The Essentials
A RAK ICC holding company provides a strategic way for investors and businesses to protect assets, optimize taxes, and manage multiple investments or subsidiaries efficiently. Offering flexible ownership, streamlined operations, and access to both local and international markets, it combines security, simplicity, and global reach, making it an ideal structure for long-term growth and wealth management.

Holding companies have emerged as a strategic solution for businesses and investors seeking asset protection, tax efficiency, and streamlined management of multiple investments. The RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) in Ras Al Khaimah provides a modern, flexible, and investor-friendly environment, making it an attractive choice for establishing a Holdco. Whether for real estate, subsidiaries, or intellectual property, holding companies in RAK ICC offers a structured approach to safeguard assets and unlock global opportunities.

What are Holding Companies in RAK ICC?

A holding company (Holdco) in RAK ICC is a corporate entity designed primarily to own controlling interests in other companies, rather than directly manufacturing products or providing services. The subsidiaries under holding companies in RAK ICC can be operating companies, real estate entities, intellectual property (IP) holders, or other asset-owning businesses.

Key aspects of a Holdco include:

Ownership Control: The holding company may own 100% of a subsidiary or just enough to exercise control, often through voting rights.

Oversight, Not Operations: While the holding company oversees the subsidiaries’ operations and makes major policy decisions, it does not involve itself in daily management.

Liability Shield: Separating assets and operations into different entities protects the holding company’s and other subsidiaries’ assets from the financial or legal risks of any single subsidiary.

Why Establish Holding Companies in RAK ICC?

RAK ICC, operating as a world-class corporate registry in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, offers a modern, investor-friendly environment with access to global markets, tax efficiency, and a strong regulatory framework. Establishing holding companies in RAK ICC offers several strategic advantages:

1. Risk and Liability Mitigation

By holding investments through a RAK ICC Holdco, personal and corporate exposure to financial or legal risks is minimized. Creditors of a subsidiary cannot access the assets of the holding company or other subsidiaries.

2. Tax Efficiency

RAK ICC companies benefit from 0% corporate tax, capital gains tax, and personal income tax, while strategic structuring can optimize withholding taxes on income and capital gains. Additionally, UAE’s extensive network of double taxation treaties enhances tax planning opportunities for international investors.

3. Income Segregation and Simplified Bookkeeping

Holding income from specific properties or investments in a separate Holdco allows for clear segregation of revenue streams. This simplifies accounting, financial reporting, and tax filings, particularly when managing multiple assets.

4. Flexible Ownership and Transfer Options

RAK ICC allows 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of profits. Furthermore, investors can transfer shares of the Holdco instead of selling the underlying assets directly, reducing transaction costs, legal fees, and taxes associated with property or business transfers.

5. Inheritance and Succession Planning

Assets held under a RAK ICC Holdco can be structured to minimize inheritance tax liabilities in certain jurisdictions. This facilitates smoother succession planning and long-term wealth protection.

6. Seamless Banking Solutions

RAK ICC companies can open corporate bank accounts both locally and internationally, ensuring effective management of rental income, operational expenses, and investment-related payments.

Ideal Activities for RAK ICC Holding Companies

Holding companies in RAK ICC can serve multiple purposes depending on the investor’s strategic objectives:

Asset Management: Oversee shares in local and international businesses, manage real estate, and maintain banking operations.

Wealth Protection: Shield assets from subsidiary liabilities to minimize financial exposure.

Intellectual Property Management: Centralize IP ownership to enhance protection and optimize monetization strategies.

Steps to Establish a RAK ICC Holding Company

Setting up a holding companies in RAK ICC is a straightforward process:

• Choose the Business Structure
  Decide between structures such as an International Business Company (IBC) or a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), depending on investment goals and regulatory requirements.
• Gather Required Documentation
  Prepare identification documents, proof of address, and completed incorporation forms detailing company structure, ownership, and activities.
• Submit Incorporation Documents
  File the documents with RAK ICC’s Registrar of Companies for compliance with legal requirements.
• Approval and Registration
  The approval process typically takes 5–7 working days, after which the company receives its Certificate of Incorporation.
• Open Corporate Bank Account
  Set up a local or international corporate bank account for financial management, investments, and operational expenses.

Key Considerations and Regulatory Compliance

• Registered Agent: Every RAK ICC company must appoint a UAE-based registered agent to handle administrative and legal matters.
• Confidentiality: Shareholder details are not publicly disclosed, ensuring privacy and discretion.
• Compliance: RAK ICC companies must maintain accurate records, adhere to economic substance standards, and comply with regulatory requirements to uphold legitimacy.

