Holding / SPV
RAK International Corporate Centre company formation
The cheapest pure holding / offshore structure in the UAE.
At a glance
- Year-1 authority fee (from)
- AED 9,000≈ $2,452
- Residence visas
- None — offshore, no UAE residency from this entity
Estimate. Government fees pass through at cost on your real proposal.
Calculate your all-in cost →Key facts
- Type
- Offshore (international) company registry in Ras Al Khaimah
- Legal basis
- Common-law-based; parties can elect DIFC or ADGM courts for disputes
- Core products
- Company Limited by Shares, Foundation, Segregated Portfolio Company, IP holding co
- Foreign ownership
- 100% · no minimum capital · corporate directors allowed
- Office
- None required — but a registered agent is mandatory
- Residence visas
- None — offshore status issues no UAE visas under any product
- Cost
- Gov ≈ AED 2,500–3,000; all-in with agent from ≈ AED 7,500 (typically AED 8,000–20,000)
- Setup time
- ≈1–4 working days, fully remote
RAK ICC (RAK International Corporate Centre) is the UAE's main offshore company registry. It exists for pure structuring — holding shares, IP, or assets — at the lowest possible cost. No visas, no physical office, no substance requirement, set up remotely in days.
Because it issues no visas and grants no UAE residency, RAK ICC is never the whole answer. It's a building block: a cheap holding vehicle that sits above an operating company, or a clean way to ring-fence a specific asset. If you need to live in the UAE or trade locally, you pair it with a free-zone or mainland company.
Used for the right job — low-cost holding where residency isn't needed — RAK ICC is excellent and has 40,000+ incorporations behind it. Used as a standalone 'UAE company' expecting visas and local operations, it disappoints, because that was never its purpose.
What RAK ICC actually is
RAK ICC is an offshore registry — the modern successor to RAK's older offshore regimes — with 40,000+ incorporations across 160+ nationalities. It has no court of its own; instead, parties can elect the DIFC or ADGM courts for disputes, which gives it credible common-law dispute resolution without the cost of a financial-centre setup.
It files no financial statements with the registry and requires no office. That minimalism is exactly why it's cheap — and exactly why it can't do the things an onshore company does.
What you can build with it
- Company Limited by Shares — the standard offshore holding company.
- Foundation — an orphan entity for wealth and succession (2025 framework; minimum capital USD 100).
- Segregated Portfolio Company — ring-fence multiple asset pools inside one entity.
- IP holding company — hold trademarks/patents that operating companies licence from you.
- Transfer of domicile — re-domicile an existing offshore company in or out.
The pairing pattern
RAK ICC works as a layer, not a standalone. It typically holds the shares of a UAE free-zone or mainland operating company, or holds a specific asset such as property or IP. A 2025 framework even lets a RAK ICC offshore company obtain a RAKEZ free-zone licence, bridging offshore holding and onshore operations under one group.
If your goal is residency or local trade, the operating company underneath does that work; RAK ICC just sits on top, cleanly and cheaply.
Best for
- Low-cost holding of shares, IP, or assets
- A structuring layer above an operating company
- International asset protection + re-domiciliation
- Founders who don't need a UAE visa from this particular entity
Not ideal for
- Anyone who needs a UAE residence visa (RAK ICC issues none)
- Operating a business or trading inside the UAE (it's offshore-only)
- Regulated financial activity, or anyone needing a credible 'operating in Dubai' address
What to watch out for
No visas, ever
Offshore status means no UAE residency or work visas under any RAK ICC product. Clients who want residency must layer a free-zone or mainland company on top.
The registered agent is the real recurring cost
You can't self-file — a RAK ICC registered agent is compulsory. 'From AED 7,500' rarely includes everything (bank intro, certified copies, courier), so confirm what's bundled.
Banking is harder for offshore entities
UAE banks scrutinise offshore companies more heavily. Budget extra time and possibly a substance story. Don't assume an account opens on day one.
Tax isn't automatically zero
An offshore company with no UAE permanent establishment or UAE-source income is generally outside corporate tax — but UAE-source income or a PE can pull it in. Get it assessed rather than assuming 0%.
RAK International Corporate Centre — FAQ
Does RAK ICC give me a UAE residence visa?
No. RAK ICC is offshore-only — it issues no visas and requires no physical presence. If you need UAE residency, pair it with a free-zone or mainland company, or choose a free zone instead.
What is RAK ICC actually for?
Pure, low-cost structuring: holding shares, IP, or assets, often as a layer above an operating company, plus asset protection and re-domiciliation. It's a building block in a structure, not a standalone operating company.
How much does a RAK ICC company cost?
Government incorporation is roughly AED 2,500–3,000, with annual renewal around AED 2,000–3,750. All-in with the mandatory registered agent, a Company Limited by Shares starts from around AED 7,500, typically landing in the AED 8,000–20,000 range depending on package and banking support.
Can a RAK ICC company own UAE property?
It can hold approved UAE real estate in designated areas, and it's commonly used to hold shares in UAE operating companies. The exact freehold areas and approvals depend on the emirate — we confirm eligibility for your specific asset.
Is RAK ICC the same as a free zone?
No. A free zone issues licences, visas, and lets you operate; RAK ICC is offshore — no visas, no local trade, no office. They solve different problems, and are often used together: the free-zone company operates, the RAK ICC company holds.
Is RAK International Corporate Centre right for you?
Run the 5-min diagnostic and we’ll confirm the fit + email the realistic all-in cost in one business day. Not sure between jurisdictions? That’s exactly what the call is for.