Holding company in Dubai · Assets and subsidiaries
LorcaBase is the legal and tax advisory firm based in Dubai, specialised in setting up holdings for Spanish-speaking and international founders in the Emirates. RAK ICC Holding for international holding, Free Zone Holding when residence visas and active management are required, DIFC or ADGM SPV for premium regulated structures. Operational in 2 to 20 days.
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How we set up your holding in the Emirates.
Eleven structured steps: from wealth diagnosis and jurisdiction selection to bank account opening and visas. Operational in 2 to 20 days.
- 01
Wealth diagnosis
We analyse your assets, subsidiaries, dividend flows and objectives. We design the appropriate structure.
- 02
Jurisdiction selection
We determine the optimal home: RAK ICC Holding for international holding, Free Zone Holding for active management with visas, DIFC or ADGM for regulated premium SPV.
- 03
Corporate structure
We select the form: FZE, FZCO, IBC, SPV or LLC-Holding based on number of shareholders and complexity.
- 04
Name reservation
We validate the name in the relevant Commercial Registry and obtain official reservation.
- 05
Documentation
Passports, UBO KYC, group organisation chart, due diligence on existing subsidiaries and statement of business purpose.
- 06
Memorandum (MOA and AOA)
We draft MOA and AOA with holding business purpose, governance clauses, voting and economic rights.
- 07
Licence and fee payment
We submit the application, pay fees and coordinate regulatory approval if applicable (DIFC or ADGM).
- 08
Physical space
We reserve office, flexi desk or registered address depending on jurisdiction requirements.
- 09
Official issuance
You receive the Certificate of Incorporation, licence and notarised corporate documentation.
- 10
Corporate bank account
We open a corporate account at UAE banks and, if needed, linked international accounts.
- 11
Visas and compliance
If the holding is Free Zone, we manage the investor visa. We set up the obligations calendar (Corporate Tax, UBO, substance under QFZP). Holding operational in 2 to 20 days.
What documents do you need to set up a holding?
List of the documentation we request at each stage of the process. Most of it is provided remotely.
Holding name
Three options in order of preference. Each jurisdiction (Free Zone, RAK ICC, DIFC, ADGM) has its own naming rules.
- Minimum 2 words and consistent with the holding business purpose.
- Common ending: Holding, Holdings, Limited, Ltd, depending on jurisdiction.
- References to banking, insurance, regulated funds prohibited unless licensed.
- No registered international trademarks, religious or offensive terms.
- RAK ICC offers more flexibility and allows names in languages other than English.
Per shareholder and director
- Passport in colour, scanned with all relevant pages visible.
- National ID additional document, scanned both sides.
- Proof of address: utility bill or recent bank statement in your name.
- Digital photo passport-size, white background.
- CV or professional profile summary for banking due diligence.
- Bank reference at certain banks for corporate account opening.
Group structure
- Organisation chart of existing subsidiaries with jurisdiction and ownership percentage.
- Authorised and issued share capital of each subsidiary.
- UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) identification at the end of the chain.
- Expected flows: dividends, royalties, interest and intra-group services.
- Holding business purpose and subsidiaries under management.
For bank account opening
Additional documentation requested by UAE banks based on the holding profile.
- Wealth management plan and projected dividend flows.
- Source of funds and bank reference for the last 6 months.
- Financial statements of relevant subsidiaries, if available.
- List of jurisdictions where the holding will maintain banking relationships.
Important clarifications
RAK ICC Holding and most Free Zones do not require minimum paid-up capital. DIFC and ADGM SPV request symbolic capital declared in the articles. Shares can be issued in any currency.
Only Free Zone Holding and Mainland Holding issue visas to the shareholder. RAK ICC Holding and most SPVs do not allow direct visas.
Advantages of a holding in Dubai versus other jurisdictions.
Competitive taxation
0% up to 375,000 AED and 9% above. If it qualifies as QFZP, qualifying income (dividends, capital gains) is taxed at 0%.
Double Taxation Treaty network
UAE has DTTs with over 140 countries, including Spain (2006) and most of Latin America. No withholding on dividends paid abroad.
Common law in DIFC and ADGM
DIFC and ADGM operate under English common law with independent courts. Sophisticated regime for SPVs, family offices and funds.
100% foreign ownership
You retain full control of the holding and its subsidiaries with no local Emirati partner.
Access to global banking
Dubai as regional financial hub. Multi-currency accounts and connection with international private banking for holdings.
