RAK ICC Foundations: New 2025 Updates Strengthen Asset Protection & Wealth Structuring

At Knightsbridge Group, we are proud to work with leading jurisdictions that continually adapt to meet the evolving needs of global investors and families.

The recent updates to the RAK ICC Foundations Regulations 2019, effective 31 July 2025, reinforce why RAK ICC remains one of the most trusted platforms for asset protection, succession planning, and cross-border wealth structuring.

Key Updates to the RAK ICC Foundations Framework (2025)

The amendments deliver greater clarity, resilience, and future-proofing for Foundations established in Ras Al Khaimah. Highlights include:

• Firewall Provisions
  Foundations are now better insulated from foreign judgments that conflict with UAE law, ensuring enhanced security for assets.
• Three-Year Statute of Limitations
  Challenges to the establishment of a Foundation or asset transfers are limited to a maximum of three years, bringing certainty and finality to long-term planning.
• Cause of Action Provisions
  In cases of proven creditor fraud, only the portion of assets required to satisfy a creditor’s claim may be challenged—preserving the integrity of the wider Foundation structure.
• Duress Protection Clause
  New legal safeguards protect Foundations against coercive legal actions or undue pressure, adding a further layer of confidence for founders.
• Strengthened Arbitration Framework
  Clearer arbitration rules provide court-like powers for dispute resolution, with an emphasis on privacy, confidentiality, and efficiency.
• Private Trustee Foundation Provisions
  Clarifies the treatment of property held in trust by a Foundation, strengthening its flexibility as a structuring tool.

No Action Required on Existing Foundations

Importantly, all existing RAK ICC Foundations remain compliant. The amendments automatically apply, with no need to amend Charters or By-laws, ensuring seamless continuity for founders, trustees, and beneficiaries.

Why Choose a RAK ICC Foundation?

RAK ICC Foundations continue to set the benchmark for international wealth structuring, offering:

• Robust legal protection against foreign judgments and creditor claims
• Enhanced privacy and confidentiality in wealth planning
• Flexible succession planning for multigenerational families
• Efficient dispute resolution through arbitration
• Global credibility in one of the UAE’s most respected jurisdictions
• Whether for family governance, philanthropy, inheritance planning, or asset protection, RAK ICC
• Foundations remain one of the most sophisticated and secure vehicles available.