Offshore Company Formation in Dubai
Start an offshore company in Dubai with the registered agents at Momentum. Offshore businesses offer full foreign ownership and asset protection without a UAE office address.
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Overview of Offshore Business Setup in Dubai
Setting up an offshore company in Dubai is gaining popularity, rivaling destinations like the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. The city offers robust asset protection, strict public privacy, and a 0% tax framework on international income, making offshore business setup in Dubai a lucrative opportunity. An offshore company lets you hold assets, invest internationally, and bank across borders, all without setting foot in the UAE. If you want to start a business, consider working with the offshore company experts at Momentum.
Benefits of Offshore Company Formation in Dubai
Offshore companies offer huge tax saving benefits for their owners, along with increased protection of their business information and assets. Dubai is a popular destination for offshore business setup, with legislation supporting business growth.
100% Foreign Ownership
Offshore company setup in Dubai offers investors and entrepreneurs complete control and ownership of their business as there is no local sponsor requirement. You keep full authority over how the business runs.
Asset Protection & Confidentiality
Your ownership data is securely filed with local authorities to comply with global regulatory standards, while the official UAE corporate registry remains closed and completely private from the public.
Easy Global Trade & Investments
Situated between Europe, Asia, and Africa, the UAE serves as a premier international commercial hub. Setting up a local offshore company gives you seamless, direct access to top global markets.
Favourable Corporate Tax Rates
UAE offshore entities benefit from a highly efficient tax structure. You pay 0% corporate tax on your first AED 375,000 of global net profit, and 9% on any profits above that threshold.
No UAE Office Requirement
If you set up an offshore company in Dubai, you donтАЩt need a physical location to start your business. This removes the need to find office space that suits your budget, speeding up the set up process.
Full Capital and Profit Repatriation
Repatriate 100% of capital and profits with zero UAE withholding tax. While the UAE imposes no local tax or currency restrictions on transfers, check your home country's laws regarding foreign income.
Features of Offshore Business Setup
UAE offshore company formation delivers an international structure with no minimum capital requirements. Our authorized agents process your setup to provide complete public privacy, light annual maintenance, and immediate access to global multi-currency transactions.
- Incorporation in 7-10 Business Days
- No Minimum Share Capital
- Multiple Currency Transactions Allowed
- No Requirement for Local Office
- Flexible Shareholder Structures
- No Mandatory Annual Audit Submission
Legal Structures for Offshore Companies
You can choose between three legal structures to set up your company ownership: a single shareholder company, a multi-shareholder entity, or a corporate shareholding structure. These options let you open your business alone, team up with partners, or use an existing company as the owner.
Single Shareholder Company
You can form an offshore company in Dubai with a minimum of one shareholder. If it is a corporate shareholder, all their documents must be attested.
Multi-shareholder Entity
There is no maximum limit on the number of shareholders allowed for offshore company formation in Dubai. You will need at least one director and one secretary.
Corporate Shareholding
The UAE fully allows corporate entities to become shareholders in an offshore company. However, corporations are strictly prohibited from acting as directors.
Key Documents for Offshore Company Formation
For Individuals
- Passport copy
- Proof of Address
- Bank Reference Letter/CV (if required)
- KYC Form
For Corporations
- Parent Company Documents (License, MoA)
- Board Resolution & PoA
- Passport Copies of Shareholders/Directors
Types of Offshore Corporate Structures
You can set up four types of offshore corporate structures depending on your goals: a holding company, an investment company, an international trading structure, or a property holding company. You cannot use these setups to sell goods or services inside the UAE, but you can use them to manage your global assets.
Holding Company
Manage, control, and hold shares in global or local firms.
Investment Company
Structure and hold private portfolios of international assets.
International Trading
Execute commercial trade transactions outside of the UAE markets.
Property Holding
Secure and control freehold real estate assets via JAFZA zones.
Cost of Setting Up an Offshore Company in Dubai
structure and the registered agent you choose to work with.
