Starting a business in the United Arab Emirates
Legal Forms of Companies
- Sole Proprietorship
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Number of partners: One person. Can be 100% owned by non-residents.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: The individual entrepreneur is responsible for assets of the company over his personal goods.
- Public Joint-Stock Company
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Number of partners: Minimum ten members. Shares freely transferable, but 51% must be held by UAE nationals.
Capital (max/min): Minimum AED 10 million.
Shareholders and liability: The responsibility is limited to the contributed amount.
- Private Joint-stock Company
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Number of partners: Minimum three shareholders. Shares freely transferable, but 51% must be held by UAE nationals.
Capital (max/min): Minimum AED 2 million.
Shareholders and liability: The responsibility is limited to the contributed amount.
- Limited Liability Company
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Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners. Maximum 50 partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum required.
Shareholders and liability: The responsibility is limited to the shares in the capital of the company.
- General Partnership
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Number of partners: Minimum two partners. All the partners have to be UAE nationals.
Capital (max/min): No minimum required.
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited joint liability.
- Limited Partnership
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Number of partners: At least, one general partner (only UAE nationals) and one limited partner.
Capital (max/min): AED 500,000.
Shareholders and liability: At least one partner must have unlimited liability. Responsibility of other partners is limited to the amount contributed.
Business Setup Procedures
Setting Up a Company |
United Arab Emirates |
Middle East & North Africa |
Procedures (number) |
2.0 |
6.3 |
Time (days) |
3.8 |
19.5 |
Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.
- The Competent Organisation
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The UAE Chambers of Commerce and the competent ministry.
- For Further Information
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Visit Doing Business, to find out about business registration procedures in the United Arab Emirates.
Companies listed in the Dubai Stock Exchange
Financial Information Directories
Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses
Kompass - UAE Business Directory
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Latest Update: November 2024