A JAFZA offshore company is the only offshore company registered inside the Emirate of Dubai. It can hold shares, intellectual property and freehold property in Dubai's designated areas, with 100% foreign ownership, one shareholder and no minimum capital. Its regulations were rewritten in 2023, and JAFZA publishes a registration fee of AED 10,000 and a renewal fee of AED 2,500.
The hard part is the paperwork. JAFZA registers offshore companies only through its registered agents, asks for corporate documents attested by a UAE embassy, and requires a company secretary, an annual audit and records kept for 10 years. Many guides still quote the old 2018 rules and leave these duties out.
This is where we come in. We handle your whole JAFZA offshore company formation with JAFZA registered agents: the structure, the KYC pack, the attestation, the memorandum, the filing and the secretary. One team, one clear quote and a company registered in 5 to 7 working days.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
Comparing all three UAE offshore registries? Read our guide to offshore company setup in the UAE.
Why Choose a JAFZA Offshore Company
A Dubai offshore company gives you a Dubai-registered holding company run by one of the region's largest free zone authorities, Jebel Ali Free Zone. It costs more to run than RAK ICC, but it carries the strongest link to Dubai property and a governance standard that banks and counterparties recognise.
The Only Offshore Registry in Dubai
RAK ICC sits in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman Offshore in Ajman. JAFZA Offshore is the only offshore registry inside Dubai itself, governed by the Jebel Ali Free Zone Offshore Companies Regulations 2023, which run to 135 regulations in 20 parts and replaced the 2018 rules.
Dubai Freehold Property in Its Own Rules
JAFZA's regulations allow an offshore company to own property in Dubai's designated freehold areas, and JAFZA issues the Arabic no objection letter the Land Department asks for at AED 200. The property right sits in the registry's own regulations rather than in a separate memorandum, which is why JAFZA is the usual choice for Dubai property holding.
Set Up Your Company in JAFZA Offshore
The company is straightforward when the documents and the officers are ready. This is what we do for you.
- JAFZA registered agents: JAFZA only accepts filings through its agents, and ours do it.
- Attestation handled: Corporate papers notarised and embassy-attested for you.
- Secretary provided: The company secretary JAFZA requires, in place from day one.
- Dubai property ready: The JAFZA NOC for the Land Department arranged.
- Audit on our calendar: The yearly audit and general meeting planned early.
- Fast registration: Filed and registered in 5 to 7 working days.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: JAFZA fees shown as published, our fee alongside.
100% Foreign Ownership and One Shareholder
A company registered with JAFZA Offshore needs at least one shareholder, with no maximum, and shareholders can be individuals or companies of any nationality. There is no minimum share capital, and bearer shares are not allowed.
Low Renewal Fee
JAFZA charges AED 2,500 to renew an offshore company each year, filed online by the registered agent through Dubai Trade in 1 working day. Late renewal adds AED 120 for every 30 days. Many guides quote AED 8,000 to AED 12,000 for renewal, which is an agent package, not JAFZA's fee.
A Governance Standard Banks Recognise
The annual audit, the secretary and the 10-year record rule cost more to maintain, but they give a bank or a counterparty the audited accounts and clean registers it wants to see. For a company that holds valuable assets, that is often worth the cost.
Continuation In and Out
JAFZA allows a company from another jurisdiction to re-domicile into JAFZA Offshore, and a JAFZA company to move out, without liquidating. That lets a group bring an existing holding company to Dubai or move it later.
JAFZA Offshore Shareholders, Directors and Secretary
Under the JAFZA offshore regulations, companies are limited by shares, and the 2018 reform, carried into the 2023 regulations, made the structure simpler: one director instead of two, corporate directors allowed and several share classes possible. Most guides still describe the pre-2018 rules.
Shareholders
At least one shareholder, individual or corporate, with no maximum. Shares must be registered; bearer shares are not allowed. There is no minimum capital, so the company is usually formed with a small, real share capital.
Directors
At least one director. Corporate directors are allowed under the reformed rules, and directors do not need to live in the UAE. Guides that say two natural person directors are required are describing the old regulations.
Company Secretary
Every company registered with JAFZA Offshore must have a company secretary. A director can act as secretary, but practitioner summaries of the rules say a corporate secretary is not allowed. We provide a secretary as part of the setup if you do not have one.
