We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleCompany Setup · Offshore
Offshore Company Formation
Set up an offshore company in the right jurisdiction for your purpose — UAE Offshore, BVI, Cayman, Mauritius, Seychelles or Hong Kong — for holding, IP and asset protection.
An offshore company is a non-resident holding and structuring vehicle: 100% foreign ownership, tax-neutral, ideal for owning shares, IP and international assets. It does not grant UAE residence visas or allow local UAE trade — for that you pair it with a free zone or mainland company. The whole game is matching the jurisdiction to what the structure is for.
- ✓ 100% foreign ownership
- ✓ Tax-neutral holding
- ✓ 6 jurisdictions
Published Updated
In brief:an offshore company is registered where it doesn’t principally operate — a tax-neutral vehicle for holding shares, IP and international assets, or protecting family wealth. It gives 100% ownership and limited liability, but no UAE residence visa and no local UAE trade — pair it with a free zone or mainland company for that. Avyanco matches the jurisdiction to your purpose across six regimes and handles incorporation, registered agent, banking and compliance.
Reviewed by Chandy Joseph, Sales Director · Company Setup & Offshore · Updated August 2026
Proven Impact
Trusted by Founders, Family Offices, and Global Enterprises.
11,500+
Businesses formed
Mainland · Free Zone · Offshore
45+
Free Zones
RAKEZ · IFZA · DMCC · DIFC · KEZAD
21+
Years' experience
Partner-led firm, founded 2020
4.8★
Client rating
735 verified Google reviews
Why an offshore company
Offshore is not about secrecy — it is about matching a jurisdiction to a purpose. A correctly designed offshore company gives you a clean, tax-neutral vehicle to hold international shares, own intellectual property, invoice cross-border trade, ring-fence assets, or structure a family’s wealth across generations, with 100% foreign ownership and limited liability.
What it is not is an operating licence: an offshore company cannot trade in the local UAE market or sponsor residence visas. Most of our clients use it as the holding layer above an onshore free zone or mainland operating company.
Choose your jurisdiction
Six regimes, each tuned to a use case. Each links to its own guide with the structure, uses and setup steps.
UAE Offshore (RAK ICC)Middle-East holding · can own UAE freehold.View jurisdiction →BVIBusiness Company · the global holding standard.View jurisdiction →Cayman IslandsExempted Company · funds & investment platforms.View jurisdiction →MauritiusGBC / Authorised Company · Africa-facing.View jurisdiction →SeychellesIBC · cost-effective international holding.View jurisdiction →Hong KongPrivate Limited · gateway to Asia & China.View jurisdiction →
What offshore companies are used for
- Holding company — owning shares in operating companies across countries under one clean parent.
- Intellectual property — holding and licensing trademarks, patents and software from a neutral jurisdiction.
- Asset protection — ring-fencing real estate, investments and other assets from operating risk.
- International trade — invoicing cross-border trade that does not touch the local UAE market.
- Wealth & succession — structuring family wealth and estate planning across generations.
For holding and SPV design, see wealth & holding structures.
Not sure which jurisdiction fits your structure?
Tell us what the company is for — we’ll match the jurisdiction, free.
Registered agent & compliance
Modern offshore regimes are compliant, not opaque. Each requires a registered agent and a registered office, beneficial-ownership (UBO) disclosure, and — for relevant activities — Economic Substance. We act as, or appoint, the registered agent, keep the register and filings current, and design the structure so it stands up to bank due-diligence and the group’s overall tax position (handled with our tax team).
Offshore vs free zone vs mainland
Offshore is a holding and structuring vehicle — no residence visas, no local trade. A free zone company gives 100% ownership, residence visas and the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person regime for international and B2B business. A mainland company trades UAE-wide and with government. Many groups combine them: an offshore holding company owning an onshore operating company.
We map all three against your goals in the business setup consultation.
How an offshore company is formed
- Scope the structure — what the company is for, and the group around it.
- Match the jurisdiction — pick the regime that fits the purpose.
- Due diligence & name — KYC on the beneficial owners; reserve the name.
- Incorporate — file with the registrar via the registered agent.
- Registered office & agent — put the ongoing compliance in place.
- Bank account — introductions to banks that onboard the structure.
Most incorporations complete in five to ten working days once due-diligence is in place.
N
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
Related services & guides
Onshore alternatives, holding-structure design, banking and the tax position around your offshore company.
Frequently asked questions
What is an offshore company?
An offshore company is registered in a jurisdiction where it does not principally operate — used for holding international shares, owning intellectual property, managing global trade or structuring family wealth. It gives 100% foreign ownership, limited liability and a tax-neutral holding vehicle. It is not a trading licence for the local market.
Can an offshore company get UAE residence visas?
No. Offshore companies do not grant UAE residence visas. If you need residency for you or your team, a free zone or mainland company is the right vehicle — an offshore company is purely a holding and structuring tool. Many clients pair an offshore holding company with an onshore free zone or mainland operating company.
Can an offshore company trade inside the UAE?
No — an offshore company cannot carry on business in the local UAE market or invoice UAE customers directly. It is used to hold assets, shares and IP, and to invoice internationally. For UAE trade you need a free zone or mainland licence, which the offshore company can then own.
Which offshore jurisdiction should I choose?
It depends entirely on purpose. A Middle-East-linked holding suits UAE Offshore (RAK ICC); a fund or investment platform suits the Cayman Islands; a classic global holding vehicle suits the BVI; an Africa-facing structure suits Mauritius; an Asia gateway suits Hong Kong; and Seychelles is a cost-effective international IBC. We scope the structure against your commercial intent before recommending a jurisdiction.
Can a UAE offshore company own property in Dubai?
A RAK ICC offshore company can own real estate in designated freehold areas approved for RAK ICC ownership, which is one reason it is used for UAE property-holding structures. The list of eligible areas is set by the authorities — we confirm eligibility for your specific property before you rely on it.
Is an offshore company legal, or is it about secrecy?
Offshore structures are entirely legal and mainstream when correctly designed and compliantly maintained — they are about matching jurisdiction to purpose, not secrecy. Modern offshore regimes require a registered agent, beneficial-ownership (UBO) disclosure and, where relevant, Economic Substance. We build and maintain the structure to those standards.
Do offshore companies pay tax?
Most offshore jurisdictions do not levy local corporate tax on income earned outside the jurisdiction, which is why they are used as tax-neutral holding vehicles. That does not remove tax obligations where the owners or the underlying business are resident — the structure must be designed with the group's overall tax position in mind, which we do alongside our tax team.
How long does offshore formation take, and what does it cost?
A straightforward offshore incorporation typically completes within five to ten working days once documents and due-diligence are in place. Cost varies by jurisdiction and whether you add banking and nominee/registered-agent services — we quote each engagement in writing, with professional fees and government/registered-agent charges shown separately.
Free Consultation
Tell us what the company is for — we will match the jurisdiction
Share the purpose — holding, IP, asset protection or trade — and our team will recommend the right offshore jurisdiction and handle incorporation, registered agent, banking and compliance, with professional fees and government / agent charges shown separately.
- Jurisdiction matched to your actual purpose
- Registered agent, UBO and substance handled
- Banking introductions that onboard the structure
Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is a private firm and is not a government entity — not affiliated with or endorsed by any offshore registry or UAE government agency. Offshore regimes, ownership and substance rules, permitted activities, property-holding eligibility and tax treatment are set by the relevant authorities of each jurisdiction, vary by case and change over time. Offshore structures must be designed with the owners’ overall tax position in mind. The information on this page is general guidance only and is not legal or tax advice — confirm your specific position with the relevant authority and a qualified adviser, or with us, before acting.