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.
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
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Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
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Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