Registered Agent and Office
Registration and every later filing go through a JAFZA registered agent, whose office is the company's registered office in the UAE. JAFZA does not accept offshore applications directly from owners.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
JAFZA Offshore Company Formation for Non-Residents
Forming a company with JAFZA Offshore from abroad is the normal use of the vehicle. Owners, directors and the secretary can live abroad, and nobody needs a UAE visa to form or run the company. The one step that needs care is attestation.
Attestation Is the Step That Takes Time
JAFZA asks for corporate documents to be notarised and attested by a UAE embassy, unlike RAK ICC, which accepts notarised documents without legalisation. For a re-domiciliation, foreign documents also need attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This chain can take 2 to 4 weeks, so we start it in week one.
No Travel Needed
Individual shareholders and directors provide passports, a CV for the founder and a specimen signature, all collected remotely. Nobody needs to attend a meeting in Dubai to form the company, as our guide to open an offshore company as a non-resident explains.
Residence Visas
The company holds no trade licence, so it cannot sponsor visas the way a free zone company can. Practitioner summaries of the 2023 regulations say members may apply for residence where the company owns freehold property in a designated area, and we check that route on your file. Owners who need a visa for other reasons add a licensed company.
Set Up in JAFZA Offshore From Abroad
You can own and run a company registered with JAFZA Offshore without living in the UAE. This is how we keep it simple.
- No residency rule: Owners, directors and secretary can live anywhere.
- Attestation planned: Embassy attestation started in the first week.
- No travel needed: Documents and signatures collected remotely.
- Registered office included: Our JAFZA agent provides the UAE address.
- Bank file ready: Our partners open an account with no branch visit.
- One point of contact: No back-and-forth emails across time zones.
What JAFZA Offshore Companies Can and Cannot Do
A Dubai offshore company is a holding and international company, not a UAE trading company. JAFZA lists its uses as international trade, holding, real estate, copyright and patent registration, and international consulting.
What It Can Do
- Hold shares in UAE and foreign companies
- Own freehold property in Dubai's designated areas
- Hold intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and patents
- Trade and consult internationally with customers outside the UAE
- Keep a UAE bank account, and use UAE lawyers and accountants
- Keep its books and hold board meetings in the UAE
What It Cannot Do
It holds no trade licence, so it cannot open a shop or office in the UAE market, sell to UAE customers as a licensed business or sponsor staff visas. The 2018 rules barred commercial activity in the UAE outright; law firm reviews of the 2023 rules say the registrar can now permit lawful activities from time to time. Under the JAFZA offshore regulations, treat any UAE activity as needing the registrar's approval first.
Property Holding in Practice
Property is the main reason owners choose JAFZA. The company can buy freehold property in Dubai's designated areas, and the property can serve as the company's address. The Land Department charges 2% of the price to the seller and 2% to the buyer, plus AED 250 for the title deed and a trustee fee of AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 plus VAT. Our guide to offshore company formation in Dubai covers the property side in more depth.
Holding and IP Structures
A JAFZA company often sits above an operating free zone or mainland company, holding its shares, or holds a group's trademarks and patents. Our guide to setting up a holding company in Dubai compares onshore options, and the types of companies in the UAE guide sets out every lane.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
How to Register With JAFZA Offshore
JAFZA offshore company registration runs through a JAFZA registered agent, and we run each step for you. JAFZA states 5 to 7 working days from a complete submission. The attestation of corporate documents is what sets the real timeline.
Register Interest and Agree the Structure
We register the application with JAFZA, confirm the shareholders, directors and secretary, the name and the purpose of the company, and check whether the company will hold property.
Build and Attest the Documents
We collect passports, the founder's CV and specimen signatures, and for a corporate shareholder its certificate of registration, good standing, incumbency showing the beneficial owner, memorandum and articles and a board resolution with a power of attorney. Corporate papers are notarised and attested by a UAE embassy.
Draft the Memorandum and Articles
We draft the memorandum and articles under the 2023 regulations and the letter appointing the registered agent, and collect signatures from every shareholder.
File With JAFZA
Our registered agent files the application and pays AED 10,000 for registration plus AED 50 per specimen signature. JAFZA registers the company in 5 to 7 working days and issues the certificate of incorporation.
After Registration
We set up the registers and the beneficial owner record, register the company for corporate tax within 3 months, appoint the auditor for the first year and prepare the bank file. If the company is buying property, we request JAFZA's no objection letter for the Land Department. Our guide to UAE corporate tax for companies covers the tax side.
