Company setup ยท Offshore
Register a UAE offshore company for holding and international business
An offshore company holds assets, shares, property or intellectual property and invoices clients outside the UAE. There is no office to rent and nothing to trade locally, and it can usually be set up without visiting the UAE.
What it is
A UAE offshore company is a non-operating company registered with an offshore registry. It is used to hold assets and investments, as a special purpose vehicle, or to invoice international clients. It cannot trade inside the UAE, cannot have a UAE office and does not come with residence visas. Every offshore company is formed through a registered agent.
Who it suits
- International investors and holding structures
- Owners of property, shares or intellectual property
- Family offices and special purpose vehicles
- Consultants and businesses invoicing clients outside the UAE
Not the right choice if you need local customers, UAE staff, an office or a residence visa. For those, look at free zone or mainland.
The three registries
- RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah): the most widely used registry, cost-effective, with no mandatory audit
- JAFZA Offshore (Dubai): well recognised by banks, and can hold approved Dubai freehold property
- Ajman Offshore: a lean option for simple holding companies and SPVs
We recommend a registry for what the company will hold and where it will bank.
What the setup covers
- Registered agent service and the registered address in the UAE
- Name approval and filing with the registry
- Certificate of incorporation and memorandum and articles of association
- Support with an offshore or UAE corporate bank account
Documents you'll need
- A passport copy for every shareholder and director
- Proof of residential address for each of them, such as a recent utility bill
- A short description of what the company will hold or do
- A bank or professional reference letter, for some registries
Some registries ask for documents notarised or attested in your home country. We tell you exactly which before you send anything.
How it works
- 1Choose the registryWe compare RAK ICC, JAFZA and Ajman for what the company will do.
- 2Structure and documentsWe agree the shareholders and directors and collect the KYC documents.
- 3FilingAs registered agent, we file the application with the registry.
- 4IncorporationYou receive the certificate of incorporation and the company documents.
- 5Bank accountWe support the corporate bank account application.
Pricing
Offshore costs depend mainly on the registry, plus any notarisation, translation or express processing your documents need.
Start your order online, or message us, and we send an itemised quotation: the licence, the registration, any visas and the office, with the government fees shown as their own lines. It is in writing before anything is filed, and it does not change afterwards unless you change what you ask for.
FAQ
Can an offshore company sponsor a visa?
No. Offshore companies cannot issue residence visas. If you want a visa through your company, you need a free zone or mainland company.
Do I have to visit the UAE?
Usually not. Most offshore companies are set up remotely with notarised documents, though some registries or banks may ask to meet you.
How long does it take?
Usually about a week once your documents are ready, a little longer for JAFZA Offshore.
Is it tax-free?
There is no UAE tax on income earned outside the UAE, but the tax rules of the countries where you live and earn still apply to you.
Can it own property in the UAE?
A JAFZA offshore company can own property in approved Dubai freehold areas. Other registries may hold UAE property with the relevant approval.
A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. Licences, registrations and visas are issued by the relevant UAE authorities and free zones, and filed through licensed partners. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.
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Ready to register an offshore company?
Tell us what the company will hold and we will recommend the registry and send an itemised quotation.
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