Offshore companies are permitted to open a bank account in the UAE, however, they cannot issue work visas or have a physical office within the country. Offshore licenses are typically used as holding companies and are mainly incorporated for operations in foreign countries with financial, legal and tax benefit purposes.
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Given below are the key features of an offshore company in the UAE:
A minimum of one shareholder is required and corporate shareholders are permitted. International corporate shareholders are required to have company documents attested.
A minimum of one director is required and corporate directors are permitted. Details of directors are not available on the public register.
Every company must have a secretary. A company director may also act as a company secretary.
No minimum share capital is required.
Every company must keep accounting records for 7 years from the date of inception. The accounts do not however have to be filed with the RAK authorities.
No. An offshore company cannot sponsor or issue UAE residence visas, for you or for staff. Offshore entities are non-operational within the UAE - they can't employ people locally or hold a physical office here.
If you want UAE residency, you'll need a free zone or mainland company instead. A common approach is to pair the two: use the offshore company as a holding vehicle over an operating company that sponsors your visa. We can structure both together.
Yes. Both RAK ICC and JAFZA offshore companies can open UAE corporate bank accounts, and can hold multiple accounts in different currencies. This is one of the main reasons investors use a UAE offshore structure.
Approval is subject to the bank's compliance checks, and offshore accounts face thorough due diligence, so a well-prepared application matters. Our banking specialists match you to the right bank and prepare your file to clear compliance.
Both offer 100% foreign ownership, strong privacy, and UAE banking access, but they suit different goals:
RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah): the most popular and cost-effective route. Faster setup, a single-director option, and ideal for international trading, IP holding, and asset-protection structures.
JAFZA (Jebel Ali, Dubai): Dubai-based and more prestigious, with the longest track record for directly owning Dubai freehold property and established banking relationships. Higher cost.
In short: RAK ICC for cost-efficient international structuring, JAFZA where Dubai property or maximum credibility matters. We'll match the jurisdiction to your objective.
Yes - in designated freehold areas, with Dubai Land Department approval. Owning property through an offshore company is a popular way to separate personal assets, simplify succession, and add a layer of privacy.
JAFZA has long been the established route for directly holding Dubai freehold property, while RAK ICC has traditionally covered Ras Al Khaimah property, with pathways to Dubai property evolving recently. Because eligibility depends on the property and current DLD rules, it's best to confirm before you incorporate, we can run that check for you.
No. Offshore company formation is handled through a licensed registered agent, and can usually be completed remotely without travelling to the UAE. Where in-person signing isn't possible, a notarised power of attorney lets your agent act on your behalf.
This makes offshore one of the most accessible UAE structures for international founders. Decisive Zone acts as your registered agent and manages the full process end to end.
No. An offshore company is designed for business conducted outside the UAE. It cannot trade directly with customers in the UAE mainland or free zones, hold a physical office, or hire staff locally.
What it can do:
Conduct international trade and invoice overseas clients
Hold shares in UAE mainland and free zone companies
Own property in designated areas and hold IP or investments
If you need to operate within the UAE market, a mainland or free zone company is the right structure — often held beneath an offshore parent.
Ongoing costs are low, since there's no office or visa spend. Annual maintenance is mainly licence renewal plus registered agent fees, typically around AED 4,500 to AED 9,500 depending on the jurisdiction and agent.
RAK ICC generally sits at the lower end, JAFZA higher given its Dubai positioning. We can give you a clear, itemised quote for your chosen jurisdiction so there are no surprises at renewal.
No. Shareholder and director details are not placed on a public register, which is a core privacy advantage of the UAE offshore structure.
That said, this isn't secrecy: you must disclose your ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) to the authorities and your registered agent, in line with current UAE regulations and international standards. The information simply isn't publicly searchable.
Yes. this is one of its most common uses. An offshore company works well as a holding vehicle or special purpose vehicle (SPV) to consolidate ownership and ring-fence assets. Typical structures include:
Holding shares in your UAE and international operating companies
Owning intellectual property and licensing it to your businesses
Holding property, investments, or other assets for succession planning
This separates long-term ownership from day-to-day operating risk. We can design the holding structure around your wider group.
Generally, no. UAE offshore companies aren't required to file audited accounts publicly, and RAK ICC has no mandatory audit, though you must keep proper accounting records for several years (RAK ICC requires seven).
One important update: since the introduction of UAE Corporate Tax, offshore companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority even where their effective rate is 0%. Offshore income with no UAE source is generally outside scope, but UAE-sourced income can be taxable. We handle registration and keep your records compliant.
This is a general overview, not tax or legal advice. Confirm your position with a qualified advisor.