Full-Service JAFZA Offshore Company Registration
From the first call to the certificate, one team runs your registration with JAFZA.
- Filings done for you: Application, memorandum and agent appointment handled.
- Attestation managed: Embassy and MOFA steps tracked, not left to you.
- Secretary and auditor: Both appointed so the company is compliant from day one.
- Faster than going direct: One complete file, so fewer rounds of questions.
- Deadlines on our calendar: Renewal, audit and tax registration tracked.
- Everything included: One quote for our work, with every JAFZA fee listed.
Documents Needed for JAFZA Offshore Company Registration
JAFZA publishes its document list, and it is stricter than RAK ICC's on corporate papers. Individual documents are simple; company documents need notarisation and UAE embassy attestation.
For an Individual Shareholder
- The offshore company application
- Passport copies of every board member
- The founder's CV
- Specimen signatures
- The memorandum and articles, and the registered agent appointment letter
For a Corporate Shareholder
- Certificate of registration and certificate of good standing
- Certificate of incumbency showing the beneficial owner
- Memorandum and articles of the parent
- Board resolution and power of attorney
- All notarised and attested by a UAE embassy
For a Company Moving to JAFZA
A company re-domiciling into JAFZA also needs its foreign documents notarised and attested by the UAE embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a no objection letter to its current registrar. Banks will later ask for proof of address and source of funds, so we collect those at the same time.
JAFZA Offshore Company Cost in 2026
Our JAFZA offshore company formation service starts from €1,899. It covers structure advice, your KYC pack, attestation management, the memorandum and articles, filing through a JAFZA registered agent and the beneficial owner record, confirmed in writing before you pay. JAFZA's own fees and the secretary and audit costs are listed in the same quote. Complex structures and re-domiciliations are quoted separately.
JAFZA Offshore Fees
These are the fees JAFZA publishes for offshore companies.
JAFZA fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Registration | AED 10,000 |
Specimen signature | AED 50 each |
Courier | AED 10 inside or AED 20 outside the free zone |
Annual renewal | AED 2,500 |
Late renewal | AED 120 for every 30 days |
Standard letters, including the property NOC | AED 200 each |
Letter of incumbency | AED 400 |
Re-domicile out: de-registration | AED 5,000, plus AED 1,500 advertisement and letters |
Re-domicile in | AED 10,000 registration plus AED 1,000 re-domicile fee |
Realistic First-Year Cost
Cost item | When it is paid | Typical amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
Company formation with Binderr | Once, before filing | From €1,899 | Structure advice, KYC pack, attestation, memorandum, agent filing and UBO record |
JAFZA registration fee | At filing | AED 10,000 | JAFZA's registration of the company |
Company secretary | Yearly | AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 | The secretary JAFZA requires |
Annual audit | Yearly | AED 3,500 to AED 10,000 | The audited accounts JAFZA requires |
Registered agent and office | Yearly | Quoted with your setup | The agent and UAE registered office |
Embassy attestation | Once | Quoted with your setup | Attesting corporate documents from abroad |
JAFZA renewal fee | From year two | AED 2,500 | Keeping the company on the register |
Corporate tax registration and return | Within 3 months, then yearly | No FTA fee to register | The return due 9 months after the tax period ends |
Business account | Monthly | €30 to €100 a month with our partners | A multi-currency account with no minimum balance |
Realistic first-year total | Year one | About AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 | A holding company with secretary and audit, before property costs |
The secretary and audit ranges are market figures, and the AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 total matches what agents quote for a JAFZA Offshore setup in year one. The biggest variables are the audit, the attestation and the number of shareholders.
JAFZA Offshore Company Cost by Profile
Company profile | Realistic first year | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
Simple holding company, one owner | About AED 15,000 to AED 18,000 | Registration, secretary and a light audit |
Dubai property holding company | About AED 17,000 to AED 25,000 | NOC, Land Department fees and a fuller audit |
Holding company with a corporate shareholder | About AED 18,000 to AED 25,000 | Embassy attestation and a larger audit |
Company re-domiciling into JAFZA | Quoted separately | Re-domicile fee and foreign documents |
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
How Long JAFZA Offshore Company Formation Takes
JAFZA registers an offshore company in 5 to 7 working days from a complete submission. With embassy attestation for corporate shareholders, the whole process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, and about a week for individual owners.
Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
Structure, officers and name agreed | 1 to 2 days |
Documents collected from individuals | 2 to 5 days |
Embassy attestation for corporate papers | 2 to 4 weeks, where needed |
JAFZA registration | 5 to 7 working days |
Corporate tax registration | Within 3 months of incorporation |
Business account with our partners | Usually 2 to 4 days from a complete file |
What Slows It Down
Attestation that starts late, corporate shareholders without incumbency certificates, missing specimen signatures and an unclear beneficial owner chain are the usual causes. Each one sends the file back to the agent.
How to Speed It Up
Start attestation in the first week, send every signature and document in one batch and keep the structure simple. If you only need individual shareholders, the process is much faster.
JAFZA Offshore Company Cost From €1,899
One quote, one team and a Dubai offshore company registered in 5 to 7 working days.
- Everything included: Advice, KYC pack, attestation, memorandum and agent filing.
- JAFZA fees listed: AED 10,000 to register, AED 2,500 to renew, as published.
- Secretary and audit priced: The yearly costs set out before you commit.
- Avoid a bank rejection: Your company file built the way banks want it.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: Re-domiciliations quoted separately, in writing.
Tax and Compliance for JAFZA Offshore Companies
A company registered with JAFZA Offshore carries more compliance than other UAE offshore companies, and it sits fully inside UAE corporate tax. None of it is difficult, but every item has a date.
Corporate Tax Applies
A company incorporated under UAE law is a resident person for corporate tax. It registers within 3 months of incorporation, or pays an AED 10,000 penalty, and files a return within 9 months of each tax period. The rate is 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. JAFZA's own website has carried older wording that offshore companies pay no corporate tax; that has not been true since June 2023.
The 0% Free Zone Rate Rarely Applies
A Qualifying Free Zone Person needs substance in the zone, audited accounts and qualifying income. A Dubai offshore company has the audit, but usually not the substance, and Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 makes owning or exploiting immovable property an excluded activity. Rent from a Dubai apartment cannot be qualifying income.
Annual Audit and General Meeting
JAFZA requires its offshore companies to keep accounting records for 10 years, undergo an annual audit and hold a general meeting every year. Practitioner summaries of the 2023 regulations put the audited accounts before members within six months of the year end.
Beneficial Owner Register
Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023, explained in our guide to the ultimate beneficial owner, sets a 25% threshold for beneficial owners, changes must be updated within 15 days, and records must be kept for 5 years after the company is dissolved. Fines under Cabinet Decision No. 132 of 2023 reach AED 100,000 for failing to keep the register. Economic substance reporting no longer applies, as our guide to economic substance regulations in the UAE explains.
Renewal
Renewal is AED 2,500 a year, filed online by the registered agent in 1 working day, with AED 120 added for every 30 days late. JAFZA can strike off a company that does not pay.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
Business Banking for JAFZA Offshore Companies
The company has audited accounts and clean registers, which helps at a bank, but it still has no trade licence. The fast UAE digital accounts are closed to it, and branch banks that take offshore files want higher balances, a meeting and a clear reason for the money to be in the UAE.
Local Banks and Their Limits
UAE banks publish no policy on offshore companies, and most business packages need a trade licence and a resident signatory. Where a branch takes the file, expect a minimum balance of AED 25,000 to AED 50,000 or more, an in-person meeting and weeks of review. Our guide to the best offshore business bank accounts in the UAE goes deeper.
Faster Accounts Through Our Payment Partners
Our regulated payment partners open multi-currency accounts for JAFZA offshore companies owned from abroad in days, online, with no minimum balance and no resident signatory. Fees are published, from about €30 to €100 a month, and cross-border payments and currency exchange cost far less. Our guide to a business bank account for non-residents explains why. Read more about opening an offshore bank account in Dubai.
Equals Money
Business Bank Account
Time to onboard
2 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
€30
3S Money
Cross-border payments
Time to onboard
4 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
Starting from € 100
JAFZA Offshore vs RAK ICC, Ajman Offshore and Guernsey
Founders choosing a company registered with JAFZA Offshore usually compare it with the other two UAE offshore registries, and international holding structures often look at Guernsey, a Crown Dependency with a 0% standard company tax rate.
