Upon completing all requirements, the trade name change shall be achieved in two stages as follows:

1. Receiving all required documents and fees as well as advertising in local newspapers.
2. Foreign establishment/ company registration amendment, then issuance of new license and certificates.

First Stage: initial approval

Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain initial approval, reserve the trade name and advertise in the local newspapers.

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company.
2. Foreign license detail amendment application.
3. Trade name reservation application form

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents and receiving the initial approval, the trade name reservation certificate shall be issued along with the initial approval certificate which will be valid for (30) days. During such period, establishment owners or their representatives shall submit the following:

1. Original and attested resolution of establishment owner or board members to change the trade name. Subsequently, advertisement publishing request will be sent to the local newspapers and shall wait for 14 days as of the date of advertisement.

Second Stage: foreign license detail amendment

Upon expiry of the specified period, foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents:

Required Documents:

1. Original foreign trade license.
2. Original shares and incorporation certificates.

Upon receiving reviewing all required documents, the trade name in the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended. Additionally, license, shares certificate and establishment card shall be reprinted, and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only) DMCA shall prepare the memorandum of association draft, and authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign, noting that in case of any claims made against the foreign establishment/ company, the application will be cancelled and the owner shall submit a new application after ensuring settlement of all claims. On the other hand, the company owner shall undertake to do the following:

1. Apply for sponsor’s name amendment on the employment residence visas of the employees.
2. Change trade name on the establishment/ company signboards and provide evidence of the same.
3. Change trade name at the bank and provide evidence of the same.
4. Change trade name in all official documents, stamps and company letterheads.

The foreign establishment/ company owner shall obtain DMCA initial approval before relocating to a new site. Request letter shall be sent to DMCA with details of the new location, and a copy of area plan.

Stages of Business Activity Location Change

Upon meeting all requirements, the activity location change shall be achieved into two stages as follows:

1. Receiving all required documents and fees, then conducting site visit to the new location.
2. Amendment of foreign establishment/ company registration details and reprinting of the new license.

First Stage: initial approval

Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain initial approval

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company
2. Original trade license copy of foreign establishment/company
3. Foreign establishments/companies license details amendment application form
4. EJARI certified lease agreement.
5. Attested original copy of establishment owner/board members’ resolution to relocate business activity.

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, a site visit will be conducted to ensure the new location satisfies the required conditions and standards.

Second Stage: foreign license details amendment

Upon obtaining the initial approval and site visit report, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, license reprinted and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only).

This only applies at changing the legal form of foreign establishment into foreign company

Stages of Legal Form Change

Upon completing all requirements, legal form change process shall be achieved in two stages as follows:

1. Submittal of all required documents, fees and copy of ad from local newspapers
2. Amendment of foreign establishment/ company registration details and issuance of new license    and certificates

First Stage: Initial Approval

The company owner shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval, reserve trade name and advertise in the local newspapers.

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company.
2. Foreign establishment/company license details amendment application form.
3. Trade name reservation application form
4. Passport copies of owners/partners as well as resumes if the new owner/ partner is foreign.
5. Attested copy of trade license or certificates and memorandum of association of shareholding companies if the new owner/ partner is foreign establishment/company.
6. Passport copies of resumes for the new company manager and board directors.

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, ad placement request will be sent to the local newspapers and a 14- day-waiting period from date of publishing.

Second Stage: Foreign License Details Amendment

Upon expiry of the specified period, the foreign establishment owner shall submit the following documents:

Required Documents:

1. Original trade license copy of foreign establishment/company
2. Original copies of shares and incorporation certificates
3. Company board members attested original resolution copy to establish a DMCA 100% freehold company including:
   • Appointment of board members, manager and secretary of the new company.
   • Appointment of a legal representative along with copy of trade license (Optional).
   • Signatory authorisation for all board members/ manager or legal representative.
4. Signature authorisation application for board members, manager, secretary and legal representative of the new company.
5. NOC from sponsor for the board members, manager, secretary and legal representative of the new company, for UAE employment visa holders.

Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, and license, shares and incorporation certificates reprinted, and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only), noting that in case of any claims made against the company, the application will be cancelled and company owner shall submit a new application after ensuring settlement of all claims.

The company owner shall undertake to do the following:

1. Apply for sponsor’s name amendment in the employment visas.
2. Trade name change on company or establishment signboards and provide evidence of the same.
3. Trade name change with the approved bank and provide evidence of the same.

Trade name change in all official documents, stamps and the company letterheads.