How Can MS Assist in Establishing Holding Companies in RAK ICC?

MS offers support for establishing holding companies in RAK ICC, guiding you through business structuring, regulatory compliance, documentation, and company registration. We assist with opening local and international corporate bank accounts, appointing registered agents, and ensuring ongoing compliance with RAK ICC requirements. By combining local expertise with strategic advisory on asset management, tax efficiency, and risk mitigation, MS ensures your holding companies in RAK ICC are set up easily and positioned for long-term success.

The Essentials 

Foundation setup in RAK ICC provides a secure and flexible framework for wealth preservation and legacy planning. The 2025 amendments enhance governance, asset protection, creditor safeguards, and dispute resolution, reinforcing RAK ICC foundations as a trusted vehicle for long-term family and investor planning. With MS’s end-to-end advisory and implementation services, clients can establish well-structured, compliant, and future-ready foundations that align with their strategic wealth, succession, and philanthropic goals. 

Preserving wealth across generations demands foresight, structure, and legal certainty. Foundations have become an indispensable tool for families and investors aiming to safeguard assets, manage succession, and retain control over long-term wealth strategies. 

The Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) offers a sophisticated and secure foundation framework in the UAE. With robust governance standards, comprehensive asset protection measures, and flexible structuring options, RAK ICC foundations empower founders and families to implement strategic legacy and wealth planning while ensuring stability and continuity across generations. 

In July 2025, RAK ICC introduced significant amendments to its Foundations Regulations, effective from 31 July 2025, under the RAK ICC Foundations Regulations 2019, Amendments 2025. 

These reforms further enhance legal certainty, shield assets from external interference, and streamline dispute resolution. By combining strong governance, robust protection, and international enforceability, Foundation setup in RAK ICC remain one of the most secure and flexible vehicles for cross-border wealth planning, setting a new benchmark for legacy and family governance in the UAE. 

Key 2025 Amendments for Foundation Setup in RAK ICC 

The 2025 reforms strengthen the legal, governance, and dispute-resolution framework for foundations, focusing on international enforceability, creditor protection, and arbitration. Key highlights include: 

1. Firewall Provisions 
Foundations are now shielded from enforcement of any foreign judgment or legal action inconsistent with RAK ICC law. This effectively bars recognition of foreign rulings that contradict UAE legal principles or interfere with foundation assets. 

2. Three-Year Statute of Limitations 
A new three-year limitation period applies to any legal action challenging a foundation’s establishment or the transfer of assets into it, enhancing certainty and protecting assets from late-stage claims.  

3. Creditor Claim Restrictions 
Fraudulent transfer claims are only valid where the founder intended to defraud creditors and the transfer rendered the founder insolvent. Any liability is limited to the specific asset involved protecting other foundation holdings from exposure.  

4. Duress Protections  
Actions taken under foreign coercion or legal pressure are invalid. Foundation officers are instructed to disregard non-UAE orders to maintain autonomous decision-making.  

5. Reinforced Arbitration System 
Disputes may now be privately arbitrated with tribunals granted powers equivalent to the RAK or DIFC/ADGM courts. This strengthens confidentiality and simplifies cross-border dispute resolution.  

6. Private Trustee Foundations (PTFs) 
The amendments clearly separate trust assets from foundation property, confirming fiduciary integrity and asset segregation where a foundation holds trust property. 

Foundation Setup in RAK ICC: Strengthening Governance and Asset Protection for Generational Wealth 

The 2025 amendments underscore RAK ICC’s commitment to providing a robust, secure, and internationally aligned foundation regime. By enhancing governance, reinforcing asset protection, and streamlining dispute resolution, these reforms ensure that foundation setup in RAK ICC continues to serve as a trusted vehicle for legacy preservation and strategic wealth planning. For families, founders, and investors seeking long-term certainty and control over their assets, RAK ICC foundations offer a stable, flexible, and future-ready solution in the evolving landscape of UAE wealth management. 

How MS Supports Foundation Setup in RAK ICC? 

MS offers end-to-end advisory and implementation services for Foundation setup in RAK ICC, guiding clients in structuring their foundations to achieve asset protection, succession planning, and philanthropic objectives. We oversee the full setup process, including drafting the Charter and By-laws, coordinating Council and Guardian appointments, completing all registration formalities with RAK ICC, and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance. With MS’s expertise, you can establish a secure, well-governed, and future-ready foundation aligned with your long-term wealth and legacy goals. appointments, completing all registration formalities with RAK ICC, and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance.  

The Essentials

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC), allowing companies registered under RAK ICC to own and register freehold properties in Dubai. This development provides investors pursuing a company set up in RAK ICC with direct access to Dubai’s property market, opportunities for portfolio diversification, and enhanced options for wealth structuring.

