Offshore Company Setup in the UAE
An International Business Company (IBC) for holding assets, shares, or international trade - incorporated outside the UAE's onshore licensing framework, with no physical office requirement.
Offshore company setup in the UAE is used for asset holding, international trade structuring, and estate planning - not for a business that needs to trade locally or sponsor employee visas. It's the fastest and lowest-overhead of the three incorporation paths, but it's also the most specific: right for a narrow set of purposes, wrong for a trading business that needs a UAE office and staff.
What an offshore company is for
- Holding shares in other companies, including UAE mainland and free zone entities
- Holding real estate or other assets, in permitted jurisdictions
- International trade and invoicing structured outside the UAE onshore framework
- Estate and succession planning for internationally-held assets
What it can't do
An offshore company cannot trade within the UAE, cannot obtain UAE residency visas for its shareholders, and cannot rent physical office space under its licence. If any of those apply to your business, you need a mainland or free zone structure instead - offshore is a holding and structuring tool, not a trading licence.
Key UAE offshore jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Authority | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| JAFZA Offshore | Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority | Holding companies with UAE asset or property links |
| RAK ICC | Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre | General international holding and trading structures, lower cost |
| Ajman Offshore | Ajman Free Zone Authority | Straightforward, lower-cost offshore holding structures |
Setup process
Purpose & jurisdiction check
We confirm offshore is actually the right tool for your goal, then match it to the right jurisdiction.
Registered agent engagement
Offshore companies must be incorporated through a licensed registered agent - we act in that capacity or coordinate it.
Documentation
Passport copies, proof of address, and a bank reference letter are prepared for the application.
Incorporation
The Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum & Articles of Association are issued by the offshore authority.
Banking support
We support the corporate bank account application, which typically takes longer to open for offshore structures than for onshore ones.
Offshore setup questions, answered.
Yes - this is one of the most common uses of a UAE offshore company, structuring ownership of an onshore operating entity through an offshore holding company.
No - offshore companies do not carry visa eligibility. A mainland or free zone company is required if UAE residency is part of your goal.
No. Free zone companies can rent office space, sponsor visas, and are licensed to operate within their zone; offshore companies cannot, and exist purely for holding and international structuring.
Yes - offshore companies must be incorporated through a licensed registered agent rather than applying directly with the authority. The agent handles submission and acts as the ongoing point of contact with the offshore authority for the life of the company.
Yes, but banks generally apply more scrutiny to offshore structures than onshore ones, and account opening typically takes longer. A clear explanation of the company's purpose and the source of funds usually matters more than for a standard trading licence application.
RAK ICC is the most commonly used for general international holding and trading structures. JAFZA Offshore is worth considering specifically if the company will hold UAE property or assets linked to Jebel Ali. Ajman Offshore is a straightforward, lower-cost option when the structure itself is simple. We confirm the right fit against your specific purpose rather than defaulting to one.
Talk through whether offshore fits.
Tell us what you're trying to structure and we'll confirm whether an offshore company is actually the right tool.