Holding Company in the UAE

A strategic tool for asset protection, investment management, and estate planning. A holding company in the UAE is not a separate legal entity form, but its purpose: it does not conduct operational business but owns other companies, shares, real estate, intellectual property, or financial assets.

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Why Holdings are Created

Function	Examples of Use
Owning Companies	100% participation in FZ-LLC, LLC or foreign structures
Asset Management	Yachts, IP, real estate, trademarks, investment portfolios
Centralization of Control	Finance, lawyers, accountants of the group — in one centre
Estate Planning	Simplified transfer of shares, protection from legal risks
Capital Protection	Removing assets from operational risks, offshore shell

Where to Establish a Holding Company in the UAE

Jurisdiction	Form	Features
Mainland	LLC	Holding licence from DED, ownership of onshore companies
Free Zones	FZ-LLC	SHAMS, DMCC, RAKEZ etc. — for owning FZ companies
RAK ICC	LTD	Offshore holding — ownership of assets, IP, trusts
DIFC / ADGM	SPV / LTD	Investment funds, private equity, family holdings

Legal Features

Limited liability legal entity.
Can own assets in the UAE and abroad.
Does not conduct trading or service activities directly.
ESR reports and UBO declaration are mandatory.
Corporate tax 9% if threshold AED 375,000 is exceeded.
In offshore zones no office is needed, only a registered address.

Want to Protect Assets and Centralize Management?

MIRAD will create a holding structure for you in the UAE — with licensing, reporting, and protection of interests for decades.

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Examples of Structures

International Investor → RAK ICC LTD Holding → owns Dubai FZ-LLC + apartments through JAFZA Offshore + shares in a fund.
Family Holding → ADGM SPV (Holding) → owns corporate structures, properties in the EU, intellectual property.

What MIRAD Does

Select the optimal jurisdiction and form.
Register a company with a “Holding Company” licence.
Set up the structure: founders, shares, agreements.
Submit ESR, UBO, Tax reporting.
Assist with international structuring and asset protection.
Support bank opening and compliance.

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Kostenlose Erstberatung mit unserem Team in Dubai — wir finden den passenden VAE-Setup-Pfad für Sie als deutschen Mandanten.

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