RAKEZ Activity List: Business Activities & Licence Types Explained
Choosing the correct business activity is one of the first decisions when setting up in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. This guide explains how the RAKEZ activity list works, what the main licence categories mean and what to check before submitting an application.
The RAKEZ activity list is the official catalogue used to identify the activity a business intends to carry out, the relevant activity code, the associated licence type and whether that activity is listed for free-zone or non-free-zone operations.
This matters because a broad description such as “consulting”, “online trading” or “manufacturing” is not always precise enough for a licence application. The actual registered activity should reflect what the company will do in practice.
RAKEZ provides a searchable official licence activity list where applicants can review individual activities and their classifications.
What is the RAKEZ activity list?
It is RAKEZ's catalogue of permitted business activities. Each entry identifies an activity by name and code and connects it with a licence type, activity group, description and zone. You can use it to narrow down the activity that most accurately describes your proposed business before choosing the corresponding licence.
Business activity vs licence type
These terms are related, but they are not interchangeable.
Your business activity describes the specific work, service, trade or manufacturing operation the company performs. Your licence type is the broader licensing category under which that activity sits.
Business activity
The precise activity recorded on the licence, identified in the RAKEZ database by an activity name and code.
Licence type
The wider licensing classification, such as commercial, e-commerce, service or industrial.
What the RAKEZ activity list tells you
The official searchable list provides more than an activity name. These fields help you understand how each activity is classified.
Shows whether the listed activity sits within a free-zone or non-free-zone classification.
The identifier attached to the specific registered business activity.
The formal description used to identify the activity in the licensing system.
The broader licence category under which the activity is classified.
A wider grouping that helps organise related forms of business activity.
Explains the scope of the activity more precisely than the activity name alone.
Main RAKEZ free-zone licence types
RAKEZ groups activities under several licence categories. The right category depends on what the company will actually do rather than simply the industry name you use to describe the business.
| Licence type | Typically covers | Useful starting point for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading in goods or services. | Businesses buying, selling or distributing products. |
| E-commerce | Trading goods or services electronically. | Online stores and electronically delivered commercial activity. |
| General Trading | Trading across multiple goods. | Businesses dealing with a broader range of product categories. |
| Service | Service and consultancy activities. | Consultancies and service-led businesses. |
| Individual / Professional | A single owner carrying out a specialised activity or expertise. | Eligible specialist professional activities. |
| Industrial | Manufacturing and related import, packaging or export operations. | Production, processing, assembly and manufacturing businesses. |
| Media | Media-related business activities. | Eligible media and creative-sector operations. |
| Educational | Education-related institutions and consultancy activity. | Eligible training, education and educational consultancy businesses. |
You can also review First Elite Global's UAE business licence guide for a broader explanation of licensing outside the RAKEZ-specific activity list.
How to choose the right RAKEZ business activity
Start from the actual transaction or service the company will perform. A company that calls itself a “technology business”, for example, could be providing consultancy, selling software, trading hardware, operating an online platform or performing several different functions.
Describe what the company will actually do
Write a plain-English description of what customers will pay the company for.
Search the official activity database
Search using the service, product or industry term rather than relying only on your proposed company name.
Read the full activity description
Two similarly named activities can have different scopes. Check the description, activity group, licence type and zone.
Check whether additional activities are required
If the business has more than one revenue stream, determine whether the proposed activity genuinely covers all of them.
Confirm the selection before filing
Business activity classifications and requirements can change. Confirm the current activity and licensing route before submitting the formation application.
Can one RAKEZ company have multiple business activities?
Potentially. RAKEZ's published guidance indicates that several activities that are similar in nature may be permitted under one licence in appropriate cases.
Where activities are unrelated, a separate licence may be required. RAKEZ also states that a company can apply for separate free-zone licences under one company name where the relevant licensing conditions are met.
The practical point is to avoid assuming that one broad activity automatically covers every product or service you plan to offer. Identify all planned revenue-generating operations before finalising the licence.
Industrial activities need more than a generic manufacturing label
The RAKEZ activity database contains specific industrial activities rather than one universal manufacturing activity. Examples in the live database span manufacturing, processing and production operations across different industries.
For an industrial project, the activity decision should therefore be made alongside the operational requirements of the business, including the nature of production and the type of facility the company expects to use.
Always inspect the individual activity entry rather than selecting “industrial” solely because physical goods are involved.
Already know which activity you want to register?
Review the RAK free-zone formation process, company structure and application route before moving from activity research to company setup.
Common mistakes when selecting a RAKEZ activity
Activity selection is easier when you work from the business model rather than from the licence name. These are some of the issues worth checking before filing.
Choosing a category instead of an exact activity
“Commercial” or “service” describes a licence category, not necessarily the specific activity that should appear on the licence.
Ignoring the activity description
A familiar-looking activity name may have a narrower scope than expected. Read the corresponding description.
Forgetting future revenue streams
If additional products or services are already part of the plan, consider them before finalising the original activity selection.
Assuming similar names mean the same thing
Related activities can have different codes, groups or licence classifications.
Not checking the zone field
Use the activity database to confirm whether the entry you are reviewing corresponds to the intended free-zone setup.
Relying on an old activity list
Check the live RAKEZ database before applying so you are working from the current classification.
RAKEZ activity selection checklist
Before moving to the company-formation stage, you should be able to answer each of the following.
- I can describe exactly what the business will sell or provide.
- I have found the closest matching activity in the official RAKEZ database.
- I have read the full activity description rather than only its name.
- I have checked the activity code, licence type, activity group and zone.
- I have identified every material product or service the company plans to offer.
- I have checked whether several planned activities are related or substantially different.
- I will confirm the current classification before the application is submitted.
RAKEZ activity list FAQs
Where can I find the official RAKEZ activity list?
RAKEZ publishes a searchable licence activity list on its official website. It lets you review activity names, codes, licence types, activity groups, descriptions and the corresponding zone classification.
Are all RAKEZ activities available for free-zone companies?
Do not assume that every entry applies to the same structure. The official activity database includes a zone field, so check the individual entry against the free-zone structure you intend to establish.
Can I put more than one activity on a RAKEZ licence?
RAKEZ states that several activities that are similar in nature may be permitted under one licence in appropriate cases. Unrelated activities can require separate licences, so the proposed combination should be checked before applying.
How do I know which RAKEZ licence type I need?
Start with the exact business activity. The corresponding entry in the activity list identifies its licence classification. The right licence should reflect the work the company will actually undertake.
Is a freelancer permit the same as a RAKEZ company licence?
No. RAKEZ lists a freelancer permit separately within its wider licensing options for eligible professions. It should not automatically be treated as equivalent to forming a free-zone company.
Can RAKEZ activity codes change?
Activity catalogues and classifications can be updated. Use the live RAKEZ database and confirm the applicable activity details before submitting a new licence application.
Choose the activity before building the licence around it
The safest way to use the RAKEZ activity list is to begin with what the company will actually do, find the closest official activity, read its complete description and then check the corresponding licence type and zone.
If you have moved beyond research and are preparing to establish the company, see RAK Free Zone Company Formation for the next stage of the setup process.
