Holding structure
The company will hold shares, investments or other permitted assets under a defined ownership plan.
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Company Formation / Offshore Companies
Use an offshore company for a defined purpose.Not as a substitute for an operating licence.
We clarify the holding, investment, cross-border or succession objective, coordinate the appropriate registry and registered-agent process, and map continuing corporate and compliance duties.
Purpose-ledHolding and international objectives documented
Agent-coordinatedRegistry communication follows the authorised channel
Maintenance mappedRenewals, records and changes kept visible
When this service fits
Choose it for a defined operating need.
An offshore vehicle can be suitable when the objective is corporate holding or international structuring and the limitations are understood before incorporation.
International activity
The structure supports permitted cross-border transactions without presenting itself as a UAE mainland operating licence.
Ownership planning
Shareholding, control, succession and beneficiary considerations need to be documented and coordinated.
Corporate continuity
The owners need a maintained registry record, registered address and annual corporate administration.
How the engagement moves
Four stages. A visible output at every stage.
The formation route begins with the purpose and restrictions, then moves through registry selection, KYC, constitutional documents and continuing administration.
01Stage 01
Define purpose and limitations
Map assets, counterparties, countries, owners, control, banking and expected transactions.
Stage outputOffshore purpose brief
02Stage 02
Select registry and agent route
Identify the appropriate UAE offshore registry and the authorised registered-agent process.
Stage outputRegistry-and-agent pathway
03Stage 03
Prepare KYC and documents
Coordinate names, shareholder and beneficial-owner records, declarations and constitutional documents.
Stage outputFormation document pack
04Stage 04
Register and maintain
Track incorporation and establish the renewal, record, change and compliance calendar.
Stage outputCorporate maintenance calendar
Defined deliverables
What management receives.
The work connects registration with the structure’s actual role and the corporate administration required afterward.
Structuring note
A clear description of the intended purpose, ownership, control, permitted use and identified limitations.
KYC and document checklist
A staged request for shareholders, directors, beneficial owners, source information and corporate documents.
Registered-agent coordination
A visible application and query tracker through the relevant authorised agent channel.
Maintenance calendar
Renewal, registers, changes, records, tax review and other recurring actions.
Registered-agent requirement
Offshore registrations are processed through authorised agents.
JAFZA states that offshore company registration must be processed through a registered agent. RAK ICC similarly describes the registered agent as the licensed provider recorded with the Registrar and authorised for formation and administration.
JAFZA — new offshore company guide ↗Authorised communication channel
The registered agent handles the registry-facing formation and administration process.
No operating-licence assumption
Permitted offshore purposes and restrictions should be understood before transactions begin.
Ownership transparency
Shareholders, directors and ultimate beneficial owners must be identified and documented.
Annual administration
Renewal, registers, record changes and required filings continue after incorporation.
Records to begin
Start with the information that creates the position.
We tailor the final request list after an initial discussion. These records normally provide the starting point.
- Purpose of the proposed offshore company
- Assets, investments or shares to be held
- Countries and counterparties involved
- Shareholder, director and UBO information
- Ownership and decision-making arrangement
- Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth support
- Banking expectations and transaction profile
- Existing group, trust or foundation structure
Questions before you engage
Clear answers about this scope.
The final scope depends on the entity, operating model, records, authority requirements and the facts confirmed during onboarding.
Can an offshore company conduct business inside the UAE?
No. An offshore company is intended for permitted holding, ownership or international purposes and cannot conduct onshore business inside the UAE without an appropriate UAE operating licence or structure.
Does it provide UAE residence visas?
Generally, an offshore registration is not an employee-visa platform. Any residency objective should be addressed through an appropriate structure.
Is a registered agent mandatory?
For registries such as JAFZA and RAK ICC, the formation and administration route uses an authorised registered agent.
Can the company open a bank account?
It may apply, but the bank performs independent KYC, purpose, substance and risk assessments. No approval can be guaranteed.
Can it hold shares or investments?
Potentially, subject to the selected registry, constitutional documents, underlying asset rules and tax/legal review.
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Discuss an offshore structure Define the offshore company’s job before forming it.
Tell us what it will own, where transactions occur and who controls it. We will map the structure, restrictions and agent route first.