Consulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m ago
IT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m ago
Trading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m ago
General Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h ago
Consulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h ago
Marketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h ago
Fintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h ago
Freelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h ago
Trading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h ago
Marketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h ago
Consulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterday
Consulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issuejust nowConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m agoTrading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m agoGeneral Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h agoConsulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h agoMarketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h agoFintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h agoFreelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h agoTrading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h agoMarketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h agoConsulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterdayConsulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issueCompare · No signup
UAE offshore (RAK ICC) and UAE free zone (IFZA used here as the typical free-zone reference) solve different problems. Offshore is for holding, asset-protection and international structuring — no UAE office, no visas, no residency. Free zone is for operating UAE businesses — full UAE residence, visas, real bank account, real office.
Verdict: Offshore (RAK ICC) for holding/IP/asset-protection. Free zone (IFZA / DMCC / Meydan) for any business that operates, hires, invoices clients, or needs UAE residency.
Live channel-partner figures from Formenzo's pricing engine. Authority + Formenzo service scope only — visas, EID and medicals are extra and shown on each zone page.
| Metric | RAK ICC | IFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Starting priceAuthority licence + bundled flexi-desk; visas + EID extra. | 8,000 | 12,200 |
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai |
| Visas (default → max) | 0 → 0 | 3 → 6 |
| Licence in | 3 days | 5 days |
| Visa complete in | 0 days | 14 days |
| Banking scorePre-screened bank fit. Final approval is bank-side. | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Prestige score | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Activities allowed | 50 | 1,500 |
| Bank panel | WIO · Mashreq NeoBiz · RAKBANK | WIO Bank · Mashreq NeoBiz · Emirates NBD |
Pick RAK ICC when
Pick IFZA when
No. RAK ICC is offshore by design — no UAE office, no visa quota, no Emirates ID. If you need UAE residency, pick a free zone (IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ are popular cost-efficient choices). Some founders use both: RAK ICC as their holding company + a free zone for their operating company.
Yes — many UAE banks open RAK ICC corporate accounts: Mashreq, Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, ENBD Capital. The application is more rigorous than free-zone applications because banks ask 'why offshore?' — pre-filing the right structuring story matters. Banking score is 5/10 vs IFZA's 7/10 because rejection rates are higher.
RAK ICC pays 0% UAE corporate tax on income that doesn't constitute economic substance in UAE (i.e. real activity inside UAE). For pure holding structures, that's fine. The moment you generate revenue from UAE economic activity, you should be on a free zone or mainland licence — and possibly subject to the 9% corporate tax rate above the AED 375,000 profit threshold.
Possible but not recommended. Banks are very cautious of offshore + crypto combinations. For crypto-business activity in UAE, the right answer is DMCC Crypto Centre or VARA-licensed setup in mainland Dubai — both are free-zone or mainland, not offshore.
Yes, very common for founders with assets to protect. RAK ICC owns the IP / shares; the free-zone company operates the business and pays a licence fee + dividends to RAK ICC. Total cost ~AED 20,000–25,000/year for both. This is structuring — talk to a UAE corporate-services advisor before committing.
Compare
If you're going to operate, the next decision is cost-leader IFZA vs prestige DMCC.
See side-by-sideCompare
Considering RAK in general? RAKEZ (operating) vs IFZA (Dubai operating) is the next-step matchup.
See side-by-sideCompare
If holding owns operating, decide between DMCC (trading) and JAFZA (industrial) as the operating arm.
See side-by-sideStop comparing, start filing
Seven questions — passport, activity, visas, budget, banking expectation. We return the 2–3 best-fit zones with full all-in pricing. No callback unless you ask.