To register a RAK ICC foundation, you appoint a Founder and a Council, draft a Charter and By-laws, appoint a Registered Agent, and submit your application to the RAK ICC Registrar along with a minimum initial capital of $100. Once RAK ICC approves your application, it issues a Certificate of Registration and your foundation becomes a separate legal entity.
UAE foundations can be registered in three jurisdictions: RAK ICC, ADGM, or DIFC. A RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Center) foundation is a structure that holds assets and has its own legal personality, separate from its founder. It is one of the more cost-effective places to register a foundation.
Benefits of RAK ICC Foundation Registration
When you register a RAK ICC foundation, you get asset protection, flexible objects, no shareholders, lower setup and running costs than DIFC or ADGM, and the option to bring an existing foreign foundation or company into RAK ICC.
These are the main advantages of having a RAK ICC foundation:
- Asset protection: Once you transfer property into the foundation, you no longer own it personally, so your creditors generally cannot claim it and it does not form part of your personal estate.
- Flexible objects: You can set up a foundation exclusively for charitable purposes, or for non-charitable objects that benefit named persons, a category, or a class of beneficiaries.
- No shareholders: A foundation has no shareholders. A Council runs it, with a Guardian in some cases, giving you more control over how your assets are managed after your death.
- Lower cost than DIFC or ADGM: A RAK ICC foundation generally costs less to set up and maintain than an equivalent DIFC or ADGM structure.
- Continuation options: If you already have a foreign foundation or a RAK ICC company, you can convert it into a RAK ICC foundation through a Charter of Continuance.
Steps to Register a RAK ICC Foundation
To register a RAK ICC foundation, you should appoint your Founder and Council, decide if you need a Guardian, appoint a Registered Agent, draft your Charter and By-laws, choose your governing court, and submit your application with the minimum capital to receive your Certificate of Registration.
Step 1: Appoint your Founder and Council
You need at least one Founder to contribute the initial property, and a Council of at least two members to manage the foundation’s property and carry out its objects. The Founder can be one of the Council members, and Council members can be individuals or corporate entities.
Step 2: Decide if you need a Guardian
You only need a Guardian if your foundation has a charitable object or a specified non-charitable object. The Guardian makes sure the Council carries out its duties, and cannot also sit on the Council.
Step 3: Appoint a Registered Agent
Every RAK ICC foundation needs a Registered Agent, and RAK ICC must certify this person as a Qualified Person. Your Registered Agent handles filings with the Registrar, and only your Registered Agent can pay fees to RAK ICC on your foundation’s behalf.
Step 4: Draft your Charter and By-laws
Write your Charter in English and include your foundation’s name, its objects, a description of the initial property, provisions for the Council, and a Designee to receive any leftover property if your foundation terminates. Your by-laws cover internal governance details not already in the Charter, such as how the Council makes its decisions.
Step 5: Choose your governing court
Your Charter and by-laws must state whether DIFC Courts or ADGM Courts will govern your foundation. This choice decides which court has jurisdiction over disputes and administration questions relating to your foundation.
Step 6: Submit your application and meet the minimum capital
Send your application to the RAK ICC Registrar along with the names and details of your Founder, Council members, Guardian (if any), Registered Agent, and registered office address. Your foundation also needs initial capital of at least $100.
Once the Registrar approves your application, RAK ICC issues a Certificate of Registration confirming your foundation’s name, registration number, and registration date.
What is the Cost of Registering a Foundation in RAK ICC?
Registering your RAK ICC foundation costs $613 (AED 2,250) in total: $408 (AED 1,500) for registration plus $204 (AED 750) for the annual Foundation License. Renewing it also costs $408 (AED 1,500) per year.
These are all the main costs associated with setting up a RAK ICC foundation:
Service | Fee (USD, 2026) |
Foundation registration | $408 (AED 1,500) |
Foundation renewal | $408 (AED 1,500) |
Foundation license (Annual) | $204 (AED 750) |
Foundation registration/renewal (for high-risk cases) | $2,315 (AED 8,500) |
Amendment of Charter/By-laws (per clause) | $163 (AED 600) |
Add/remove council member (Individual) | $204 (AED 750) |
Add/remove council member (Legal Entity) | $286 (AED 1,050) |
Name change of foundation | $408 (AED 1,500) |
Certificate of Good Standing | $204 (AED 750) |
Voluntary strike-off | $408 (AED 1,500) |
Certificate of Dissolution | $231 (AED 850) |
Register a RAK ICC Foundation With Momentum
Setting up a RAK ICC foundation is a long-term decision. Getting the Charter, By-laws, and governing court right from the outset matters, since amendments later come with their own per-clause fees.
Momentum helps founders and families register RAK ICC foundations end to end, from appointing the Council and Registered Agent to filing with the Registrar. Contact us today to discuss which structure and jurisdiction suits your assets.
