

• the renewal price for an e-commerce license after a promotional first year;
• a grace period after expiry;
• the late-renewal penalty amount for the license itself.

Many sellers search for "rakez license renewal grace period". No RAKEZ page we could open gives a number, so plan to renew before the expiry date. For how renewal works across zones, see trade license renewal for UAE e-commerce.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm your activity, structure and fees with RAKEZ before you pay.

FAQ

How much is the RAKEZ e-commerce license in 2026? As of October 2026, RAKEZ advertises its e-commerce set-up package from AED 6,000. Its instant license page lists Basic at AED 6,000 and Lite at AED 12,000. If you register through Amazon.ae's partner page, the license is AED 5,499, or AED 13,500 with one residence visa. Visa processing, immigration file and some government fees are extra and are not fully published.

Does the RAKEZ e-commerce license include a visa? It depends on the package. The higher instant license package includes one residence visa, and so does Amazon's AED 13,500 partner package. RAKEZ's e-commerce page lists one UAE residence visa as a benefit, but it does not say whether the AED 6,000 starting price includes it. Ask RAKEZ to confirm this on your quote before you pay.

Can I sell on Amazon.ae with a RAKEZ license? Yes. Amazon.ae runs a dedicated programme for RAKEZ-based small businesses. It offers training, onboarding help from Amazon account managers and preferential license rates. You still have to pass Amazon's normal seller verification, with your license, identity documents and bank details in order.

Can I sell on noon with a RAKEZ license? noon does not have a published partnership with RAKEZ like Amazon's. noon checks the license during its own registration. Make sure the activity on your license matches what you sell, and check noon's current document list before you apply.

Can a RAKEZ free zone company deliver to customers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi? RAKEZ's FAQ says a free zone entity cannot trade directly in the UAE mainland. It must go through an agent, distributor or parent company licensed for that activity. Marketplace selling is a separate question that RAKEZ's pages do not address, so ask RAKEZ in writing if your model depends on it.

Do I need an office in Ras Al Khaimah? RAKEZ requires every company to lease a facility. For most e-commerce packages, a coworking membership meets this rule, and RAKEZ says a physical office is not needed for e-commerce. A flexi desk only allows one visa, so you will need a bigger facility if you plan to sponsor staff.

How long is a RAKEZ license valid? Generally one year from the date of issue. After the first year, free zone e-commerce licenses can be renewed for three years at a discounted rate. Choosing three years is optional.

What to do next

Get an itemised RAKEZ quote that covers the license, visa, immigration file, renewal price and the TDRA NOC. Then compare it with the other zones in our licensing guides. Once your license and bank account are ready, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner, can set up and run your Amazon.ae account management and noon store.