ADGM
Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi's common-law financial centre — the serious rival to DIFC.
Holding company licence in the UAE
A holding company owns shares, intellectual property or real estate rather than trading. The important distinction is between a free zone holding company — which can sponsor visas and obtain a tax residency certificate — and an offshore company such as RAK ICC or JAFZA Offshore, which can do neither. People conflate these constantly, usually to their cost.
What to know first
- Offshore companies give no visa entitlement and no tax residency certificate.
- Economic substance requirements apply to holding activities and must be met annually.
- Only JAFZA Offshore can hold Dubai freehold property directly among the common offshore options.
Suitable free zones
DIFC
DubaiAn English common-law jurisdiction inside Dubai, for regulated finance and family offices.
RAK ICC
Ras Al KhaimahThe UAE's most-used offshore registry — holding only, no visas.
100% remote setup
JAFZA Offshore
DubaiA holding vehicle for Dubai property — no visas, no office, no trading.
DMCC
DubaiThe prestige address. Expensive, demanding, and the one that makes banking straightforward.
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.