Ras Al Khaimah: property, fees and free zones

The short answer

What does it cost to relocate to Ras Al Khaimah?

The official property transfer fee in Ras Al Khaimah is 4%, there is no personal income tax, and 2 free zones are listed for the emirate. Housing fees, ownership rules and the schools regulator are set out below with their sources.

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

Emirate rules

What applies in Ras Al Khaimah

Each rule below is read from the competent Ras Al Khaimah or federal authority on the date shown.

Property transfer fee: 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: 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: Residence visa applications for Ras Al Khaimah are tracked through the federal ICP.
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Schools regulator: Private education in Ras Al Khaimah is regulated by the Department of Knowledge.
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Courts: Ras Al Khaimah maintains its own local judicial department, RAK Courts.
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Land department: Property registration in Ras Al Khaimah is handled by the Land and Property Sector of RAK Municipality.
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Free zones

Free zones in Ras Al Khaimah

Free zones in Ras Al Khaimah
Free zone	Emirate	Focus	VAT designated zone	Common-law courts
Innovation City	Ras Al Khaimah	Innovation City describes its focus as: technology (ai, web3, gaming, digital health).	No	No
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)	Ras Al Khaimah	Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) describes its focus as: start-ups, smes and industrial businesses across 50+ sectors.	n/a	No

VAT designated zone: listed by the Federal Tax Authority, so certain supplies within or between such zones are treated as outside the UAE for VAT. Common-law courts: DIFC and ADGM run their own courts. Licence and setup fees are set by each zone and are not shown.

Federal rules

Federal rules that apply here too

Tax and residence rules are federal and apply in every emirate.

Personal income tax: The UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals.
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Corporate tax: In 2026 the UAE federal corporate tax rate is 9 per cent on taxable income above AED 375,000.
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Corporate tax threshold: Taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0 per cent and income above it at 9 per cent.
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Qualifying free-zone income: A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0 per cent corporate tax on its qualifying income.
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Qualifying Free Zone Person rules: In 2026 a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other income, provided non-qualifying revenue stays within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million.
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VAT: The UAE standard VAT rate in 2026 is 5 per cent.
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Back to the emirate overview · Methodology and sources

Questions

Living in Ras Al Khaimah: common questions

What is the property transfer fee in 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.

Can foreigners own property in 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.

Which free zones are in Ras Al Khaimah?

We list 2 free zones in Ras Al Khaimah from the official UAE register; the table on this page names each with its focus.

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.

Relocating to Ras Al Khaimah: property, fees, schools and free zones