Quick Answer
Innovation City Free Zone Authority (Ras Al Khaimah, UAE) offers four annual licence packages: Idea (AED 6,600, 0 visas), Seed (AED 13,200, 1 visa, solo founder only), Startup (AED 15,400, up to 4 visas, most popular), and Growth (AED 22,550, up to 4 visas, dedicated desk). The right package depends on how many shareholders you have, how many UAE visas you need, and whether your activity falls on the standard or premium list.
Innovation City is Ras Al Khaimah’s dedicated free zone for technology, Web3, digital assets, AI, gaming and healthtech companies. It offers four annual licence packages: Idea, Seed, Startup and Growth. Each package is priced differently and comes with a different visa allocation, shareholder structure and workspace configuration. Choosing the wrong one adds unnecessary cost or leaves you short on visa capacity, so getting it right from the start means your company structure fits your actual operational needs from day one.
This guide explains each package in detail, compares them side by side, and walks through a decision framework for choosing the right one based on your specific situation.
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Get a Free Package MatchThe Four Packages at a Glance
All four Innovation City packages include access to the Innovation City Hub workspace, the event space, the content creator studio, unlimited refreshments at the Hub, and access to the full Innovation City partner ecosystem, including banking, legal, currency exchange, liquidity, and technology partners.
The differences lie in price, visa allocation, shareholder structure, and desk type.
| Package | Annual Price (AED) | Visas Included | Visa Cap | Shareholders | Activities | Desk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idea | 6,600 | 0 | 0 | Multiple | 10 | Shared |
| Seed | 13,200 | 1 | 1 | 1 only | 1 (premium) | Shared |
| Startup | 15,400 | 1 | 4 | Multiple | 10 | Shared |
| Growth | 22,550 | 1 | 4 | Multiple | 10 | Dedicated |
IMPORTANT
The visa figure listed is the number of visas included in the base package price. Additional visas beyond the included quota can be purchased at an extra fee per visa, up to each package’s stated cap.
Idea Package: AED 6,600/year, No Visa, Multiple Shareholders
The Idea package is the most affordable entry point into Innovation City Free Zone Authority. At AED 6,600 per year, it is one of the lowest-cost free zone incorporation options in the UAE for a multi-shareholder technology company.
Key features:
- Zero visas included; no UAE residence visa can be obtained through this package
- Multiple shareholders permitted, with no stated cap
- Up to 10 standard or custom activities on the licence
- Shared desk access at Innovation City Hub
Best for:
- Holding companies and management entities that don’t need UAE residency through this vehicle
- Founders who already hold UAE residency through another entity and need a second company without a new visa
- International businesses setting up a UAE presence for contractual or commercial purposes, without immediate residency needs
- Joint ventures or multi-partner structures where no shareholder needs UAE residency through this entity
Not right for you if: any shareholder or director needs a UAE residence visa through this entity. In that case, choose Seed, Startup or Growth instead.
Seed Package: AED 13,200/year, the Solo Founder Option
The Seed package is Innovation City’s single-shareholder package. It’s the only one of the four restricted to one shareholder, designed specifically for an individual setting up a company for their own operations.
Key features:
- One visa included, capped at one total; no additional visas can be purchased
- Restricted to a single shareholder; adding a second requires upgrading the package
- One custom or premium activity, selected from over 200 technology and innovation-related options
- Shared desk access at Innovation City Hub
Best for:
- Solo founders who need a UAE residence visa and a specific premium activity
- Proprietary traders setting up a single-person digital asset trading entity
- Individual consultants, advisors or technology operators who don’t need partners or employees on this entity
The premium activity access is the main reason to choose Seed over Idea for a solo founder. Activities such as proprietary trading in digital assets and certain blockchain and Web3 operations fall into the custom/premium category that only Seed covers at the entry tier.
EXPERT TIP
Standard vs. premium activities: Innovation City maintains a standard activity list covering most common technology and digital asset operations, and a separate premium/custom list for more specialised or higher-value activities. Seed grants one selection from the premium list. Startup and Growth cover 10 standard or custom activities, spanning both lists.
Startup Package: AED 15,400/year, the Most Popular Choice
The Startup package is the most commonly used package among IncHub clients incorporating in Innovation City. It balances multiple shareholders, solid visa capacity, a full activity list and a competitive price point.
Key features:
- One visa included in the base price, with up to three additional visas purchasable, for four total
- Multiple shareholders allowed, with no stated cap
- Ten standard or custom activities, covering most technology, blockchain, Web3 and digital asset operations
- Shared desk access at Innovation City Hub, including the event space and content creator studio
Best for:
- Founding teams of two or more who all need UAE residence visas
- Multi-shareholder companies where at least one shareholder needs UAE residency
- Technology, blockchain or Web3 companies needing a comprehensive activity list rather than a single activity
- Founders expecting to hire one or two UAE-based team members within the first year
At AED 15,400 per year for multiple shareholders and up to four visas, Startup offers strong value for small founding teams. The main difference between Startup and Growth is the desk configuration, not the activity list or visa capacity.
Growth Package: AED 22,550/year, Dedicated Workspace
The Growth package matches Startup on shareholder structure, visa capacity and activity list. The upgrade is workspace: a dedicated desk at Innovation City Hub instead of a shared one.
Key features:
- One visa included, up to four total
- Multiple shareholders allowed
- Ten standard or custom activities
- Dedicated desk at Innovation City Hub for consistent, fixed workspace use
Best for:
- Teams that work regularly from the Hub and need a consistent workstation
- Founders using the Hub as their primary UAE base
- Companies hosting clients or partners at the Hub who need a permanent professional setup
- Businesses growing their RAK-based team and establishing a physical presence before moving to a private office
The price difference between Startup and Growth is AED 7,150 per year, the cost of upgrading from a shared to a dedicated desk. Occasional Hub users get better value from Startup; teams based there regularly get better value from Growth.
Additional Visa Costs
Each package includes a stated number of visas in the base price, with additional visas purchasable up to the package cap. These cover the same immigration process: entry permit, medical examination, Emirates ID and residence visa stamping.
Visa processing fees, separate from the free zone licence fee, run approximately AED 3,500 to 5,000 per visa. An establishment card, required for visa processing, costs approximately AED 1,500 to 2,000. IncHub confirms exact, current costs at the time of your application, as government fees are subject to change.
How to Choose the Right Package
- Need zero UAE visas from this entity? Idea, AED 6,600
- Solo founder needing one visa and a premium activity, such as proprietary trading? Seed, AED 13,200
- Two or more shareholders, need up to four visas? Startup, AED 15,400
- Two or more shareholders, need up to four visas and a dedicated desk? Growth, AED 22,550
If you’re uncertain which package fits, IncHub maps your shareholder structure, visa requirements and activity list to the most appropriate package before any application is submitted.
