What documents and materials are required to register an Abu Dhabi company

In Abu Dhabi, the preparation of documentation is central to determining the efficiency of the process. The local government has strict requirements on the standardization, authenticity and integrity of commercial documents. There are slight differences in the list of documents of different registration places (mainland area and free zone) and different company types, but the core elements have commonality.

Abu Dhabi Company Registration Documents

1. Company name and business scope

company name: comply with UAE naming rules (e. g. avoid religious and political words) and reserve 3-5 alternative names.

Business scope: clear business activities (subject to free zone or government approved list).

2. Information of shareholders and directors

natural Person Shareholders/Directors:

copy of passport (notarized authentication is required, such as Hague authentication or embassy authentication).

Resume (required for some free zones).

Contact information (address, telephone, email).

Recent photos (electronic version).

Corporate shareholders (companies):

company registration certificate, articles of association (need notarization certification).

Board resolution (signed by authorized representative).

Shareholder structure chart (showing ultimate beneficiaries).

3. Certificate of registered address

free Zone Company: Address within the Free Zone (usually provided by the Free Zone Authority) is required.

Local Company: Need to lease office address in UAE (subject to City Hall approval).

Offshore Company: No physical office address is required, but the address of the registered agent is required.

4. Capital requirements

free zone companies: The minimum capital is usually 1.000-50.000 dirhams (depending on the free zone).

Home-grown companies: minimum capital of dlrs 150.000 (higher in some industries).

Offshore companies: No minimum capital requirements, but need to be noted in the charter.

5. Bank credit certificate

some free zones (e. g. ADGM) require shareholders to provide nearly 3 months of bank flow or proof of creditworthiness.

6. Articles of Association (Memorandum of Association, MOA)

shareholders' rights, profit distribution, management structure, etc. need to be clarified and signed by all shareholders (notarized certification is required).

7. Other Documents

Power of Attorney: If you entrust an agent to register, you need to provide a notarized power of attorney.

No criminal record certificate: some free zones require shareholders to provide (notarized certification required).

Environmental assessment report: if the business involves environmentally sensitive areas (e. g. manufacturing).

Abu Dhabi Company Registration Considerations

1. Notarization of documents:

all non-UAE documents are subject to notarization (e. g. Hague or Embassy).

2) Language requirements:

documents must be provided in Arabic or English/Arabic.

3. Agency services:

it is recommended to entrust the assistance of a local registered agent (such as a law firm or consulting firm) to avoid process delays.

4. Compliance:

ensure business activities comply with UAE Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT) regulations.

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