# Holding company

Regulated activities · Dubai Setup Index

> Choose the legal vehicle based on what it will hold and whether it will run operations or employ people.

- Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/guides/holding-company
- Updated: 2026-10-09
- Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology

## Route and permissions

Choose the legal vehicle based on what it will hold and whether it will run operations or employ people. ADGM’s special purpose vehicle is a passive holding vehicle and cannot conduct operational business or hire staff. Non-exempt SPVs need a Company Service Provider. DIFC’s Prescribed Company rules also restrict the vehicle to its qualifying purpose or holding use and prohibit employees.

An operating holding company, a passive SPV and a foundation are different structures. Staff restrictions on an SPV do not establish a universal “no visa” rule for every holding company.

## What still needs confirmation

Use these as specific structure pointers. A four-zone price or tax comparison is not ready; RAKEZ, RAK ICC and JAFZA have not been verified as equivalent products.

## Sources

- [ADGM SPVs](https://www.adgm.com/business-areas/special-purpose-vehicles)
- [DIFC Prescribed Company regulatory announcement, enacted July 2024](https://www.difc.com/whats-on/news/difc-announces-enactment-of-updated-prescribed-company-regulations)

## Machine-readable

- [JSON](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/guides/holding-company.json)

## Citation

Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional.

Dubai Setup Index. “Holding company.” Updated 2026-10-09. https://dubaisetupindex.com/guides/holding-company

[Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/guides/holding-company). “Holding company.” Updated 2026-10-09.

Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown.