RAK ICC Offshore Company Registration

RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) is one of the two active offshore company registries in the UAE, alongside JAFZA Offshore. Dawn Consultancy is a registered agent for RAK ICC and incorporates offshore companies used for holding shares, real estate, intellectual property and investments, and for international trading structures. This page covers registration; for ongoing costs and the step-by-step process see our RAK offshore setup and cost guide.

What a RAK ICC offshore company is for

• Holding shares in UAE mainland or free zone operating companies
• Holding UAE real estate, subject to the property being in an area approved for offshore ownership
• Holding intellectual property, investment portfolios or bank accounts outside the UAE
• International trading and consultancy structures with no requirement for a physical UAE presence

A RAK ICC company cannot obtain UAE residence visas, cannot lease office space in the UAE, and cannot trade directly with UAE residents. It is not a substitute for a free zone or mainland licence if you need to operate a business inside the UAE.

Key features

• 100% foreign ownership, one shareholder and one director minimum
• No minimum share capital requirement
• No UAE Corporate Tax registration is required for an offshore company with no UAE-sourced income and no place of effective management in the UAE; each case should be reviewed individually
• Confidential shareholding: the register of shareholders is held by the registered agent, not published
• Registered agent and registered office required at all times, provided by Dawn Consultancy
• Annual renewal of the registered agent and registered office, and maintenance of accounting records

Registration process

1. Name check and reservation with RAK ICC
2. Preparation of the incorporation application, memorandum and articles of association
3. Shareholder and director due diligence: passport copies, proof of address, bank or professional reference
4. Signing of the incorporation documents, in person or remotely with attested signatures
5. Submission to RAK ICC through the registered agent and payment of registry fees
6. Certificate of incorporation issued, typically within 2 to 3 working days of a complete file
7. Corporate bank account opening support, where required

Documents required

• Passport copy of each shareholder and director
• Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement, less than 3 months old)
• Bank reference letter or professional reference letter
• For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, register of directors and shareholders, and a board resolution authorising the investment, attested for use in the UAE
• Description of intended activity and the source of funds

Frequently asked questions

Can a RAK ICC company open a bank account in the UAE?
Yes, subject to the bank’s own due diligence. Banks apply enhanced scrutiny to offshore companies, so a clear business rationale and complete documentation speed up approval.

Can I use a RAK ICC company to get a UAE residence visa?
No. RAK ICC offshore companies do not carry visa eligibility. A free zone or mainland licence is required for visas.

Does a RAK ICC company need to be audited?
RAK ICC requires accounting records to be kept and made available on request; a full statutory audit is not generally required for a pure holding structure, but should be confirmed against your specific activity and any Corporate Tax position.

Can a RAK ICC company hold shares in a mainland UAE company?
Yes, this is one of its most common uses, for shareholders who want to hold their UAE business interests through a separate holding entity.

Other free zones we serve

Get started

Email info@dawnconsultancy.com, call +971 55 441 1036, or request a call back. Related: RAK offshore cost and process, offshore company formation overview.