Ras Al Khaimah
RAK International Corporate Centre: real costs, licences and review
The UAE's most-used offshore registry — holding only, no visas.
Our view
RAK ICC is the UAE's principal international company registry, formed by consolidating the earlier RAK offshore registries. It is widely used for international holding structures, IP ownership and joint-venture vehicles, and it is well understood by international lawyers.
The same warning applies as to every offshore vehicle on this list: no visas, no UAE trading, no tax-residency certificate. RAK ICC companies can, however, hold shares in UAE free zone companies and — with the right approvals — certain Dubai property, which is why they appear so often in layered structures.
Key facts
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 9,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 15,000 |
| Issuance time | 2–7 working days |
| Visa quota | 0 |
| Flexi-desk | No |
| Remote setup | Yes |
| Licence types | Holding |
| Established | 2016 |
Official source: www.rakicc.com
Honestly
What works
- Well-recognised international registry
- Low cost, fast, fully remote
- Can hold UAE free zone shares
- Flexible corporate structuring
What doesn't
- No visas, no tax residency
- No UAE trading
- Banking requires careful planning
- Increasing substance scrutiny internationally
Who this suits
- International holding structures
- IP and asset holding
- Joint venture vehicles
- Shareholding in UAE free zone companies
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.