Factor | JAFZA Offshore | RAK ICC | Ajman Offshore | Guernsey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Company tax | 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above | 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above | 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above | 0% standard rate |
Registry fee to incorporate | AED 10,000 | AED 3,250 | Not published | Included in our price |
Registry renewal fee | AED 2,500 | AED 3,950 | Not published | Annual validation fee |
Audit | Required every year | Not required | Not required, per agents | Depends on the company |
Company secretary | Required | Optional | Per agents | Depends on the company |
Dubai freehold property | Yes, in designated areas | Yes, with a RAK ICC NOC | No, Ajman property only | No |
Our price | From €1,899 | From €1,899 | From €1,899 | From €1,899 |
Time to incorporate | 5 to 7 working days | 2 working days | 1 to 3 working days | About 1 week |
JAFZA costs the most to run among the UAE registries, but its property rights and governance are the strongest. RAK ICC is cheaper and lighter. Ajman publishes almost nothing. Guernsey suits groups that want a European-facing holding company outside the UAE.
JAFZA Offshore vs RAK ICC
RAK ICC charges AED 3,250 to incorporate and needs no audit or secretary, and its companies reach Dubai property through a 2019 Land Department memorandum. Choose RAK ICC for a light holding company; choose JAFZA when Dubai property is central and you want audited accounts for banks. Read our guide to RAK ICC company formation.
JAFZA Offshore vs Ajman Offshore
Ajman Free Zone registers offshore companies in 1 to 3 working days but publishes no fees, and agent quotes range from about AED 7,500 to AED 20,000. Its property rights stop at Ajman. Read our guide to Ajman offshore company formation.
JAFZA Offshore vs Guernsey
A Guernsey company pays 0% tax on most profits and sits in a well-known Crown Dependency with its own courts and regulator. It suits groups whose banks and investors are in Europe. Our guide to Guernsey offshore company formation explains the route.
Guernsey Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% standard / 10% regulated activities
Capital gains and inheritance tax
0%
Time to incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
Who JAFZA Offshore Is Wrong For
A Dubai offshore company is the right tool for holding Dubai property and other assets with strong governance. For some founders it costs more than they need.
You Want the Cheapest Holding Company
With registration, a secretary and an audit, JAFZA costs more each year than RAK ICC. If you do not need Dubai property or audited accounts, RAK ICC is the lighter choice.
You Want to Trade in the UAE
The company holds no trade licence. For UAE customers you need a free zone company in the UAE or a mainland company in the UAE.
You Want a Guaranteed 0% Tax Rate
It pays UAE corporate tax like any other company, and property income is excluded from the free zone 0% rate.
You Cannot Get Documents Attested
If your corporate shareholder cannot easily get UAE embassy attestation, RAK ICC's notarisation-only rule is far simpler.
Common Mistakes With JAFZA Offshore Companies
Most costly mistakes with a company registered with JAFZA Offshore come from guides written for the old rules.
Relying on the 2018 or Older Rules
The 2023 regulations replaced the 2018 set. Guides that call for two natural person directors or cite a 2013 regulation are out of date, so check advice against the current JAFZA offshore regulations.
Forgetting the Audit and the Secretary
JAFZA requires both every year. Owners who form the company cheaply and skip them run into problems at renewal and at the bank.
Believing the Company Is Tax-Exempt
A Dubai offshore company must register for corporate tax within 3 months and file every year. Missing registration costs AED 10,000.
Starting Attestation Too Late
Embassy attestation of corporate documents can take weeks. Starting it after the application stalls the whole timeline.
Leaving the Bank Account to the End
Plan banking during formation and open a partner account as soon as the certificate is issued, so the company can pay the property developer or receive dividends on time.
Not Sure JAFZA Offshore Is Right for Your Structure?
Many enquiries about JAFZA end in RAK ICC, a free zone or another jurisdiction. It costs nothing to check first.
- The honest answer: JAFZA, RAK ICC, Ajman or a free zone, based on what you hold.
- Property route planned: Dubai freehold ownership mapped before you buy.
- Tax position checked: Including whether any 0% claim holds up.
- Every lane covered: We form in all three, so we have no reason to push one.
- A written plan: Clear next steps sent to you after the call.
Bottom Line
The company is Dubai's own offshore vehicle, governed by the 2023 regulations, with 100% foreign ownership, one shareholder, no minimum capital and property rights in Dubai's designated freehold areas written into its rules. JAFZA charges AED 10,000 to register and AED 2,500 to renew.
It costs more to run than RAK ICC because of the secretary, the annual audit and the 10-year records, and it pays UAE corporate tax like any other company. For a Dubai property holding or a structure that needs audited accounts, it is the strongest choice. We form the company with JAFZA registered agents, handle the attestation and the officers and open the account with you, from €1,899.
