Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah: relocation compared

The short answer

What changes between Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah?

Federal tax and residence rules are the same in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Property transfer and housing fees, freehold rules, schools regulators and the free zones differ; the table below sets them side by side.

Evidence: Official source · Machine-readable data · As of 30 October 2026

Side by side

Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah compared

Official fees and rules for Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, side by side.

Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah compared
Metric	Abu Dhabi	Ras Al Khaimah
Property transfer fee	n/a	4%
Housing fee on annual rent	5%	n/a
Free zones	5	2

Emirate rules

Rules in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah

Freehold for foreigners: Abu Dhabi: Non-UAE nationals may own property in Abu Dhabi only within designated investment areas.
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Housing fee on rent: Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi tenants pay a municipality fee of 5 per cent of the higher of rental value or rental index, billed with utilities.
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Residence visa authority: Abu Dhabi: Residence visa applications for Abu Dhabi are tracked through the federal ICP.
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Schools regulator: Abu Dhabi: Private schools in Abu Dhabi are supervised by the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
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Courts: Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi runs its own local courts through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and the ADGM Courts handle civil and commercial matters in ADGM.
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Land department: Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi property registration is handled by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
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Freehold areas: Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi names Yas Island and Saadiyat Island among its nine designated investment areas for expatriate ownership.
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Property transfer fee: Ras Al Khaimah: In Ras Al Khaimah the real estate sale contract fee is 2 per cent of market value for the seller and 2 per cent for the buyer, 4 per cent in total.
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Freehold for foreigners: Ras Al Khaimah: Non-UAE nationals may own property in Ras Al Khaimah freehold areas such as Al Hamra Village, Mina Al Arab and Al Marjan Island.
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Residence visa authority: Ras Al Khaimah: Residence visa applications for Ras Al Khaimah are tracked through the federal ICP.
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Schools regulator: Ras Al Khaimah: Private education in Ras Al Khaimah is regulated by the Department of Knowledge.
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Courts: Ras Al Khaimah: Ras Al Khaimah maintains its own local judicial department, RAK Courts.
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Land department: Ras Al Khaimah: Property registration in Ras Al Khaimah is handled by the Land and Property Sector of RAK Municipality.
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All figures for Abu Dhabi · All figures for Ras Al Khaimah · The full free-zone register

Back to the emirate overview · Methodology and sources

Questions

Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah: common questions

Is tax different in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah?

No. Personal income tax, corporate tax and VAT are federal and the same in every emirate. Fees for property, housing and licences differ.

Can I live in one emirate and work in another?

Yes. Residence, employment and company licensing are separate. Many residents live in one emirate and work or hold a licence in another; your visa follows your sponsor or your Golden Visa, not your address.

Information, not tax, legal or immigration advice. UAE fees and rules change by decision without long notice; confirm the current position with the authority named before you act. Free-zone licence and setup fees are not shown because each zone sets and changes them.

Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah: property, fees and free zones compared

What changes between Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah?

Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah compared

Rules in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah

Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah: common questions

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