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC), giving companies registered under RAK ICC the ability to own and register freehold properties in Dubai.

This marks a significant step for RAK ICC, which has grown into one of the UAE’s leading corporate registries, attracting international investors seeking efficient structures for holding, wealth planning, and asset protection. The MoU now extends these advantages into Dubai’s real estate sector, one of the region’s most attractive markets.

How the Agreement Works?

Under the MoU, RAK ICC companies can now apply to register freehold properties, land, or related rights in Dubai through DLD. To complete the registration process, those who are looking for a company set up in RAK ICC must:

• Provide the required legal documentation proving ownership.
• Submit a No Objection Letter from relevant stakeholders.
• Pay registration fees in line with DLD’s procedures.

While the framework primarily targets companies with natural person shareholders, DLD can also approve registrations for companies involving juristic persons (corporate entities) or mixed ownership structures. This flexibility ensures that both small investors and structured holding companies can benefit from Dubai’s freehold property opportunities through their RAK ICC entity.

By following these steps, investors undertaking a company incorporation in RAK ICC can seamlessly integrate property ownership in Dubai into their corporate and investment strategies, enhancing both asset diversification and long-term growth potential.

Why This Matters for Investors Looking for Company Set up in RAK ICC?

For investors using RAK ICC, this MoU represents a new layer of opportunity:

• Direct Entry to Dubai’s Property Market: Previously, freehold ownership in Dubai was restricted for many free zone companies. With this agreement, RAK ICC entities gain direct access.
• Portfolio Diversification: Holding companies set up in RAK ICC can now expand their portfolios by adding Dubai-based residential, commercial, or mixed-use assets.
• Wealth Structuring Advantage: RAK ICC companies are widely used for asset protection and succession planning. Owning Dubai property through these entities adds a real estate dimension to wealth structuring strategies.
• International Appeal: Dubai’s reputation as a safe, high-yield property market enhances the global appeal of RAK ICC structures for investors.

Strategic Alignment Between Dubai and RAK ICC

The collaboration reflects a broader UAE trend of economic integration and cooperation between emirates. For DLD, working with RAK ICC allows it to extend regulatory expertise and encourage more investment into Dubai’s property market. For RAK ICC, the MoU strengthens its position as a preferred jurisdiction for international investors, adding real estate ownership to its portfolio of advantages.

This alignment supports Dubai’s long-term strategy of:

• Attracting international capital.
• Ensuring transparent, regulated property ownership pathways.
• Expanding real estate investment options across different corporate structures.

Broader Context of DLD’s Initiatives

The MoU with RAK ICC is part of DLD’s wider efforts to improve access and services for investors. DLD has also signed agreements with other RAK government entities, as well as initiatives with banks and financial institutions to streamline real estate processes. Together, these efforts reflect Dubai’s ongoing ambition to remain a global hub for real estate innovation, investment, and regulation.

Company Set up in RAK ICC: The Outlook Ahead

For global investors, the RAK ICC–DLD MoU provides both security and opportunity. Companies undergoing a company formation in RAK ICC can now confidently acquire Dubai freehold property within a clear regulatory framework, opening new avenues for growth, wealth diversification, and long-term planning.

By combining the investor-friendly environment of a RAK ICC company set up with Dubai’s thriving property market, this partnership further strengthens the UAE’s position as a premier destination for international investment.

How Can MS Help with Company Set up in RAK ICC?

MS simplifies the process of establishing a company in RAK ICC, guiding investors to take full advantage of the new opportunity to own Dubai freehold property.

Our Support Includes:

• Company Incorporation: Complete handling of applications, documentation, and approvals for company set up in RAK ICC.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring your entity meets all RAK ICC requirements.
• Property Registration Guidance: Assistance with documentation and DLD coordination for Dubai freehold ownership.
• Ongoing Corporate Services: Secretarial support, amendments, and compliance management.

The Essentials 

RAK ICC Foundations are independent legal entities under the Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre, designed to provide asset protection, succession planning, and long-term wealth management. With clear governance, perpetual existence, and robust legal safeguards, Foundations in RAK ICC allow founders to separate personal assets, define beneficiaries, and even pursue philanthropic goals, making them a powerful tool for preserving and growing wealth across generations in the UAE. 

Wealth is more than what you hold today – it’s the legacy you leave tomorrow. RAK ICC Foundations, established under the Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre, offer a smart, secure, and flexible way to protect assets, plan succession, and support causes that matter. By functioning as independent legal entities with clear governance and perpetual existence, these Foundations give founders the power to preserve their legacy, safeguard their family’s future, and make a lasting impact in the UAE. 

