01
Holding Companies
Own shares in operating companies inside or outside the UAE, consolidating ownership under a single entity.
Offshore
Offshore Company Formation
An offshore company is a non-operational structure used to hold assets, own shares, or act as a special purpose vehicle, with UAE corporate banking access.
- Holding and asset protection
- No office requirement
- Incorporation in days
Offshore
Offshore Company Formation in the UAE
It is registered within a UAE jurisdiction and administered by a licensed registered agent.
Offshore entities cannot trade inside the UAE, lease local premises or sponsor residence visas. What they offer is a clean, cost-effective holding structure with confidentiality and access to UAE corporate banking.
What it can do
- Hold assets, own shares and act as a special purpose vehicle
- Open a UAE corporate bank account
- Own UAE property in designated areas only
- Incorporate within days, with no office lease
What it cannot do
- Trade inside the UAE
- Lease local premises
- Sponsor residence visas
Use Cases
What an Offshore Company Is For
Six structures we are most often asked to set up, and what each one solves.
02
Asset Protection
Hold property, intellectual property, vessels or investment portfolios within a separate legal structure.
03
Special Purpose Vehicles
Ring-fence a specific project, joint venture or transaction inside its own entity to isolate risk.
04
International Trade
Invoice and contract internationally from a UAE-registered entity, without operating inside the UAE market.
05
Estate Planning
Structure ownership of assets to simplify succession, often used together with a registered will.
06
Confidentiality
Shareholder and director details are not placed on a public register in the offshore jurisdictions we work with.
Side by Side
Offshore Compared With Free Zone and Mainland
The same seven questions answered for each structure, so you can rule options in or out quickly.
Offshore
This page- Trade within the UAE Not permitted
- Residence visas Not available
- Physical office Not required
- Corporate bank account Available
- Own UAE property In designated areas only
- Setup speed Days
- Annual audit Generally not required
Free Zone
- Trade within the UAE Within the zone, or via a distributor
- Residence visas Available
- Physical office Flexi-desk or office in the zone
- Corporate bank account Available
- Own UAE property Subject to zone rules
- Setup speed Days to weeks
- Annual audit Depends on the zone
Mainland
- Trade within the UAE Unrestricted
- Residence visas Available
- Physical office Required with Ejari
- Corporate bank account Available
- Own UAE property Permitted
- Setup speed One to three weeks
- Annual audit Required for most
Offshore companies are holding vehicles, not trading entities. If you need to invoice UAE clients or sponsor a visa, you need a free zone or mainland licence instead.
Common Questions
Offshore FAQs
No. Offshore entities cannot sponsor residence visas. If residency matters to you, you need a free zone or mainland licence. Some clients hold both: an offshore holding company that owns a free zone operating company.
In designated freehold areas, and subject to approval from the relevant land department. The rules differ between emirates and between individual developments.
UAE corporate tax applies to taxable persons including many offshore entities, though a purely passive holding structure may have limited or no taxable income. Registration and filing obligations can still apply, and your home country may tax the structure. Take specific tax advice.
Ownership details are not published on a public register in the jurisdictions we use. However, the registered agent maintains full records, and banks and authorities require complete beneficial ownership disclosure under UAE anti-money laundering rules.
Often within a few days once due diligence and documentation are complete, since there is no office lease or visa processing involved.
Yes. Offshore companies must be incorporated and maintained through a licensed registered agent, which handles the registry filings and the company's statutory records.
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