Documents Required for Company Registration in Dubai

The following documents are required from every individual shareholder and director involved in the company. These apply regardless of whether you are incorporating a mainland, free zone, or offshore entity. Passport copy: A clear colour scan of the biographical data page of a valid passport. Most authorities require the passport to have at least six months of remaining validity at the time of application. Some zones require minimum nine months. Passport-size photograph: A recent colour photograph on a white background. The photograph must meet standard UAE government specifications — full face, no headwear (except for religious reasons), and no glasses in some authority requirements. Proof of residential address: A utility bill, bank statement, or official government document showing your current home address. This must typically be dated within the last three months and clearly show your full name and address. Visa copy: If you are already residing in the UAE, a copy of your current valid UAE residence visa page is required. If you are outside the UAE, this requirement does not apply. No Objection Certificate (NOC): If you are currently employed under a UAE work visa and wish to establish a company, many authorities require a No Objection Certificate from your current employer. This confirms your employer has no objection to you holding a business licence. Educational or professional certificates: For professional licences — such as engineering, legal, medical, accounting, or consulting — the relevant qualifications must be provided and in some cases attested.

If a company (rather than an individual) is to be a shareholder in the Dubai entity, the documentation requirements are more extensive. These corporate KYC documents are required by both licensing authorities and banks. Certificate of Incorporation: The official registration document of the corporate shareholder from its country of incorporation. This must be a certified copy and in many cases must be apostilled or legalised. Memorandum and Articles of Association: The constitutional documents of the parent company, showing its legal structure, shareholder details, and authority of directors or signatories. Board Resolution: A formal resolution passed by the board of the parent company authorising the establishment of a subsidiary or affiliate in Dubai, identifying the authorised signatories, and approving the shareholding percentage. Share Register or Certificate of Good Standing: A document confirming the current shareholders and directors of the corporate parent, often issued by the company registry of the country of incorporation. Passport copies of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs): All individuals who ultimately own or control 25% or more of the corporate shareholder must have their identities verified. Passport copies and proof of address are required for each UBO. Apostille or legalisation: Documents originating outside the UAE typically require authentication. UAE authorities accept documents from Hague Convention countries with an apostille stamp. Documents from non-Convention countries require legalisation through the relevant embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Translation into Arabic by a certified translator is required for non-Arabic, non-English documents.

Mainland company formation through the Department of Economic Development (DED) requires a physical office with a registered lease, which generates additional documents specific to this jurisdiction. Ejari tenancy contract: All mainland companies must have a commercial tenancy agreement registered through the Ejari system (Dubai's official lease registration platform managed by RERA). The Ejari certificate is a mandatory submission document for DED licence applications. Initial approval certificate: The DED issues an initial approval before the full licence application, confirming that the proposed business activities and company name are acceptable. This document is then used in subsequent steps including MOA notarisation. Memorandum of Association (MOA): For mainland LLCs, the MOA must be drafted, reviewed, and notarised at a Dubai Notary Public. It sets out the shareholders, capital, activities, and governance structure. Where a corporate shareholder is involved, its documents must be provided to the notary. Local service agent agreement: For sole proprietorships held by non-GCC nationals in certain professional activities, a local service agent agreement with a UAE national may be required. This is distinct from a local sponsor arrangement and does not involve profit sharing. Sector approvals: Certain business activities require prior approval from sector regulators before the DED will issue a licence. Examples include Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for healthcare, Dubai Tourism for travel businesses, and the Central Bank of the UAE for financial activities.

Free zone document requirements vary by zone but are generally simpler than the mainland process. Most free zones accept electronic submission of documents and do not require physical notarisation. Completed application form: Each free zone has its own application form or online portal. We prepare and submit this on your behalf. Business plan: Some free zones, particularly those with regulated or sector-specific activities, require a brief business plan describing the company's activities, target market, and operational model. Facility agreement: Instead of a physical office lease, free zones issue a facility agreement covering your Flexi Desk or office space. This serves as the equivalent of the Ejari registration for the purposes of licensing. Share capital declaration: Some zones require a declaration of the paid-up share capital. Unlike some historical arrangements, most modern free zones do not require capital to be deposited in a bank account before licensing. Colour passport-size photos and passport copies: Standard personal documents are required from all shareholders and directors, identical to the mainland process.

Opening a corporate bank account in the UAE requires a comprehensive document package that goes beyond the licensing documents. Banks conduct their own Know Your Customer (KYC) process, which is separate from and in addition to the licensing authority requirements. Company documents required by banks typically include: the trade licence, certificate of incorporation (where applicable), Memorandum of Association or equivalent, and the facility agreement or Ejari tenancy contract. A business profile or company overview describing the activities, client base, and expected transaction volumes is also required. Personal documents required for all signatories and UBOs: valid passports, UAE residence visas (if applicable), Emirates ID cards, proof of residential address, and in some cases a personal bank reference letter from an existing bank. Source of funds documentation: Banks are required to understand the origin of the funds to be deposited. This may include bank statements, investment records, property sale proceeds, salary slips, or business revenue documentation depending on the context. For international groups and corporate shareholders, the full corporate KYC chain — including parent company documents, UBO identification, and inter-company agreements — must be provided. Banks have become increasingly thorough in their due diligence and incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons for account delays or rejections.

Attestation requirements depend on the document's country of origin and the purpose for which it is being used. Documents from countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention can be apostilled at the relevant government authority in the country of origin. Documents from non-Convention countries must go through embassy legalisation followed by MOFA attestation in the UAE. Translation: Documents in languages other than English or Arabic must be translated by a certified legal translator before submission to UAE authorities. Some authorities specifically require translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice certified translator. Common document mistakes that cause delays include: submitting expired passports or documents with less than the required remaining validity; providing proof of address documents older than three months; failing to apostille corporate documents that require it; submitting uncertified translations; and providing incomplete or unsigned board resolutions. We review all client documents before submission to the relevant authority, identifying and resolving any issues before they cause delays. This pre-submission check is included in our incorporation service at no additional cost.