Holding & asset protection · no visas

Offshore company formation in the UAE

A UAE offshore company is a clean, tax-neutral vehicle for holding assets, owning intellectual property and invoicing internationally. It won't trade onshore or give you a visa — and if that's what you need, we'll say so. Where it fits, Kinzaad sets it up from AED 8,000, with the renewal cost told to you up front.

What is offshore?

An offshore company, in plain English

A UAE offshore company is registered with a dedicated authority — RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman — as an International Business Company. It's a legal holding structure, not a trading licence. You own it 100%, it pays no UAE corporate or personal income tax, and its ownership details stay confidential.

Think of it as a container. It holds things and moves money internationally, but it doesn't open a shop, hire staff in Dubai or put anyone on a residence visa. That's a deliberate design, and it's what keeps offshore cheap and simple.

When an offshore company fits

Offshore is the right tool if you want to:

  • Hold shares or assets — act as a parent or holding company over other businesses.
  • Own intellectual property — keep trademarks, patents and royalties in a clean, neutral entity.
  • Invoice international clients — bill and receive from customers outside the UAE.
  • Own permitted property — hold approved UAE real estate or overseas assets under one structure.
  • Protect and separate assets — ring-fence wealth with confidentiality and 100% ownership.

When offshore is the WRONG choice

We'd rather lose the sale than set you up wrong. Offshore does not work if you need to:

  • Get a UAE residence visa — offshore grants none. You'd need a free zone or mainland company for that.
  • Sell to the UAE market — no onshore trading, no local shopfront, no local contracts.
  • Lease a UAE office or hire locally — offshore can't do either.

A common, honest fix. Many clients pair an offshore holding company with a free zone or mainland company — offshore holds the assets and IP, the onshore entity does the trading and carries the visas. If that's you, we'll structure both cleanly.

What's included in a Kinzaad offshore setup

  • Registry selection — RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman — matched to your purpose
  • Name reservation and incorporation documents
  • Registered agent and registered office
  • Memorandum & Articles of Association drafting
  • Share structure and, where needed, nominee arrangements
  • Bank account introduction and application support

The process, step by step

1

Free consultation

We confirm what the company is really for and check that offshore — not free zone or mainland — is genuinely the right structure.

2

Fixed-fee proposal

An itemised quote — our fee and registry fees shown separately, plus the annual renewal cost. No surprises later.

3

Incorporation

Name reservation, MOA/AOA, registered agent and office, and incorporation with your chosen registry.

4

Bank account

We prepare the file and introduce you to a bank that works with offshore structures, then support the application.

Which registry?

RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman

Three UAE registries, each with a slightly different strength. We match you to the one that fits your purpose and budget.

🏔️

RAK ICC

The most popular UAE offshore registry — flexible, cost-effective and widely accepted for holding, IP and international trade.

🏝️

JAFZA Offshore

Dubai-based and the only offshore registry able to directly hold approved Dubai freehold property — strong for real estate holding.

Ajman Offshore

A budget-friendly option for straightforward holding and invoicing structures where cost is the priority.

Offshore vs the rest

How offshore compares

The honest short version — the full breakdown is in our comparison guide.

 OffshoreFree ZoneMainland
Trade in the UAE marketNoVia distributor / branchDirectly, anywhere
Residence visasNoneYes, capped by packageYes, scalable
100% foreign ownershipYesYesYes (most activities)
Typical starting costFrom AED 8,000From AED 12,500From AED 15,000
Best forHolding, IP, invoicingGlobal trade, consulting, startupsLocal shops, services, contracts
Answers

Offshore setup — common questions

What is a UAE offshore company used for?
An offshore company is a tax-neutral holding vehicle, not a trading licence. It's used to hold assets and shares, own intellectual property, own permitted UAE and overseas property, and invoice international clients. It can't trade inside the UAE market and it doesn't grant residence visas.
How much does an offshore company cost in the UAE?
A UAE offshore company starts from around AED 8,000 depending on the registry — RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman — and whether you need a registered agent, nominee or extra services. You get a fixed, itemised quote before you commit, with the annual renewal cost shown up front.
Can an offshore company get me a UAE residence visa?
No — an offshore company grants no residence visas. If you need a visa, you need a free zone or mainland company. We'll often pair an offshore holding company with an onshore one so you get both the structure and the visa.
Can an offshore company trade inside the UAE?
No. An offshore company can't do business with the local UAE market or lease commercial premises onshore — it's built for holding and international activity. To sell to UAE customers, you need a mainland or free zone company.
How long does it take to set up an offshore company?
Most UAE offshore incorporations are complete within a few working days once your documents and due diligence are in order. Opening a bank account is separate and typically takes longer, depending on the bank and the structure.

Set up your UAE offshore company

Book a free consultation. We'll confirm offshore is genuinely the right structure — or point you to the one that is — then hand you a fixed-fee quote the same day, renewal cost included.

✆ CallFree Quote