Reasonable confidentiality
UBO registry available to authorities, with no public shareholder registry in most Free Zones and RAK ICC. Balance between compliance and privacy.
Top holding jurisdictions we handle directly.
LorcaBase handles incorporation, registration and bank account opening in the jurisdictions most used by international founders to set up holdings in the UAE. The choice depends on the use: passive international holding or active management with visas.
| Jurisdiction | Ideal for | Visas | Banking reputation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAK ICC Holding Holding | Passive international holding: assets, properties, SPVs, subsidiaries in other countries. No operations in the local UAE market. | No visas issued | High |
| Free Zone Holding Active management | Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC. Active management, team, local hiring and operations within the UAE market under Holding licence. | Yes, residence visas available | High |
| DIFC SPV | Family offices, regulated funds, private equity and club deals requiring English common law and independent courts. | Limited per licence | Very high |
| ADGM SPV | Same as DIFC for Abu Dhabi. Foundation regime, SPV and institutional funds under English common law. | Limited per licence | Very high |
Average setup time: 2 to 20 business days. Jurisdiction complexity and required economic substance determine the timeline.
Request a personalised recommendation →Free Zone Holding vs RAK ICC Holding: when to use each.
For active management.
When the holding will have a team, hire personnel, sign contracts in the UAE, rent an office and issue visas to the shareholder or employees. Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC are the most-used options. From 6,000 USD per year with flexi desk and multi-visa.
For passive holding.
When the holding only consolidates shares, properties, SPVs or international assets without local UAE operations. No visas issued and no physical office required. From 4,500 USD per year. Recommended for most international holdings.
For premium structures.
When English common law, independent courts and financial regulation are required for family offices, funds, club deals or sophisticated wealth structures.
For extensive local operations.
When the holding needs to invoice mainland UAE clients, contract with the public sector or have an extensive commercial presence. Requires mandatory physical office and DET licence. Less common for international holdings.
When does it make sense to set up a holding in the UAE?
| Profile or situation | Reason to choose UAE holding |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs with international group | Consolidate shares of subsidiaries in different jurisdictions, optimise cross-border dividends and simplify governance. |
| Wealth investors | Manage financial portfolios, real estate or shares under a single efficient company with global banking access. |
| Family offices | Multi-generational wealth protection structure with stable governance and English common law in DIFC or ADGM. |
| Technology groups | Startups with presence in multiple markets that want a parent company to attract investment, license IP and scale operations. |
| IP and royalty holders | Centralise trademarks, patents and copyrights under an efficient structure with DTT on dividends and royalties. |
| Private equity and SPV | Managers operating funds, club deals or co-investments who seek jurisdictions with common law and flexibility. |
Types of holding in the Emirates.
Holding structure comparison
| Structure | Jurisdiction | Features | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAK ICC Holding (IBC) | RAK International Corporate Centre | No mandatory office, no visas, contained costs, corporate directors allowed | Passive international holding, SPV, properties |
| Free Zone Holding | Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC | 100% foreign ownership, flexi desk or office, investor visas available | Active management with visas and UAE operations |
| ADGM SPV | Abu Dhabi Global Market | English common law, Foundation regime, FSRA supervision | Family wealth and institutional SPV |
| Mainland LLC Holding | Dubai Economic Department (DET) | Operations across UAE, mandatory physical office, broader supervision | Holdings with mainland subsidiaries and extensive local operations |
How much does it cost to set up a holding in Dubai?
from 4,500 USD.
Recommended for passive international holding: assets, properties, SPVs, subsidiaries. No office or visas. Affordable annual renewal.
6,000 to 12,000 USD/year.
Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC. When you need active management, team, visas and UAE operations. Up to 6 visas depending on contracted office.
Indicative figures. Each case is quoted individually based on jurisdiction, structure, number of shareholders, required economic substance and banking services.
Taxation of a holding in Dubai.
Corporate Tax
- General rate
- 0% up to 375,000 AED · 9% above that threshold.
- Qualifying Free Zone Person
- Qualifying income (dividends, capital gains) at 0% if the holding meets economic substance and activity restrictions.
- Dividends from UAE subsidiaries
- Exempt from withholding in the UAE.
- Withholding on dividends paid abroad
- The UAE applies no withholding on dividends transferred abroad.
VAT and compliance
- VAT 5% applicability
- Only if the holding invoices intra-group services within the UAE above 375,000 AED.
