RAK ICC Regulations 2018 Explained: Agent Duties, Renewals & Re-Registration

What are the RAK ICC Business Companies Regulations 2018?

The RAK ICC Business Companies Regulations 2018 (BCR 2018), together with the RAK ICC Registered Agent Regulations 2018, are the framework that governs International Business Companies (IBCs) registered with RAK International Corporate Centre. They set out how companies are formed, maintained, renewed and struck off, and what a licensed Registered Agent must do.

The single most important practical point is that a RAK ICC company can only interact with the registry through a licensed RAK ICC Registered Agent — you cannot file directly yourself. Fastlane is a RAK ICC Registered Agent and also supports mainland and free-zone structures through our UAE company incorporation services. Because regulations can be amended over time, always check the current version on the official RAK ICC guidance page before you rely on a specific rule.

Did the RAK ICC Regulations 2018 change the re-registration process?

No. The 2018 Regulations did not change the re-registration process, and RAK ICC did not ask clients to reinstate their Memorandum & Articles (M&A) under the new rules. The re-registration of all existing companies under RAKOS (RAK Offshore) and RAKIC (RAK International Companies) was considered to have been completed by 1 January 2018. As a result, reference to Schedule 6 — Transitional Provisions was removed from the 2018 Regulations.

In short, two different things are easy to confuse. The one-time legacy transition from RAKOS/RAKIC onto the RAK ICC register is finished. Separately, to file amendments (share transfers, name or activity changes) your agent still uploads your signed M&A to the portal — that portal step, and the fees around it, are covered in our companion RAK ICC company re-registration guide.

What agent duties do the RAK ICC Regulations 2018 impose?

Two agent obligations come up most often. Under Regulation 25 of the Registered Agent Regulations 2018, a registered agent must maintain professional indemnity insurance with appropriate coverage for the scenarios set out in the Regulations. Under Regulation 22(4) of the BCR 2018, an agent must obtain the Registrar's written consent before any outsourcing arrangement becomes effective or an existing one is modified.

As a company owner, you do not need to provide any documents for the insurance requirement — it is your agent's obligation, not yours. For your own risk position you may separately choose to take advice from an insurance advisor. The outsourcing rule means that where an agent uses another firm as its back office, the Registrar must be satisfied that firm is capable of complying with the Regulations. Choosing an established RAK ICC Registered Agent avoids these questions entirely.

When can a registered agent resign from a company?

Agent resignation is an option for agents to resign from a company where it has been abandoned by its members and directors, or where the members and directors are not reachable. In that situation the resignation fee is paid by the registered agent, not the company — and it cannot be waived, because the agent is choosing to end the relationship.

Why would an agent pay to resign rather than simply leave the company to be struck off? Resigning lets the agent no longer be associated with the company — so they are not contacted about any future liabilities — where the members and directors cannot be reached. It is entirely at the agent's discretion whether to resign or not. If your company is dormant and you want to close it properly rather than let it lapse, look at a structured liquidation and deregistration instead of abandonment.

Do RAK ICC companies file an annual return — is it the same as financial accounts?

No — they are not the same. Filing an annual return under Regulation 262 of the BCR 2018 is not the same as filing financial accounts. The annual return is simply a confirmation of the company details maintained with the Registry, given by the agent at the time of applying for company renewal in the portal.

This distinction matters because UAE Corporate Tax and accounting obligations are separate from the RAK ICC annual return. Even though the annual return is a light-touch confirmation, your company may still need proper accounting and bookkeeping and to consider its Corporate Tax filing position. Don't assume the annual return covers your tax compliance — it does not.

Does RAK ICC charge VAT and issue tax invoices?

Yes — RAK ICC issues tax invoices as an alternate document to receipts. To stay in line with Federal Tax Authority (FTA) requirements, RAK ICC is obliged to issue tax invoices regardless of whether VAT is applicable. On request, you can also obtain a statement of accounts summarising the services for which your wallet balance was used.

At the time this guidance was issued, RAK ICC tax invoices reflected VAT charges as ‘zero’. Because VAT treatment and registry practice can change, confirm the current VAT position on your RAK ICC invoices before relying on it — the standard UAE VAT rate is 5%, and how it applies to specific registry fees can differ. If your own business is VAT-registered, keep these tax invoices for your input-VAT records.

What happened to the RAK ICC re-registration deadline and amnesty?

These are historical milestones from the 2017–2018 transition, included here for context. There were no penalties or charges for completing the re-registration process. The final reminder simply informed agents that, effective 1 July 2018, the Certificate of Good Standing and Certificate of Incumbency would no longer be issued free of charge alongside the other re-registration documents (M&A, Resolution and Certificate of Re-registration).

The amnesty programme covered companies incorporated since 2006 through to companies that had expired by 31 December 2016. If you have an old, expired or dormant IBC today, that historical amnesty is closed — but you still have clear options: renew it, close it through a proper liquidation, or (in limited abandonment cases) have the agent resign. Talk to a Registered Agent about the right path for your specific company.

How do I get a RAK ICC Certificate of Good Standing or Incumbency?

Since 1 July 2018, Certificates of Good Standing and Incumbency are issued on application through the RAK ICC portal and are chargeable — they are no longer bundled free with your re-registration documents. Your Registered Agent submits the request on your behalf.

These certificates are commonly requested for bank account opening, corporate transactions and due diligence. Because they are now applied for separately, factor the request in early if you have a banking or transaction deadline. Official RAK ICC fees are set by the Registrar and can change, so confirm the current amount before you order.

Do RAK ICC companies have UAE Corporate Tax obligations?

Being a RAK ICC / offshore company does not automatically place you outside UAE Corporate Tax. Nothing in the RAK ICC annual return or renewal covers your tax position — that is assessed separately, and an offshore structure is not a blanket exemption.

RAK ICC IBCs are generally not treated as "Free Zone Persons" for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, so do not assume a free-zone 0% rate applies. If your company may be in scope, you may need Corporate Tax registration (from AED 199) and to review your Corporate Tax filing and AML obligations. We can assess this alongside your renewal so the whole picture is covered.

How does Fastlane help you comply with the RAK ICC Regulations 2018?

As a RAK ICC Registered Agent, Fastlane manages your IBC end-to-end under the 2018 Regulations — renewals and annual-return confirmation, certificates, amendments, agent transfers, resignation where appropriate, and the wider UAE tax and accounting picture — so nothing falls through the cracks.

1. Renew & confirm your details — we file the annual-return confirmation (Regulation 262) at renewal through the portal.
2. Order certificates — we apply for Good Standing and Incumbency certificates when your bank or a transaction needs them.
3. Process amendments — share transfers, name or director changes, and address updates, with your signed M&A uploaded where required.
4. Keep you tax-compliant — we review Corporate Tax, VAT and accounting obligations so your offshore company stays clean.