Key Takeaways
- The 2018 regulations provide for five company types: limited by shares, limited by guarantee, unlimited, restricted purpose and segregated portfolio.
- A registered agent is mandatory under regulation 92 of the Business Companies Regulations 2018, and its charges are added to the registry fees.
- Where enhanced due diligence applies, a further charge is added; ask RAK ICC or your agent for the amount.
- Regulation 40(8) bars UAE activity outside the zone without the appropriate licences; an August 2021 memorandum opened a route through RAK DED subsidiaries.
- Under Article 11(3)(a) of the Corporate Tax Law, UAE-incorporated offshore companies are resident persons and must register for Corporate Tax even where the result is 0%.
A RAK offshore company is registered with RAK ICC and does not hold a UAE trade licence. Regulation 40(8) of the 2018 regulations bars UAE activity outside the zone until the company holds all appropriate licences, so the limits matter as much as the fees. The 2026 fee schedule is below, followed by the bank and Corporate Tax questions to settle before you pay.
What RAK ICC registers
Ras Al Khaimah's offshore registry is the RAK International Corporate Centre. Its 2018 regulations cite Ras Al Khaimah Decree No. 4 of 2016 as the decree establishing it, and it combines the former RAK International Companies and RAK Offshore registries.
The usual RAK ICC company is the international business company (IBC). It is a registry company, not a UAE trade licence holder, so the limits further down decide what it can do. The 2018 regulations provide for five types: limited by shares, limited by guarantee, unlimited, restricted purpose and segregated portfolio.
Fees in the RAK ICC fee schedule for 2026
Registered agents cite these registry fees from a fee schedule effective 1 January 2026, as of October 2026; confirm them with RAK ICC before you pay. The registered agent charges separately.
- IBC incorporation: AED 3,250 for 1 year, AED 6,700 for 2 years and AED 9,600 for 3 years.
- IBC renewal: AED 3,950 for 1 year, AED 7,250 for 2 years and AED 10,650 for 3 years.
- Foundation: AED 1,500 to register, AED 1,500 to renew and AED 750 for the annual foundation licence.
Extras change the total. Where enhanced due diligence applies, a differential price is added, and agents also report charges for extra shareholders or directors and surcharges for late renewal. Ask for the current table before you diarise the date.
Registered agent and what it does
Every company must keep a registered agent at all times (Business Companies Regulations 2018, regulation 92). The agent forms the company and holds its registered office.
Agent packages in the market are marketing prices, not tariffs, and they bundle the registry fee with the agent's own. Ask for a quote that separates the schedule fee, the differential price if it applies, and the agent's yearly charge.
What the company can and cannot do
Limits come from regulation 40 of the 2018 regulations. Regulation 40(5) bars financial services by way of business anywhere in the world. Regulation 40(8) bars activity in the UAE outside the zone until the company holds all appropriate licences, and 40(9) requires licences wherever else it does business.
What does not count as business in the zone is listed in 40(6), among them contact with local advisers, keeping books and records there, and meetings of directors or members. An April 2021 memorandum with RAK Municipality lets RAK ICC entities buy and register property in Ras Al Khaimah.
Activity in Ras Al Khaimah itself goes through a subsidiary. Under an August 2021 memorandum with RAK DED, an IBC can engage in activities in Ras Al Khaimah through subsidiaries licensed there, as set out in the RAK trade licence guide.
Banking, UBO and Corporate Tax position
A bank account is the bank's decision. Neither the regulations nor the fee schedule promise one, and the differential price shows that the registry expects enhanced due diligence on some files. Prepare the ownership chain and the source of funds before you pay for the structure.
Cabinet Decision 109 of 2023 requires legal persons licensed or registered in the UAE to file a beneficial owner register with the registering authority within 60 days. Changes must be updated within 15 days (as of October 2026). Ask your agent whether and where it is filed for your structure.
Article 11(3)(a) of Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022 treats a company incorporated in the UAE as a resident person, so a UAE-incorporated offshore company registers even if the result is 0%. A new company registers within three months of incorporation (FTA Decision 3 of 2024). Late registration costs AED 10,000 (Cabinet Decision 75 of 2023 as amended), as of October 2026. The FTA's English texts are not official translations.
Do not assume that an offshore company needs no tax registration and no beneficial owner register. Before you form the company, a corporate tax consultant can confirm the position for your income.
When a common-law zone or mainland company fits better
Choose another structure if you must invoice UAE customers, because regulation 40(8) bars UAE activity until the company holds the appropriate licences. If you also need premises or visas, ask the registered agent in writing what is possible for your structure. The steps for a licensed company are in how to set up a company in Dubai yourself, and the zone choice is in free zones in the UAE, by emirate.
Common law is the other alternative. ADGM prices an SPV at USD 1,900 to set up and USD 1,400 a year to renew (ADGM 2025 schedule, as of October 2026). A non-exempt SPV appoints a Company Service Provider; see ADGM company setup. The wider comparison is in Company Setup UAE.
Test the bank file and the Corporate Tax position before you pay for any offshore structure. A lawyer can pre-screen both.
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