UAE Offshore Company: RAK ICC vs JAFZA Offshore Comparison 2026
UAE offers two international offshore company jurisdictions: RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre) and JAFZA Offshore (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority). Both allow 100% foreign ownership, confidential ownership, and 0% UAE corporate tax, but they differ in structure, cost, and specific use cases. This guide compares them for 2026.
RAK ICC Offshore Overview
- Jurisdiction: Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
- Established: 2006 (replacing RAK Offshore)
- Share capital: no minimum
- Nominee services: available from registered agents
- Privacy: shareholder register not publicly searchable
- Cost: AED 8,500–12,000/year (including registered agent)
- Bearer shares: not permitted (abolished across UAE)
JAFZA Offshore Overview
- Jurisdiction: Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE
- Established: 2003
- Share capital: no minimum
- Key advantage: can own Dubai freehold property (unique among UAE offshore jurisdictions)
- Nominee services: limited; less common than RAK ICC
- Cost: AED 12,000–18,000/year
RAK ICC vs JAFZA: Key Differences
- Dubai property ownership: JAFZA Offshore can hold Dubai freehold property; RAK ICC cannot hold Dubai property (can hold RAK property)
- Cost: RAK ICC is typically AED 3,000–6,000/year cheaper
- Setup speed: RAK ICC is faster (3–5 days vs JAFZA 7–14 days)
- Agent network: RAK ICC has a larger international agent network
- Resident director: JAFZA requires at least one UAE-resident director; RAK ICC does not
Which UAE Offshore to Choose?
- Choose JAFZA Offshore if: you need to hold Dubai freehold real estate; you want a Dubai address for the offshore company; you have existing JAFZA relationships
- Choose RAK ICC if: you are using the offshore for international holding/IP/investment (not Dubai property); you want lowest cost; you want fastest setup; you have international clients who are familiar with RAK ICC
UAE Offshore Companies and UAE CT 2026
UAE offshore companies (RAK ICC, JAFZA) are subject to UAE Corporate Tax since June 2023. However, pure holding companies with passive income (dividends, capital gains from qualifying participations) may benefit from the participation exemption (0% CT on dividends and capital gains from qualifying shares). Offshore companies with active trading income: 9% CT applies above AED 375,000. Get specialist UAE CT advice for offshore holding structures post-2023.
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAFZA | FZCo registration and service licence components | AED 40,000-55,000 planning range (licence component priced separately; mandatory physical facility lease AED 25,000-40,000 + establishment card AED 1,975 + 1 visa AED 3,518 + medical/Emirates ID) Confidence: Verified official price |
AED 5,000 annual service licence renewal component before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price |
AED 20,000 3-year registration plus service licence components before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price |
Visa access depends on the selected facility; immigration fees are separate | A workstation, office, warehouse, showroom or other qualifying facility is required and priced separately | Verified official price | Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components | No material public conflict recorded | July 2026 |
| What is included | The current official guide lists AED 5,000 one-time FZCo registration and AED 5,000 annual service licence fees. The three-year component total is the registration fee plus three published annual licence periods. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Workstation, office, warehouse or other facility, security deposit, establishment card, visas, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, customs, activity approvals and advisory support. |
| Hidden-cost risk | AED 10,000 is not a complete JAFZA setup invoice. Facility choice and annual related charges materially change Year 1, renewal and three-year outlay; trading, logistics and industrial licences also use different official fee lines. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Large trading, logistics, warehouse, import/export and industrial companies needing port access. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.