What is a RAK ICC Foundation? 

A RAK ICC Foundation is a civil law-based, self-owning legal entity distinct from the founder’s personal estate. Unlike traditional trusts in common law jurisdictions, Foundations are independent legal persons with no shareholders or ownership rights. The assets contributed to a Foundation belong solely to it, providing a clear segregation of wealth between the founder and the Foundation. 

Functionally, Foundations in RAK ICC is similar to a corporation in terms of governance and legal recognition but offers unique flexibility for asset protection, succession planning, and philanthropic activities. 

Governance Structure of Foundations in RAK ICC 

The governance of a RAK ICC Foundation is structured to ensure compliance with the founder’s objectives while enabling independent management: 

• Founder: The creator of the Foundation, either an individual or corporate entity, who contributes assets and defines the Foundation’s purpose. 

• Council: The operational body responsible for day-to-day management, requiring at least two members. 

• Guardian (optional): Provides oversight to ensure the Council operates in alignment with the founder’s intentions. The Guardian cannot be a Council member and may be the founder or an independent appointee. 

• Qualified Recipients: Beneficiaries entitled to receive benefits or distributions from the Foundation. 

• Designee: In scenarios without beneficiaries, the Foundation’s assets revert to a designated party or authority as specified in the Charter. 

Key Purposes and Benefits of Foundations in RAK ICC 

1. Asset Protection 

Foundations in RAK ICC are particularly effective in shielding assets from forced inheritance laws, creditor claims, and other external risks. By placing assets within the Foundation, founders create a legal barrier protecting family wealth, business holdings, or philanthropic funds. 

2. Succession and Estate Planning 

Founders can define the distribution of assets across generations through the Foundation’s Charter and by-laws, significantly reducing potential disputes among heirs. This makes Foundations ideal for families or corporate entities seeking long-term wealth continuity. 

3. Perpetual Asset Management 

Unlike some trusts, which have a limited duration, Foundations in RAK ICC have an unlimited lifespan, allowing assets to be managed and preserved indefinitely. This feature is especially beneficial for multi-generational planning. 

4. Philanthropic Activities 

Foundations can be structured for charitable purposes, enabling founders to support causes of personal or societal significance while maintaining governance, accountability, and transparency. 

Legal and Accounting Requirements 

Foundations in RAK ICC are subject to a clear but flexible regulatory framework: 

• Governance Documents: Foundations operate under a Charter, defining legal identity, and By-laws, outlining operational rules. 

• Accounting: Proper accounting records must be maintained. While annual audits are not mandatory, they are recommended for transparency and compliance. 

• Legal Framework: Founders can choose the applicable law and dispute resolution mechanism, including courts in DIFC or ADGM, depending on preference. 

• Privacy: RAK ICC maintains confidentiality by restricting access to detailed records, ensuring privacy for founders and beneficiaries. 

Foundations in RAK ICC: Recent Enhancements and Protections (2025 Amendments) 

The 2025 regulatory updates have strengthened the legal certainty and protection of RAK ICC Foundations: 

• Firewall Provisions: Safeguard Foundations from conflicting foreign judgments. 

• Three-Year Statute of Limitations: Limits challenges to Foundation establishment or asset transfers to three years, enhancing predictability. 

• Cause of Action and Duress Protections: Assets transferred under coercion or creditor fraud are only affected to the extent necessary to resolve claims. 

• Enhanced Arbitration Framework: Disputes can now be resolved through arbitration with powers comparable to courts, ensuring confidentiality and enforceability. 

• Clarifications on Private Trustee Foundations: Defines responsibilities for assets held in trust by Foundations, providing regulatory clarity. 

Registration and Setup Process 

• Application Submission: Includes the Foundation application signed by founders, Charter, By-laws, and Guardian’s consent if applicable. 

• Documentation: Certified ID, proof of residence, Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO), and Source of Wealth declarations. 

• Approval: Typically granted within three business days. 

• Post-Registration Compliance: Open bank accounts, maintain records in line with anti-money laundering regulations, and submit annual returns. 

How MS Can Assist with RAK ICC Foundation Setup? 

MS provides comprehensive advisory and implementation services for RAK ICC Foundations, helping you structure Foundation to meet asset protection, succession, and philanthropic goals. We manage the entire setup process, including drafting the Charter and By-laws, facilitating Council and Guardian appointments, handling all registration formalities with RAK ICC, and ensuring ongoing compliance. With our guidance, you can establish a robust, secure, and well-governed Foundation tailored to their long-term objectives.