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The Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry placed capital investments in the emirate at Dh771.5 million for the first six months of 2026, generated through 967 new establishments. The chamber’s figures show 1,399 new investors arrived from 68 nationalities during the period. These inflows are expected to create around 2,449 jobs, according to the chamber’s assessment released via the Emirates News Agency.
In addition the chamber reported that authorities issued or renewed 9,963 commercial licences across the emirate in the same timeframe. A total of 138 new entities joined Ras Al Khaimah’s free zones while 70 branches of existing businesses opened. The chamber said in a statement that the activity underscores the appeal of the northern emirate’s regulatory framework and infrastructure offerings.
The director-general of the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Rashid Khalfan Al Nuaimi, tied the performance to the emirate’s ongoing economic diversification efforts. The chamber had previously recorded a 14.5 per cent surge in licensed capital during the first half of 2025, according to a GCC Business Watch compilation of official data. That earlier growth also included a 6 per cent rise in active business licences, setting the base for the latest expansion.
Ras Al Khaimah’s free zones and industrial parks have drawn particular interest from international investors seeking alternatives to larger hubs. The chamber noted that the latest investor cohort reflects broad geographic diversity, spanning multiple continents. Such inflows align with the emirate’s long-term strategy to broaden its industrial and services base beyond traditional sectors.
Broader UAE investment trends provide context for the RAK performance, with the Dubai Land Department recording Dh252 billion in real estate transactions during the first quarter of 2026 alone. That Dubai activity included a 31 per cent year-on-year increase in overall transaction value, according to department figures. Ras Al Khaimah’s business licence growth complements these national patterns by targeting small and medium-sized enterprises alongside larger projects.
The chamber’s latest release highlighted continued momentum into the second half of the year, with existing industrial areas such as Al Ghail seeing additional uptake. Comparable data from neighbouring emirates, including Sharjah’s Dh18.5 billion in real estate during the first quarter according to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, illustrate regional demand for both property and commercial licences. Ras Al Khaimah authorities continue to promote investment advantages through international roadshows and partnerships.
