Identify the required outcome
Tell us whether the company will hold assets, trade internationally or operate locally. Include any licence, staffing, premises or residency objective in the first enquiry.
RAK ICC company formation in the UAE
Start by separating international holding and business-company needs from local operating licences, premises and residency plans.
Discuss my UAE options
The discussion starts with whether you need holding, local operations or another function, so the proposed scope names the correct entity.
A holding company is not a local trading licence
A UAE company through Ras Al Khaimah (RAK ICC) goes through our local partner, and we quote the price on request. Under the standard UAE corporate tax regime, the first AED 375,000 of taxable income is taxed at 0% and the rest at 9%. The return is filed and paid within nine months after the tax period.
We work with a local partner here. The price is quoted on request.
Our UAE offering includes international company formation through the Ras Al Khaimah route. First clarify whether you need a holding or international business company, or a licensed operation within the UAE.
Last checked: 6 November 2026, Aleksandar
Fit, documents and risks
Who it suits
- Owners assessing an international company for a defined holding or business purpose.
- Founders comparing a RAK ICC company with a separate licensed operating route in the UAE.
- Businesses prepared to explain ownership, funding and expected transactions to the registered agent and the bank.
Documents to prepare
- Passport and proof of address for each shareholder and director.
- A description of the assets to be held or the contracts to be signed, and the countries involved.
- Source-of-funds evidence for the owners.
- For a corporate shareholder: registry documents, signing authority and an ownership chart.
Common misconceptions
- A UAE company pays no tax. UAE corporate tax applies at 9% above AED 375,000 of taxable income under the standard regime. A RAK ICC registration does not by itself establish eligibility for the free-zone 0% rate.
- Incorporation comes with a residence visa. Residence depends on the specific product and a separate immigration process. An international company does not include it.
- RAK ICC opens the bank account. RAK ICC states that account opening is a separate process with a bank, which makes its own decision.
Risks to plan for
- Choosing an international company when the business actually needs a UAE trade licence, premises or staff.
- Missing corporate tax registration or the nine-month filing deadline.
- Bank refusal where the activity, funds or ownership chain cannot be explained.
Agree the entity before preparing documents
Compare the services included in the quote
Ask for the exact entity type and a breakdown of registry charges, registered-agent service, documents and renewals. Any operating licence, office, visa-related work or banking support should be separately identified. Comparing packages is useful only when they deliver the same company route and scope.
Discuss my UAE optionsOff-Shore.net, a service of Euro Commerce LLC, coordinates company formation, banking preparation and annual administration from contact offices in the United States and Serbia.Meet the people coordinating your case
Confirm what the company needs to do
Two founders asking for a UAE company may expect entirely different outcomes. One wants to hold shares; another wants staff, a trade licence and residence visas. RAK ICC itself describes distinct products. The proposal needs to name the exact route and confirm the services involved so these expectations are resolved before payment.
Describe what the entity must be able to do
List the assets it will hold, contracts it will sign and places where activity will occur. State explicitly if you need a UAE trade licence, premises, employees or residency. Those requirements determine which product needs review and should never be assumed from the term UAE company.
Confirm the registered-agent route
RAK ICC incorporation is carried out through registered agents. The application and corporate documents must reflect the selected company type, activities, shareholders and management. Expect identity and ownership checks, with additional records where a shareholder is another company.
Treat banking and tax as separate work
RAK ICC explains that bank-account opening is a separate process undertaken with a bank. The entity’s purpose, source of funds and transaction evidence remain important. UAE corporate-tax registration and treatment need review for the precise structure; an offshore label is not a tax conclusion.
Licence, visa and tax residence are separate
A UAE licence, a residence visa and tax residence answer different questions. For an internationally mobile owner, a free-zone certificate does not automatically establish qualifying income, personal residence or a bank’s acceptance of the business.
The business behind the account
Your company- Owners
- Residence and who makes decisions
- Customers
- Where payments come from
- Suppliers
- Where the company sends money
- Activity
- What customers actually buy
Together, these facts explain why the company needs this account.
What the registration covers
What does a UAE company cost with you?
A RAK ICC company is available on request. Before we quote, we confirm the local partner, the procedure and the price for your case, and the written offer lists what is included and what is charged separately. If the choice needs analysis first, a 60-minute consultation costs EUR 100 and is credited to our formation fee if you order the formation within 60 days.
What are the government fees?
RAK ICC does not publish a fee table that we could verify, so registry and renewal charges are confirmed in the written offer together with our own fee.
Does this page describe a Dubai mainland licence?
No. The existing service includes international company structures through Ras Al Khaimah. If your objective is a mainland or free-zone operating business, state that clearly so the appropriate route and available scope can be confirmed.
Will incorporation include UAE residency?
Do not assume this. Residency eligibility depends on the specific product and immigration process. A proposal should explicitly distinguish an international company from any separately arranged licensed or visa-related route.
Will the company pay UAE corporate tax?
Under the standard regime, taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0% and income above it at 9%, with the return and payment due within nine months after the tax period. The free-zone regime has its own conditions, so the result is reviewed for the exact entity and activity.
Can RAK ICC approve my bank account?
RAK ICC states that account opening is a separate bank process. Company documents support the application, but the bank assesses the owners, activity, funds and other eligibility requirements. Banking support is a separate service priced from EUR 300 to EUR 3,000, excluding bank deposits and the institution’s own fees. The bank decides on the account; our fee covers the agreed work.
How long does it take?
It depends on the registered agent’s checks, the completeness of your documents and the product chosen. We confirm the timeline with the partner before quoting.
How is the company taxed in my home country?
It depends on your tax residence, where you and any staff do the work, and the rules of your country, including any rules on foreign companies. A 0% local rate does not settle how your country treats the company or its profit. Ask a tax adviser in your country of residence before the company starts invoicing.
Compare your next options.
Singapore
Plan directors, company secretary, registered office and ongoing administration alongside your incorporation.
Hong Kong
Coordinate incorporation with the transaction evidence, local company administration and accounting your business needs.
Banking preparation
Review the activity, ownership and payment flows an institution will need to understand.
Sources and further reading
Check the original requirements for your case. Rules, fees and provider policies can change.
Discuss your UAE company requirements
A UAE company label can describe very different arrangements. Your intended activity, local presence and account needs should determine which route is considered. Explain what the company must achieve, including any licence or residency objective, before requesting the registration work.
Discuss my UAE options