Documents Required to Set Up a Company in Dubai
For individual foreign shareholders, the core documents required to set up a company in Dubai are: (1) clear color passport copy (minimum 6 months validity), (2) recent passport-sized photograph with white background, (3) UAE entry stamp, visit visa, or current residence visa copy with Unified Identification Number (UID), and (4) residential address proof. If the shareholder is a foreign corporate entity, documents must include a Certificate of Incorporation, Board Resolution, Memorandum of Association, and Good Standing Certificate, all attested up to the UAE Embassy in the home country and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Key Takeaways
- ✓Individual foreign shareholders need very minimal paperwork to incorporate: passport, photo, and entry visa/UID.
- ✓Corporate shareholders (holding companies) face extensive legal translation and consular attestation requirements.
- ✓The Unified Identification Number (UID) is an automated 6-to-9 digit number assigned upon first entering the UAE on any visa type.
- ✓Ejari tenancy certificates or free zone lease agreements are required before final trade license issuance.
- ✓Regulated activities require specialized approvals from external ministries prior to document submission.
1. Individual Shareholder Document Checklist
For private entrepreneurs and foreign individuals establishing a company in Dubai, documentation requirements are remarkably streamlined compared to many global jurisdictions. To initiate trade name reservation and initial approval, you must prepare:
Clear high-resolution color copy of each shareholder’s valid passport (must have at least 6 months validity remaining).
Digital passport-sized photograph with a clear white background compliant with ICP specifications.
Copy of your latest UAE tourist visa, visit visa, or current residency visa with the official UAE entry stamp showing your Unified Identification Number (UID).
Proof of residential address in home country or current country of residence (such as a recent utility bill or bank statement, required by select free zones for KYC purposes).
Three preferred trade name choices in order of preference.
2. Corporate Shareholder (Parent Company) Checklist
If the new Dubai enterprise is being established as a subsidiary or branch of an existing overseas parent company, the documentation requirements are significantly more complex. The licensing authority requires formal proof of the parent company’s existence, ownership, and authorization to invest:
Certificate of Incorporation / Commercial Registration Certificate of the overseas parent company.
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA / AoA) of the parent company.
Certificate of Good Standing issued by the foreign company registry, verifying that the parent firm is active and compliant.
Formal Board Resolution resolving to incorporate a subsidiary/branch in Dubai and appointing an authorized legal signatory / manager.
Power of Attorney (PoA) granting legal authority to the local representative to sign formation paperwork in Dubai.
3. Legal Attestation & MoFA Requirements for Overseas Corporate Papers
All overseas corporate documents must undergo a mandatory chain of consular attestations before they are legally recognized by Dubai courts or licensing authorities:
1. Notarization by a registered Notary Public in the home country.
2. Authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Department of State in the country of origin.
3. Consular legalization by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin.
4. Final super-legalization by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Dubai.
5. Sworn legal translation into Arabic by an authorized translator accredited by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
Attestation of foreign corporate documents can take 3 to 6 weeks depending on the home country. If speed is critical, many founders choose to incorporate initially with individual shareholders and restructure shareholding at a later stage.
4. Understanding the UAE UID Number
A Unified Identification Number (UID) is a permanent 6 to 9-digit identification number automatically generated by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) whenever an individual enters the UAE on any visa type (tourist, transit, or employment).
The UID links your immigration records across all Emirates. Free zones and DET require your UID number to process initial approvals and security checks.
5. Lease & Real Estate Documents
To finalize license issuance, you must present valid premises documentation:
For Mainland: Commercial Tenancy Contract and official Ejari Registration Certificate registered under the company’s reserved trade name.
For Free Zone: Official Free Zone Lease Agreement or Flexi-Desk / Smart Desk Allotment Letter signed with the zone authority or approved business center.
This guide is compiled by our editorial team strictly from official UAE government portals, statutory decrees, and licensing authorities. We do not invent figures or quote unverified third-party claims.
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- •Dubai Economy and Tourism Business Portal(DET Dubai)
Frequently Asked Questions
Objective answers to commonly asked questions based on official guidelines.
Do personal documents need to be attested by the UAE embassy?
Standard individual passport copies, photographs, and tourist visa copies do NOT require embassy attestation. Attestation is only required for educational degree certificates (if required for specific professional visa titles) and overseas corporate holding documents.
What if I do not have a UAE visit visa yet?
You can still begin trade name reservation and initial approval remotely using your passport copy. However, obtaining your UID number requires either entering the UAE on a visit visa or having your PRO retrieve your system UID if you have visited the UAE in the past.
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