Calculate Your Business Setup Cost
Answer a few quick questions and get a tailored package
Steps to Set Up an Offshore Company in Dubai
Starting an offshore company involves choosing your business structure, reserving your name, submitting your documents, registering with the authority, collecting your certificate, and opening your bank account.
- 01.
Choose Business Structure
Select either JAFZA or RAK ICC from Dubai and determine your ownership framework.
- 02.
Reserve Company Name
Submit three unique name options to the government registry for official approval.
- 03.
Prepare & Submit Required Documents
Collect your passport copy, proof of address, or parent company records.
- 04.
Register with Offshore Authority
Your registered agent files the application with the chosen offshore registry.
- 05.
Receive Certificate of Incorporation
The registry will issue a Certificate of Incorporation for your offshore company.
- 06.
Open an Offshore Bank Account
Apply to a corporate bank to set up your company's financial accounts.
Cost of Setting Up an Offshore Company in Dubai
The cost of starting an offshore company in Dubai starts at AED 10,000 (~$2,723). The total price depends on the legal structure and the registered agent you choose to work with.
| Package | Price (AED) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Influencing Factors | AED 10,000 - 20,000+ | Number of shareholders and directors Offshore jurisdiction (JAFZA, RAK ICC, Ajman Offshore) Additional services (banking, nominee services) |
| Breakdown | AED 10,000 - 20,000+ | Registration Fees: AED 6,000 тАУ AED 12,000 Registered Agent Fees: AED 3,000 тАУ AED 5,000 Bank Account Setup: AED 2,000+ (optional/add-on) |
Choose Momentum for Offshore Company Setup in Dubai
Business setup as an offshore company can get complicated. Our consultants are highly familiar with the UAEтАЩs offshore regulations and offer a hassle-free and efficient set up process experience. Momentum also keeps your information completely confidential and encrypted, maintaining your privacy.
Authorized Offshore Registered Agent
Momentum consultants are registered agents who are authorized to handle your offshore business setup in Dubai. They are well-versed in communicating with government authorities and can streamline the business setup process.
End-to-End Formation Support
You get complete management from your first consultation to your final Certificate of Incorporation. We manage all administration with JAFZA or RAK ICC so you do not have to handle the registry paperwork yourself.
Strategic Banking Assistance
Opening a corporate bank account for an offshore entity requires strict international compliance and AML regulations. We walk your application through our partner networks to match your business profile with the right traditional or digital banking institutions.
Confidential & Secure Process
We store all shareholder and asset information inside our secure database system. Your private corporate details remain completely confidential and are never shared with public registries or outside parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
An offshore company is a business that is set up in a designated free zone and can only operate outside the country. It cannot trade with mainland businesses.
Free zone companies can only trade within their free zone and internationally, while offshore companies must keep their operations completely outside the UAE. Offshore companies also do not require a physical office space.
There are three offshore zones in the UAE, JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) in Dubai, Ajman Free Zone, and RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Center).
Offshore company formation in Dubai has a lot of advantages like no corporate tax, no physical location requirement, full repatriation of profits, and full confidentiality of shareholder information and business dealings.
Offshore companies do not have to pay corporate or personal tax in the UAE as their business activities are exempted from taxation.
Offshore companies can open a bank account in the UAE but it can be complex. It is recommended to use a registered agent to guide you through the entire offshore business setup process.
Offshore company setup in Dubai takes the following steps: choose a jurisdiction, pick a business activity, apply for a license, register with the offshore authority, and open a bank account.
An offshore license is a trade license issued by the relevant offshore authority that allows offshore companies to legally conduct their business activities.
Offshore companies are allowed to buy property in the UAE but they are restricted to certain designated zones. The rules for property purchase vary across Emirates, and are overseen by the Dubai Land Department.
It costs around AED 10,000 - AED 28,000 to open an offshore company in Dubai. Working with a business setup constant who specializes in offshore companies can simplify the process.
Offshore company formation in Dubai or UAE does not require a local sponsor, meaning foreign individuals get 100% ownership of their business.
To open an offshore bank account, you have to work with a registered agent to contact banking institutions to check whether they are willing to provide their services to your business. Then you can apply for an account by submitting the necessary documents.
