RAK ICC
RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC)
Not a free zone in the usual sense. RAK ICC is a corporate registry for international business companies — used to hold shares, property interests and intellectual property, not to trade in the UAE or sponsor residence visas.
At a glance
- Emirate
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Authority
- RAK International Corporate Centre
- Sector
- Offshore company registry for holding and asset-protection structures.
- Facilities
- None — registered agent address only
- Visa quota
- None
- Licence cost
- Quoted on activity
Who it suits
- Holding companies
- Foundations for family wealth and succession
- Asset protection structures
- Intellectual property holding
- Joint venture and SPV vehicles
What it does well
- Low formation and annual maintenance cost
- Confidential ownership register
- Can hold shares in UAE companies and designated Dubai property
- Well-established and internationally recognised
Worth knowing before you commit
An RAK ICC company issues no residence visas, cannot take an office and cannot trade inside the UAE. If you need residency or a trading licence, you need a free zone or mainland company instead — frequently alongside the RAK ICC entity rather than in place of it.
How we set it up
- Confirm the activity. We check your exact activity is on RAK ICC's schedule before anything is paid. This is where most setups go wrong.
- Name reservation and initial approval. Three trade name options, submitted in order of preference.
- Documentation. Passport copies, photographs, the application set and shareholder resolutions where there is a corporate shareholder.
- Licence issuance. Licence, certificate of incorporation, share certificate and memorandum.
- Establishment card and visas. Immigration file opened, then entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping for each person.
- Bank account. We prepare the file and introduce you. Approval is the bank's decision, not ours, and we will tell you honestly how your case looks.
Enquire about RAK ICC
Leave your details and we will send a written quote for RAK ICC, including visa costs for the headcount you need.
Free Zone Questions We Get Asked
Can a free zone company sell inside the UAE?
Not directly to the onshore market. It imports and re-exports freely, but selling to UAE customers needs a mainland distributor, a mainland branch, or customs duty paid through an agent.
Does the office have to be inside the zone?
Yes. The registered office must sit within the zone that issued the licence.
How many visas will I get?
It depends on the package and the facility you take. A flexi-desk typically carries one to three. A real office scales from there, so decide headcount before the package is issued.
Can I move to a different free zone later?
You can, but it is a new incorporation rather than a transfer in most cases — new licence, new immigration file, visas reissued. Worth getting right the first time.
Which free zone is cheapest?
SHAMS, SPC, Ajman and UAQ sit at the low end. Cheapest is not always right: a Sharjah or Ajman address is treated differently by some Dubai banks and landlords, so tell us if banking matters.
Do I pay customs duty?
Not on goods that stay within the free zone or are re-exported. Duty applies when goods enter the UAE mainland market, currently at 5%.
Not Covered Above? Ask Us.
Send the question as you would ask it on the phone. One of the team answers it properly — not a template, and not a sales call dressed up as an answer.