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⚡ Quick answer
To liquidate a RAKEZ company: apply for deregistration on the RAKEZ portal, give the reason for cancellation, cancel all residence visas under the licence (confirming each holder is inside or outside the UAE), submit the Shareholders' Resolution to deregister, pay RAKEZ fees (licence cancellation ~AED 3,000; investor visa ~AED 685; employee visa ~AED 385), and cancel the licence. Then — separately — deregister for VAT within 20 business days and Corporate Tax within 3 months on EmaraTax. Cancelling the licence does not close your tax file. Fastlane handles the full RAKEZ liquidation for AED 500 (plus CT deregistration AED 399 + VAT).
RAKEZ is one of the UAE's most cost-effective free zones, which makes it popular — and means a lot of owners eventually need to close one, whether because they're winding down, relocating, or starting fresh elsewhere. The good news: RAKEZ has a structured deregistration process through its portal. The catch: there are several moving parts, and the tax side sits with the FTA, not RAKEZ — so it's easy to "close" the company and still be accruing penalties weeks later.
Here's exactly what's involved, what it costs, and the deadlines that matter.
The process
Step by step: closing a RAKEZ company
- 1 · Initiate deregistration on the RAKEZ portal The request is raised through the RAKEZ portal. You'll move through stages: initiate, reasons for cancellation, corporate tax & PO Box cancellation, visa details, document upload, confirm and submit.
- 2 · State the reason for cancellation RAKEZ asks why you're closing — for example, closing down the business, relocating, or starting elsewhere. This is also recorded in your shareholders' resolution.
- 3 · Cancel the residence visas Every visa held under the licence must be cancelled. For each holder you'll confirm whether they're inside or outside the UAE — if outside, it's processed as an outside-country cancellation and you must provide their UAE exit date — and supply a coloured passport copy and visa copy.
- 4 · Provide the Shareholders' Resolution to deregister A resolution signed by the shareholders, declaring the intention to deregister the entity and requesting RAKEZ to process it, in RAKEZ's format. (Template below.)
- 5 · Settle RAKEZ fees & cancel the licence Pay the visa cancellation and licence cancellation fees; RAKEZ processes the cancellation and issues confirmation.
- 6 · Deregister for VAT and Corporate Tax on EmaraTax Separately from RAKEZ — VAT within 20 business days of cessation, Corporate Tax within 3 months. (See deadlines below.)
The paperwork
What you'll need
| For… | Documents / details |
|---|---|
| The company | RAKEZ portal access; reason for cancellation; Shareholders' Resolution to deregister |
| Each visa holder | Coloured passport copy; visa copy; inside/outside-UAE status; UAE exit date (if outside) |
| Tax side | EmaraTax access; final VAT return; final CT return; trade licence cancellation proof |
📄 The shareholders' resolution — what it says
It's short: the undersigned shareholders of the company (named, with the RAKEZ licence number) declare their intention to deregister the company — stating the reason, e.g. "closing down the business" — and request RAKEZ to initiate and process the deregistration, followed by shareholder names and signatures. RAKEZ provides the format; we prepare it for you.
The cost
RAKEZ liquidation fees (indicative)
| Item | Indicative fee |
|---|---|
| RAKEZ licence cancellation | AED 3,000 |
| Investor / partner visa cancellation (each) | AED 685 |
| Other employee visa cancellation (each) | AED 385 |
| Corporate Tax deregistration (Fastlane) | AED 399 + VAT |
| Fastlane RAKEZ liquidation handling | AED 500 |
RAKEZ fees are indicative and set by RAKEZ; confirm current amounts for your licence. Fastlane's AED 500 covers coordinating and managing the liquidation.
Don't get fined
The two tax deadlines RAKEZ doesn't handle
This is where clean closures go wrong. Cancelling your RAKEZ licence does not close your FTA tax registrations — those are separate applications on EmaraTax, each with its own clock:
| Tax | Deadline | Late penalty |
|---|---|---|
| VAT | Within 20 business days of ceasing taxable supplies | AED 1,000/month, capped AED 10,000 |
| Corporate Tax | Within 3 months (90 days) of cessation / liquidation | AED 1,000/month, capped AED 10,000 |
If you don't deregister, the FTA still treats the entity as active — filing obligations continue and monthly penalties accrue on a company that no longer trades. A final return is required before deregistration is approved.
⚠️ Watch the RAKEZ timing penalties too
RAKEZ's own terms add time pressure: a deregistration that isn't completed within the licence's validity period can attract a daily penalty (around AED 50/day), and an un-closed immigration file can cost roughly AED 1,200 for the first month plus about AED 100 each month after. Third-party items (DED licence, PO Box, memberships, FTA clearances) must also be cancelled — RAKEZ won't cover fines from leaving those open. The lesson: start early and close everything in order.
~AED 3,000
RAKEZ licence cancellation
685 / 385
Investor / employee visa
20d / 90d
VAT / CT dereg deadlines
AED 500
Fastlane handles it
✅ The right order, in one line
Resolution & portal request → cancel visas → settle RAKEZ fees & cancel licence → cancel third-party items (PO Box etc.) → deregister VAT (20 business days) → deregister Corporate Tax (3 months). Do it in sequence and nothing gets left accruing penalties.
Let Fastlane handle your RAKEZ liquidation
AED 500
We coordinate the whole RAKEZ closure — portal deregistration, shareholders' resolution, visa cancellations and the sequence — and handle your Corporate Tax deregistration (AED 399 + VAT) and VAT deregistration so nothing keeps accruing penalties after you've closed.
Related services
90-day deadline
Corporate Tax Deregistration
We file your CT deregistration and final return on EmaraTax within 3 months of cessation. From AED 399.
Learn more →
20-day deadline
VAT Deregistration
We handle your VAT deregistration and final return within the 20-business-day window. From AED 499.
Learn more →
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I close a RAKEZ company?
Apply for deregistration on the RAKEZ portal, give the reason for cancellation, cancel all residence visas, submit the Shareholders' Resolution to deregister, settle RAKEZ fees and cancel the licence — then deregister for VAT (20 business days) and Corporate Tax (3 months) on EmaraTax.
What does RAKEZ liquidation cost?
Indicatively: licence cancellation ~AED 3,000, investor/partner visa ~AED 685 each, employee visa ~AED 385 each. CT deregistration is AED 399 + VAT. Fastlane coordinates the full liquidation for AED 500. Confirm current RAKEZ fees for your case.
What if my visa holders are outside the UAE?
Their visa is cancelled as an outside-country cancellation, and you'll need to provide each holder's UAE exit date, plus a coloured passport copy and visa copy.
Is cancelling the RAKEZ licence enough to close my tax?
No. VAT and Corporate Tax deregistration are separate FTA processes on EmaraTax. VAT is due within 20 business days of cessation; Corporate Tax within 3 months. Miss them and AED 1,000/month penalties accrue (capped AED 10,000), even though the licence is cancelled.
How long does RAKEZ deregistration take?
It varies with visa cancellations, document readiness and third-party clearances. Starting early matters, because RAKEZ applies timing penalties (e.g. a daily charge if deregistration isn't completed within the licence validity, and immigration-file fines after licence expiry).
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or licensing advice. RAKEZ fees, procedures and timelines are set by RAKEZ and can change; tax deadlines and penalties are set by the FTA. Figures are indicative — confirm the current position for your company. For RAKEZ liquidation support, contact Fastlane Consultancy.