RAK debuts business packages for women entrepreneurs

One-year and three-year options starting from Dh6,200 include a free zone licence and a shared workstation in the emirate’s economic zone

Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah. Ras Al Khamah Economic Zone has begun offering business set-up packages for women starting from Dh6,200. Courtesy of RAK Media Office

The Ras al Khaimah Economic Zone is offering one-year and three-year business packages dedicated to women entrepreneurs for the first time.

The BusinessWomen packages start from Dh6,200 and include a free zone licence, a shared workstation, eligibility for a UAE residency visa and various support services, such as business cards and priority at Rakez service centres. The three-year package comes with the additional benefit of one free investor visa, which normally costs Dh3,950.

“We are very proud to launch the Rakez BusinessWomen Package, which is a clear testament to our commitment of encouraging more women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams,” said Ramy Jallad, group chief executive of Rakez.

Rakez is a free zone and non-free zone hub for more than 14,500 companies, from freelancers and start-ups to SMEs and manufacturers, in over 50 industries. It is one of the region's largest economic zones, created through the consolidation of the RAK Free Trade Zone and RAK Investment Authority (Rakia) in 2017.

Women applying for the new package can choose from eight free zone licence types: commercial, educational, e-commerce, general trading, individual/professional, media, service and freelancer permit.

In the past, the zone has conducted events exclusively for women, such as networking sessions. “We have used these events as platforms to get to know what challenges they are facing and what can we do to support them,” Mr Jallad said, adding that the BusinessWomen package is one result of this, but that there were more initiatives to follow.

In March, Rakez began offering start-up business plans for final year students and new graduates, starting at Dh650 a month (or Dh7,800 per year). The package includes a business licence, a shared workstation and a residency visa. It is valid for five licence types, but excludes general trading, individual/professional and freelancer licences.