- Economic substance
- ESR repealed by Cabinet Decision 98/2024 for financial years from 2023. Holdings electing QFZP must keep substance under Corporate Tax: offices, qualified personnel and decisions taken in the UAE.
- UBO
- Mandatory disclosure in all UAE jurisdictions since 2020.
Common mistakes when setting up a holding in Dubai.
The 6 mistakes we see repeatedly in those trying to set up a holding on their own. If you know them in advance, you save time and money.
Choosing the wrong jurisdiction
Opening a RAK ICC Holding when visas are needed, or a DIFC SPV when a Free Zone Holding would have sufficed. A prior diagnosis avoids costly migrations and licence loss.
Ignoring substance requirements under QFZP
The former ESR was repealed by Cabinet Decision 98/2024, but substance requirements remain under Corporate Tax. Holdings electing Qualifying Free Zone Person status must demonstrate offices, qualified personnel and decisions taken in the UAE. Failure leads to loss of the 0% QFZP rate.
Not declaring UBO correctly
UBO registration has been mandatory since 2020 in all UAE jurisdictions. Errors or omissions block licence renewal and may lead to penalties.
Not considering applicable DTTs
UAE has DTTs with over 140 countries, but anti-abuse clauses (LOB, PPT) require real substance. A holding without substance may not benefit from the Spain-UAE DTT.
Not keeping accounting records
DIFC, ADGM and most Free Zones require annual financial statements to maintain the licence and QFZP regime. Without up-to-date accounting, the holding becomes inactive.
Why choose LorcaBase for your Dubai holding.
If you are about to set up a holding in the UAE, we accompany you every step of the way. These are the reasons our clients value most:
No abusive contracts
Most clients trying to switch to us have problems doing so because their previous providers impose abusive clauses that hinder the change. With LorcaBase no such clause exists: your holding is always yours.
Strategic jurisdiction selection
We compare RAK ICC Holding, Free Zone Holding (Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC), DIFC and ADGM SPV based on your goal: passive holding, active management with visas or premium regulated structure. No commercial bias.
End-to-end wealth diagnosis
We analyse your group, subsidiaries, dividend flows, shareholder tax residency and applicable DTTs before choosing jurisdiction. Optimised design for your specific case, not generic templates.
Established banking access
Direct relationships with ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB, WIO and international private banking experienced with holdings and SPVs. We prepare KYC professionally to reduce rejections.
QFZP and substance compliance
We set up economic substance under Corporate Tax, UBO declarations, FATCA and CRS so your holding maintains the QFZP regime year after year.
Service in English and Spanish
Each document, meeting and delivery in your language, without rough translations or misunderstandings on operations that move significant assets.
Prefer a different structure?
Company formation.
Overview of all structures available in the UAE: Free Zone, Mainland, Offshore, Holding, Freelance.
Discover → VII · Free ZoneFree Zone company.
International operations with residence visas available. IFZA, DMCC, RAKEZ, Meydan.
Discover → VI · OffshoreOffshore company.
For asset management and international trade without local UAE operations. RAK ICC, JAFZA, Ajman.
Discover → X · FoundationUAE Foundation.
Succession structure with no shareholders for multi-generational wealth planning. RAK ICC, ADGM, DIFC.
Discover →Key terms for setting up a holding in Dubai.
Dictionary of technical terms you will see during the process of setting up a holding in the UAE. If anything is unclear, we explain it.
Holding▸
Company whose main activity is to hold shares in other companies, assets, intellectual property or real estate. In the UAE it is typically set up as Free Zone Holding, RAK ICC Holding or SPV in DIFC and ADGM.
RAK ICC Holding▸
Holding company registered at the RAK International Corporate Centre. Recommended for international holding of assets, properties, SPVs and subsidiaries with no need for visas or local operations.
Free Zone Holding▸
Holding company registered in a Free Zone (Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC). Allows active management, residence visas and operations within the UAE market under a Holding licence.
SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle)▸
Special-purpose company used to isolate an asset, an operation or a project. Common in DIFC and ADGM for family offices, funds and real estate operations.
DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)▸
Dubai financial centre regulated under English common law with independent courts. Premium jurisdiction for SPVs, family offices and regulated funds.
ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market)▸
Abu Dhabi financial centre regulated under English common law. Premium jurisdiction with Foundation regime, SPV and institutional funds.
FZE (Free Zone Establishment)▸
Free Zone company with a single shareholder. Equivalent to a sole-proprietor entity. Common structure for personal holdings.
FZCO (Free Zone Company)▸
Free Zone company with two or more shareholders. Equivalent to a limited liability company. Common structure for holdings with multiple shareholders.
