All establishments and companies incorporated in the United Arab Emirates require an Emirati citizen either as an actual partner or as sponsor. The Emirati sponsor shall offer the legitimate experience of a layman and facilitate all services for the companies in which such sponsor is registered as a partner.
- Commercial
- Professional
- Industrial
- Real Estate
- An establishment wholly-owned by an Emirati citizen (100% share) (including commercial, professional, industrial, and real estate entities). The financial liability of such establishment is held by its owner who shall be liable for all financial obligations assumed by the establishment.
- An establishment wholly-owned by a foreigner (100% share) and sponsored by an Emirati service agent (includes professional entities).
A contract shall be made between the foreigner and the service agent and to be notarized by Dubai Courts. The duties of the service agent include providing customary and legitimate experience to enable the foreigner to exercise the professional works. The service agent shall not assume any civil liability or financial obligations related to the business or activity of its principal (the foreigner).
A company established by an Emirati citizen and a foreigner or by an Emirati citizen and several foreigners where each of them has a respective share to be agreed upon. It also may be established by foreigners who shall appoint an Emirati service agent. The shares of the partners shall be determined as per their agreement. The partnership contract made between the partners as well as the appointment contract made between the partners and the local service agent shall be notarized by Dubai Courts.
The company capital shall be no less than AED 50,000,
An association of a maximum number of 50 partners and minimum number of 2 partners incorporated either by an Emirati citizen and a foreigner or by several foreigners. The share of the Emirati citizen shall be no less than 51% as a fixed share while the foreigner shall hold the balance 49% of the capital shares. Where the foreign partners are more than one partner, the said per cent of shares shall be divided among them in accordance with the applicable companies law of the UAE.
The company capital shall be no less than AED 100,000.
An association of capital divided into equal shares that are not offered to the public subscription where the number of partners shall be no less than 3 persons who shall not be held liable for the amounts of their shares. The capital of a PJSC shall not be less than AED 2,000,000 and the nominal value per share shall not be less than one dirham and no more than 100 dirham.
A Company that is allowed to perform its activity in the free zones and may not exercise its main business inside the state or establish offices or branches except under a license issued by the Ministry of Economy following the approval of the competent authorities. The issuance of the said license depends on the condition that such foreign company shall have an Emirati agent. In case the agent is a company, its nationality shall be Emirati and all partners shall be Emirati citizens.
