RAK ICC Re-Registration FAQs: Agent Change, M&A Upload & Amendments

What is RAK ICC re-registration and why does it matter?

RAK ICC re-registration is the process of bringing an existing RAK ICC company onto the current register by having its licensed Registered Agent upload the company's signed Memorandum & Articles of Association (M&A / MOA) to the RAK ICC portal. Until that upload is done and the process is completed, the company's file is effectively frozen for any changes.

RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) is the registry in Ras Al Khaimah for International Business Companies (IBCs). Companies can only interact with the registry through a licensed RAK ICC Registered Agent — you cannot file anything directly yourself. Re-registration is usually run as a bulk exercise, where the agent uploads signed M&A documents for a batch of companies at once, after which each company is individually completed.

If you are setting up, restoring or restructuring a RAK ICC company, working with the right agent matters. Fastlane is a RAK ICC Registered Agent and also supports mainland and free-zone structures through our UAE company incorporation services. Getting re-registration completed first is what unlocks everything else you may want to do with the company.

Can I change a shareholder or director address during re-registration?

Yes — but it is filed as a separate change, not baked into the re-registration itself. Re-registration M&As are generated in the portal without displaying shareholder names and details. So if any details change, the Registered Agent must file those details with the Registrar within 5 days of being notified by the company.

The Registrar's fees for these filings are fixed: AED 1,000 to change a shareholder's address and AED 500 to change a director's address. These are official RAK ICC fees (separate from any agent service fee) and are set by the Registrar, so always confirm the current amount before you file.

How do I change my registered agent and re-register at the same time?

You can do both together. The exact route depends on whether you are moving from a disqualified agent or transferring from one active RAK ICC agent to another.

In short, a No-Objection Certificate is only a sticking point in a normal handover. When you are taking a company over from a disqualified agent, the NOC requirement falls away and the new agent can move the company across and complete the paperwork. This is a common reason RAK ICC companies switch to an active Registered Agent like Fastlane.

Where do I get the re-registration document templates?

The re-registration templates are available in the guidance section of the RAK ICC portal. Before asking anyone for documents, your agent should check that section first, because most of the templates you need for the process are published there.

If you (or your agent) are not in receipt of the relevant templates, you should inform the RAK ICC amendments team accordingly and they will provide them. A good Registered Agent will already hold the current templates and prepare them for signature, so you are not chasing forms while a bulk re-registration window is open.

Who signs and uploads the re-registration documents?

The Registered Agent signs and uploads the re-registration documents on the company's behalf, after the shareholder(s) execute them. This is why the agent relationship has to be sorted out before the documents can be completed.

There is an important exception for handovers: if the previous agent has not handed over the re-registration documents together with the NOC for the agent change, the new agent can sign and submit all the relevant documents. In practice that means a stalled re-registration — where an old agent is holding paperwork — can still be completed by your new agent without waiting on the outgoing party.

Can I make amendments before completing re-registration?

No. Uploading the signed re-registration documents (the signed MOA) and completing the re-registration process is a mandatory pre-requisite before you can apply for any amendment — whether that is a share transfer, a company name change, an activity change, or a director or secretary change.

A simple worked sequence shows how this plays out for a company that wants to transfer shares and update its registered shareholder address:

Skipping step 1 is not possible — the amendment simply will not be accepted. This is the single most common reason RAK ICC amendment requests are rejected, so complete the re-registration first.

My M&A doesn't list activities or shareholding — is that a problem?

No. Because the RAK ICC M&A does not mention the shareholding details, you are not required to submit an addendum for share-related amendments. The activity and shareholding table simply is not part of the standard M&A.

However, there is a trade-off to be aware of. If you intend to add the shareholding details into the M&A, then for every amendment going forward you would have to amend the M&A by submitting an addendum to it. In other words, adding those details creates an ongoing obligation to keep them updated via addenda — so only add them if you have a specific reason to. For most IBCs, leaving shareholding out of the M&A keeps future changes lighter.

Does my company need a secretary to re-register?

No — not having a secretary will not stop you from re-registering a company. The absence of a company secretary is not a blocker to completing the re-registration process. That said, RAK ICC recommends appointing a secretary.

A company secretary supports proper record-keeping and governance for the IBC and is generally good practice for an ongoing entity. If you don't have one at the point of re-registration, you can proceed now and appoint a secretary later — but factoring it in during re-registration keeps your governance tidy from the outset. Our team can advise on whether a secretary appointment makes sense for your structure.

Do RAK ICC (offshore) companies pay UAE Corporate Tax?

Being a RAK ICC / offshore company does not automatically place you outside UAE Corporate Tax. An offshore structure is not a blanket tax exemption — whether Corporate Tax registration and filing is required depends on the company's activities and where its income arises, so this should be assessed rather than assumed.

RAK ICC IBCs are generally not "Free Zone Persons" for the purposes of the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, so don't rely on a free-zone 0% assumption for a RAK ICC company. If your company is or may be within scope, you may need to complete UAE Corporate Tax registration and consider your Corporate Tax filing position. We can review this alongside your accounting and bookkeeping so nothing is missed.

How does Fastlane handle your RAK ICC re-registration?

As a RAK ICC Registered Agent, Fastlane can take over your company (including from a disqualified or previous agent), upload your signed M&A, complete the re-registration, and then process any amendments — all in one coordinated workflow, so you are not juggling agents and forms.

1. Take over the company — we handle the agent change via the portal, or by email to the RAK ICC amendments team when you are moving from a disqualified agent.
2. Prepare and sign the documents — we provide the current templates from the guidance section for shareholder signature.
3. Upload and complete re-registration — we sign and submit the signed MOA on your behalf to bring the company onto the current register.
4. Process amendments & keep you compliant — once re-registration is complete, we file address changes, share transfers or name changes, and review Corporate Tax, accounting and AML obligations.