Zero SEO competition. Proven jurisdiction. RAK International Corporate Centre offers the most cost-effective offshore company structure in the UAE — used by family offices, fund structures, holding companies and SPVs worldwide.
RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) is the offshore jurisdiction of choice within the UAE framework — FATF-compliant, internationally recognised, and operating under English common law principles. Unlike mainland or free zone companies, RAK ICC companies are not required to have a physical office or local employees.
RAK ICC is used extensively for international holding structures, asset protection vehicles, investment holding, fund structures, family wealth consolidation, and SPV arrangements. Formation costs are significantly lower than DIFC or ADGM equivalents, making RAK ICC the first choice for structures where regulatory licensing is not required.
Marensa Advisory has formed hundreds of RAK ICC entities and advises clients on structure design, share capital, beneficial ownership compliance, and AML obligations — ensuring your offshore company is built correctly from day one.
Start Your RAK ICC FormationHNWI and family office clients use RAK ICC IBCs to hold investments, real estate, and operating company equity across multiple jurisdictions — with clear beneficial ownership documentation and annual secretarial compliance.
RAK ICC is used as the fund vehicle or GP entity in structures where the fund manager is licensed separately (Mauritius FSC, ADGM, or DFSA). The RAK ICC entity sits above the portfolio without requiring its own financial services licence.
RAK ICC IBCs are frequently used as JV SPVs, with parties holding shares proportional to their economic interest. English common law governance, low cost, and speed of formation make this a preferred structure for cross-border JVs.
RAK ICC Foundations are increasingly used as the succession vehicle of choice in the UAE — providing a legal structure for asset transfer across generations without the cultural complexity of UK-law trusts or the cost of DIFC Wills.
Operating companies assign intellectual property to a RAK ICC holding entity, which then licenses IP back to operating subsidiaries. Widely used in tech, media, and franchise structures for IP ownership consolidation.
RAK ICC IBCs are used by crypto projects, token issuers, and digital asset businesses as the offshore entity, sitting alongside a separately licensed VASP entity — providing structural flexibility without regulatory conflict.
RAK ICC IBCs are offshore entities and cannot conduct business directly within the UAE mainland or free zones without a separate UAE trade licence. They can hold shares in UAE entities, hold real estate outside the UAE, and conduct business internationally.
RAK ICC entities are generally subject to UAE Corporate Tax introduced in 2023. However, qualifying offshore structures holding investments may benefit from participation exemptions or other reliefs. We advise on UAE CT exposure as part of the structure review — this is an area where early advice is critical.
RAK ICC is significantly cheaper and faster for pure holding/offshore structures where no financial services licence is required. DIFC and ADGM offer regulated financial services licences, established courts, and stronger counterparty recognition for financial services firms — but at significantly higher cost. The right choice depends on your regulatory needs and client profile.
RAK ICC companies must maintain an annual registered agent, file annual returns, maintain a register of beneficial owners (compliant with UAE AML requirements), and pay annual renewal fees. There are no mandatory audited financial statements for IBCs without a financial services licence, which significantly reduces ongoing compliance cost.
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