A Family Foundation in the UAE is not a distinct legal entity type — it is a tax status. Article 17 of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 (the Corporate Tax Law) allows a foundation, trust, or similar entity to obtain Unincorporated Partnership status — fiscal transparency under which income is taxed in the hands of the beneficiaries rather than at the level of the structure itself. Trusts without separate legal personality (such as DIFC/ADGM trusts) are automatically transparent. Foundations with separate legal personality (DIFC Foundation, ADGM Foundation, RAK ICC Foundation) must apply to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and obtain approval. For individual beneficiaries, personal investment and real estate income is generally outside Corporate Tax regardless of the foundation’s own transparency status.

RAKICC (Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre) is the sole offshore corporate registry in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, registering International Business Companies (IBCs) with no right to conduct commercial activity within the UAE.

A UAE offshore company is a legal entity registered with one of three specialised registries: RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore, or Ajman Offshore. The fundamental distinction from a free zone company is that an offshore company may not conduct commercial activities within the UAE, may not rent office space or maintain a physical presence in the country under its own name, and may not sponsor work or residence visas.