QFZP (Qualifying Free Zone Person)▸
Corporate Tax regime allowing 0% taxation on qualifying income (dividends, capital gains) provided the holding meets economic substance and activity restrictions.
Corporate Tax (CT)▸
9% tax on profits exceeding 375,000 AED. Effective since June 2023. Qualifying Free Zone holdings can keep 0% under the QFZP regime.
MOA (Memorandum of Association)▸
Founding legal document defining shareholders, share capital, share distribution and the holding's business purpose.
AOA (Articles of Association)▸
Bylaws regulating internal governance: shareholder meetings, voting rights, dividends and share transfers.
UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)▸
Natural person who ultimately controls the holding at the end of the ownership chain. Mandatory disclosure in all UAE jurisdictions since 2020.
ESR (Economic Substance Regulations)▸
Regulation requiring holdings to demonstrate real economic activity in the UAE: offices, qualified personnel and decisions made locally.
DTT (Double Taxation Treaty)▸
Bilateral treaty between two countries to avoid double taxation. UAE has DTTs with over 140 countries, including Spain (2006) and most of Latin America.
AED▸
UAE Dirham, official currency of the UAE. Fixed exchange rate of approximately 1 USD = 3.67 AED.
What we get asked most.
How much does it cost to set up a holding company in Dubai?
It depends on the jurisdiction. RAK ICC Holding starts from 4,500 USD (recommended for international asset and property holding). Free Zone Holding (Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC) ranges 6,000 to 12,000 USD per year (when you need visas and active management in the UAE). DIFC or ADGM SPV from 25,000 USD (regulated premium structure for family offices and funds). See full table at cost ranges.
Note: indicative figures, each case is quoted individually.
Free Zone Holding or RAK ICC Holding? Which does LorcaBase recommend?
It depends on the use. RAK ICC Holding for passive international holding: assets, properties, SPVs or subsidiaries in other countries, with no visas or UAE operations. Free Zone Holding (Meydan, IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC) when you need active management, residence visas and to operate within the UAE market under a Holding licence.
Does a holding in Dubai allow residence visas?
Only if it is Free Zone Holding or Mainland Holding. RAK ICC Holding and most SPVs in DIFC or ADGM do not issue visas to the shareholder. If you need UAE residency, combine the holding with a Free Zone that does allow visas or apply for the Golden Visa via investment.
What is a holding company in Dubai?
It is a company whose main activity is to hold shares, assets or intellectual property of other companies. In the UAE it is typically set up as Free Zone Holding, RAK ICC Holding (offshore) or SPV in DIFC and ADGM.
What taxation applies to a holding in Dubai?
The federal regime applies to all UAE holdings: 0% up to 375,000 AED of profit and 9% above that threshold. Free Zone holdings that meet QFZP can be taxed at 0% on qualifying income (dividends and capital gains from subsidiaries). Dividends from UAE subsidiaries are exempt from withholding. The UAE applies no withholding on dividends paid abroad.
Can a Dubai holding own subsidiaries in Spain or Latin America?
Yes. An Emirati holding can own shares in subsidiaries in any jurisdiction. UAE has Double Taxation Treaties with Spain (2006) and most of Latin America, which avoids double taxation on cross-border dividends.
What is an SPV and when is it used?
A Special Purpose Vehicle is a company with a specific purpose: to isolate an asset, channel an investment or reduce risk. In the UAE they are mainly used in DIFC and ADGM for wealth structures, family offices, regulated funds and real estate operations.
How long does it take to set up a holding in Dubai?
Between 2 and 20 business days. RAK ICC Holding takes 2 to 5 days due to its administrative flexibility. Free Zone Holding 5 to 14 days. DIFC or ADGM SPV may take 15 to 20 days due to additional regulatory approval. Bank account opening adds 2 to 4 weeks.
Can an offshore holding (RAK ICC) invoice within the UAE?
No. RAK ICC Holding is designed for passive holding and international operations, not to invoice in the local UAE market. If you need to invoice UAE clients, also open a Free Zone Holding or Mainland that does allow local operations.
The trust of those who already work with us
Your holding in Dubai, structured with precision from day one.
Schedule an initial consultation with no commitment. You will receive a tailored diagnosis on jurisdiction (RAK ICC, Free Zone, DIFC or ADGM), corporate structure and optimal taxation for your group and subsidiaries.
Book a consultation →Dubai Marina, UAE