HIGHLIGHTS
- RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore and Ajman Offshore are the UAE's three offshore jurisdictions, each with its own regulation and fee schedule.
- Government incorporation fees in 2026 range from AED 3,250 (RAK ICC) to AED 10,000 (JAFZA); Ajman starts at AED 4,000 plus a refundable AED 1,000 deposit.
- JAFZA Offshore permits trading only; RAK ICC allows a broader range including consulting and IP holding.
- RAK ICC and JAFZA Offshore both offer an established route to directly own Dubai freehold property through the Dubai Land Department.
- Corporate tax registration is mandatory across all three jurisdictions, even where the company owes 0% in practice.
- Opening a corporate bank account for an offshore entity typically takes 4–10 weeks, regardless of jurisdiction.
What Is an Offshore Company in the UAE?
A UAE offshore company is an International Business Company (IBC) incorporated in RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman Offshore to operate outside the UAE. Founders usually aim to hold assets, trade internationally, or own Dubai property without an onshore presence. The company receives a Certificate of Incorporation, not a trade license: it cannot trade with UAE-resident customers or suppliers, cannot lease operating premises, and does not sponsor residence visas — the key difference from a UAE free zone company, which can trade onshore, lease office space and apply for visas.
Offshore structures also suit holding a single asset or deal in isolation from the rest of a group, and structuring how assets pass to heirs. The IBC can still open a corporate bank account in the UAE and invoice clients and suppliers outside the country.
How Much Does an Offshore Company Cost?
Government incorporation fees range from AED 3,250 to AED 10,000 in 2026, depending on the jurisdiction. Renewal fees follow the same split, and Ajman Offshore adds a refundable deposit on top.
The three offshore registries
Government fees per jurisdiction. Expand each for officers, property access and timeline.
RAK ICC
government fee AED 3,250
RAK ICC
The broadest activity scope — trading, holding, IP, consulting, e-commerce outside the UAE — with single-director setup and remote incorporation. Our default recommendation for most offshore clients.
- Renewal AED 3,950
- 1 director minimum
- Dubai property via DLD MoU + NOC
- Incorporation in 7–10 working days
Government fees only. Registered-agent fee quoted separately.
RAK ICC in detail JAFZA Offshore
government fee AED 10,000
JAFZA Offshore
The prestige registry under the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority — trading activity only, with the established route to hold Dubai freehold property via a DLD NOC.
- Renewal AED 2,500
- 1 director + 1 secretary
- Dubai property via DLD NOC
- Incorporation in 4–8 weeks (in-person signing)
Government fees only. Registered-agent fee quoted separately.
JAFZA Offshore in detail Ajman Offshore
government fee AED 4,000
Ajman Offshore
The low-cost entry for simple holding and asset-protection structures — broad activity scope but no established Dubai property route and the weakest banking acceptance.
- + AED 1,000 refundable deposit
- Renewal AED 2,000
- 1–3 directors/shareholders
- Incorporation in 7–10 working days
Government fees only. Registered-agent fee quoted separately.
Ajman Offshore in detailHow Does Offshore Company Formation Work in Dubai?
Formation routes through one of three registries: JAFZA Offshore, registered directly under the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority in Dubai; or RAK ICC and Ajman Offshore, registered in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman. All three require a registered agent, whose address becomes the company's registered address. Since most agents are based in Dubai, a company incorporated in Ras Al Khaimah or Ajman often still gets a Dubai registered address — but the registry and regulator remain RAK ICC or Ajman.
Registry ≠ registered address. The agent's location only affects the address, not which authority the company is incorporated under. JAFZA Offshore and RAK ICC can both hold Dubai freehold property directly — RAK ICC since 2019, via a DLD MoU + NOC. Ajman Offshore has no established DLD route, so a founder set on Dubai property should pick JAFZA or RAK ICC by registry.
Which UAE Offshore Jurisdiction Should You Choose?
The decision comes down to three questions:
- Dubai freehold property in a corporate name? That points to JAFZA Offshore (AED 10,000) — the established DLD route — or RAK ICC.
- Consulting or services activity, not just trading? That rules out JAFZA and points to RAK ICC (AED 3,250).
- Optimizing purely for cost on a simple holding structure? Ajman (AED 4,000) works, if you accept the weakest banking acceptance.
How Do RAK ICC, JAFZA and Ajman Offshore Differ?
RAK ICC permits the broadest activity scope at the lowest fee; JAFZA restricts activity to trading only but holds the established Dubai property route; Ajman is the cheapest to renew but has no DLD route. Banking timelines are identical — 4–10 weeks — across all three.
| Parameter | RAK ICC | JAFZA Offshore | Ajman Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation fee | AED 3,250 | AED 10,000 | AED 4,000 + 1,000 deposit |
| Renewal fee | AED 3,950 | AED 2,500 | AED 2,000 |
| Minimum officers | 1 director | 1 director + 1 secretary | 1–3 directors/shareholders |
| Permitted activity | Trading, holding, IP, consulting, e-commerce outside the UAE | Trading only | Holding, investment, general trading, consulting, IP outside the UAE |
| Dubai property | Yes — DLD MoU + NOC | Yes — DLD NOC | No established route |
| Bank account | 4–10 weeks | 4–10 weeks | 4–10 weeks |
In our practice, RAK ICC is the default choice for most offshore clients. JAFZA Offshore fits a narrower case — Dubai property ownership — and its trading-only restriction rules it out for consulting and services businesses.
Do You Need a UAE Bank Account for an Offshore Company?
A corporate account in the offshore entity's name is not mandatory for incorporation, but most founders need one to actually use the structure. Account opening typically takes 4–10 weeks after incorporation, independent of jurisdiction, and banks apply enhanced due diligence to offshore structures — source-of-funds documentation and a clear business rationale matter more than the choice of registry. Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAKBANK and ADCB are commonly cited as more open to this profile. For the full process, requirements and common rejection reasons, see opening a corporate bank account for a UAE offshore company.
Bottom Line
RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore and Ajman Offshore all deliver a UAE offshore structure with no visa by default, no mainland trade, and no guaranteed banking. The choice comes down to permitted activity, Dubai property access and banking acceptance. RAK ICC fits the broadest range of activities; JAFZA Offshore is the established route to Dubai freehold ownership; Ajman Offshore looks a low-cost entry but carries the weakest banking track record. Corporate tax registration is mandatory for all three, even at zero liability. If you need onshore trading or visas instead, start from our guide to business setup in Dubai.
Reviewed by
Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
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Published July 6, 2026 · Updated July 6, 2026 · How this article was made →