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Premium Foundation Services
PREMIUM CORPORATE SERVICES

RAK ICC Foundation
Registration Services

Momentum is a RAK ICC registered agent, handling the entire process from drafting your charter to submitting your application to the Registrar.

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OVERVIEW

What is a RAK ICC Foundation?

A RAK International Corporate Centre Foundation is a corporate body with a legal personality entirely separate from its founder. It acts through a governing council to administer its assets and carry out its defined objects.

RAK ICC Foundations are governed by the RAK ICC Foundations Regulations 2019, as amended in 2025, and fall under a choice of common law jurisdiction — either the Courts of the ADGM or the Courts of the DIFC.

Unlike a company, a RAK ICC Foundation has no shareholders. It exists solely to hold and administer assets for the benefit of your chosen qualified recipients, making it one of the most effective wealth structuring vehicles available in the UAE today.

Key Highlights

  • Separate legal personality from founder
  • Choice of ADGM or DIFC jurisdiction
  • No shareholders — purely for beneficiaries
  • All documentation in English
  • Governed by 2019 Regulations (amended 2025)

Capabilities

Features of RAK ICC Foundations

RAK ICC Foundations serve a wide range of personal, family, and corporate purposes.
Asset Holding

Your foundation holds real estate, shares, bank accounts, intellectual property, and investment portfolios as a single, protected legal entity. All assets sit under one structured, governed arrangement.
Holding Shares

You can position your foundation as the parent entity for one or more companies, consolidating ownership under a single, protected structure.
Distributing Dividends

Your foundation receives income from operating companies and distributes it to qualified recipients in line with the charter. Distributions are made by council resolution, on a scheduled basis, or upon dissolution.
Family Wealth Management

Families use RAK ICC Foundations to manage multigenerational wealth and protect assets from fragmentation. The structure preserves your wealth across successive generations without interruption.
Corporate Structuring

Your foundation acts as a holding entity above operating companies, giving you a clear ownership structure with defined liability separation at every level.
Philanthropic Purposes

You can establish a foundation for charitable or specified non-charitable objects, creating a transparent and structured vehicle for giving. Foundations with a charitable object must appoint a guardian.

OUR PROCESS

How Momentum Registers Your Foundation

01
Consultation
We discuss your goals and recommend the right structure for your circumstances.
02
Document Preparation
We draft your Foundation Charter and By-Laws to your exact specifications.
03
Submission
We submit your completed application and supporting documents to the RAK ICC Registrar.
04
Registration
Your foundation is registered within three working days.
05
Ongoing Support
We maintain your records, manage your annual renewal, and serve as your registered agent.

ESTATE PLANNING

Estate Planning by Way of a Foundation

If you are an expatriate in the UAE without an estate planning structure, your assets may be distributed under Sharia inheritance law upon your death. A Muslim Will offers partial protection, but it requires every legal heir to sign a consent letter. If any heir refuses, they keep their entitlement under Sharia law.

How a Foundation Solves This

When you transfer your assets into a RAK ICC Foundation, those assets leave your personal estate entirely. The foundation owns them as a separate legal entity, so they are not subject to inheritance proceedings or court distribution upon your death.

Your qualified recipients receive exactly what you have defined in the charter, with no court process and no delays. This applies to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

REGULATORY UPDATE

The 2025 Regulatory Amendments

In July 2025, RAK ICC strengthened the Foundations Regulations with several important updates that apply automatically to all existing foundations.
Firewall Provisions

Better protection against foreign judgments that conflict with RAK ICC law.
Three-Year Statute of Limitations

Challenges to establishment or asset transfers limited to three years.
Cause of Action Provisions

In creditor fraud cases, only assets needed to settle the claim are affected.
Duress Protection

Your foundation is protected from coercive legal processes.
Strengthened Arbitration

Disputes resolved through private arbitration with court-like authority.

STRUCTURE

Key Roles in a Foundation
Founder

You create the foundation, define its objects, and appoint all key parties. You can also serve as a council member and a qualified recipient.
Council Members

At least two council members manage the foundation's affairs. They can be individuals or corporate entities of any nationality.
Qualified Recipients

Your chosen beneficiaries. There are no restrictions on age, nationality, or relationship to you as the founder.
Guardian

Supervises the council and holds them accountable. Foundations with charitable objects must appoint one. Cannot serve as council member.
Registered Agent

Every RAK ICC Foundation requires a registered agent and a UAE registered address. Momentum fills this role for you.

ADVANTAGES

Benefits of a RAK ICC Foundation

Protect your wealth with one of the most flexible and private foundation structures available in the Middle East.

No Public Filing of Accounts
Your financial records stay private and are never disclosed publicly.
Tax Efficiency
The UAE applies no corporate or income tax to foundation assets.
Full Confidentiality
RAK ICC holds no public register for foundations. Your beneficiaries, by-laws, and financial details remain private.
Low Costs
Registration and administration are cost-effective relative to similar structures in other jurisdictions.
Migration
You can migrate an existing overseas foundation into RAK ICC, subject to applicable conditions.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

RAK ICC stands for Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre. It is a major corporate registry in the UAE that specializes in the registration of international business companies and foundations.

It costs between AED 12,000 and AED 16,000 to register a RAK ICC foundation. From the second year, your maintenance costs will typically drop to between AED 5,000 and AED 8,000.

It is a 100% offshore jurisdiction, which means you cannot trade within the UAE or get residency visas through it. You use this structure to hold international assets, minimize taxes, and keep your business ownership confidential.

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ROBIN PHILIP
Founder/Managing Partner

From setting a clear vision, making strategic decisions, fostering innovation, to leading a team to achieve goals, an effective leader plays a crucial role in guiding and steering an organization towards success. One such leader is Robin Philip, Founder and Group CEO of A&A Associate LLC. Robin began his career in the finance sector, working at a prestigious bank in India, where he discovered a passion for assisting individuals with their banking needs. Driven by a desire to support entrepreneurs and startups, as well as share his wealth of knowledge and experiences, Robin founded A&A Associate.

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Robin Philip’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of visionary leadership, as he navigated from a banking career in India to founding and leading A&A Associate, playing a pivotal role in the growth and success of the company. Let’s hear from him.

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ROHAN MALHOTRA
Founder / Chief Executive Officer

Rohan Malhotra is the Founder and CEO of Momentum Consultancy and the brain behind setting up a new age concept agency. Rohan comes with over 20 years of experience of working across countries both in the private and public sector.

Rohan started his career in the banking and financial services industry working across departments with some of the finest institutions like the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, National Australia Bank and Commercial Bank of Dubai.

Prior to starting Momentum Consultancy, Rohan worked as a Trade and Investment Director with the Australian Federal Government, where he was responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment in the fintech, energy, mining and sectors between the UAE/GCC and Australia. With vast experience set across businesses and regions, he has helped multiple businesses scale in the region and across continents.

Rohan holds a Master of Business Administration from La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) majoring in Management Fundamentals, Marketing and Finance. Born and brought up in a business family, Rohan attained his schooling in Mumbai and Bachelor Degree in Business Management from Mumbai University (India) and he is well connected in the business and showbiz industry.

Together with his wife Francesca Bouwman, they have set up and successfully own other consultancy agencies and are actively involved in managing and running an NGO/boarding home in India. Under the name of Sneha Sadana, the project provides food, shelter, clothing and education to 86 under privileged and orphaned girls.