The changes include:

1. Manager addition/removal
2. Board member addition/removal
3. Authorised signatory addition/removal
4. Legal representative appointment/change
5. Authorised signatory change of powers
6. Personal details change of manager/ board member/ authorised signatory including:

• Nationality
• Name

Stages Foreign Establishments/ Companies Board Members Details Change

Upon meeting all requirements, addition or change of manager/ board member / authorised signatory shall be achieved in two stages as follows:

1. Receiving all required documents, fees and copy of ad from local newspapers (in case of manager appointment or removal.)
2. Details amendment of foreign establishment/ company register.

First Stage: initial approval

Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company
2. Foreign establishment/company license details amendment application of form no.
3. Passport copies and resumes of the manager/board member/ new authorised signatory of foreign establishment/ company.

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, ad placement request will be sent to the local newspapers and a 14- day-waiting period from date of publishing.

Second Stage: foreign license details amendment  

Upon expiry of the specified period, foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents:

Required Documents:

1. Original trade license copy of foreign establishment/company.
2. Attested original resolution copy of establishment owner/ board members to include:
   • Addition/ removal of manager/ board member/ authorised signatory/legal representative.
   •  Personal details change of manager / board member/ authorised signatory including change of his powers.
3. Trade license copy in case of appointment of new legal representative.
4. Signature authorisation application for board members, manager, secretary and legal representative, (in case of signature addition or change only).
5. NOC from sponsor for board member/ authorised signatory for UAE employment visa holders.
6. Manager’s visa issuance (please refer to administrative services section).

Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, license reprinted and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only).

Note: in case of any claims made against the company, the application will be cancelled and the company owner shall submit a new application after ensuring settlement of all claims.

The sale of a foreign establishment or shares of foreign company process includes the following:

1. Addition/ withdrawal of partner and sale of foreign company shares.
2. Sale of shares and amendment of capital shares among partners in a foreign company.
3. Sale of foreign establishment.

Stages of Sale:

Upon submitting all required documents, the sale process shall be achieved in two stages as follows:

1. Receiving all required documents, fees and copy of ad from local newspapers (in case of establishment owner/ company owner change).
2. Foreign establishment/ company register details amendment and issuance of new license and certificates.

First Stage: initial approval

Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company
2. Foreign establishment/ company license details amendment application form
3. Trade name reservation application form (in case of trade name change).
4. Passport and resume copies of owners/partners, as well as bank reference if the new owner/ partner is a natural personality.
5. Attested copies of trade license or certificates and memorandum of association of the shareholding companies if the new owner/ partner is a legal personality.
6. Passport and resume copies of the new company manager and board members (in case change is requested).
7. Attested original resolution copy of establishment owner/ company board members to sell/ purchase shares of a DMCA 100% freehold company/ establishment including:
   • Addition/ withdrawal of partner (in case of foreign company shares sale).
   • Sale of shares and amendment of capital shares (in case of share sale among partners in foreign company).
   • Foreign establishment owner change (in case of foreign establishment sale).
   • Appointment of new board members, manager or secretary (in case change is requested).
   • Appointment of legal representative along with copy of trade license (Optional).
   • Signatory authorisation for board members/ manager or legal representative (in case change is requested).
8. Attested original sale contract copy of foreign establishment or shares of foreign company.
9. Signature authorisation application for board members, manager, chairman, secretary and legal representative of the new company, form, (in case change is requested).
10. NOC from sponsor for board members, manager, chairman, secretary and legal representative of the new company, for UAE employment visa holders, (in case change is requested). 

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, ad placement request will be sent to the local newspapers and a 14- day-waiting period from date of publishing, (in case of changing establishment owner or company owners).

Second Stage: foreign license details amendment

Upon expiry of the specified period, the foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents:

Required Documents:

1. Original trade license copy of foreign establishment/ company.
2. Original copies of shares and incorporation certificates.
3. Request of manager’s visa issuance (in case change is requested), (please refer to administrative services section).

Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, and license, shares and incorporation certificates reprinted, and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only), noting that in case of any claims made against the company, the application will be cancelled and company owner shall submit a new application after ensuring settlement of all claims.

Also company owner shall undertake to do the following in case of trade name change:

1. Apply for sponsor’s name amendment in the employment visas.
2. Trade name change on company or establishment signboards and provide evidence of the same. Trade name change with the approved bank and provide evidence of the same.
3. Trade name change in all official documents, stamps and company letterheads.

When adding maritime activities, selected ones shall be of the same category provided that their number shall not be more than 9 for each trade license. In case of changing all activities in the trade license, DMCA shall place an ad in the local newspapers, and a 14- day-waiting period from publishing date shall apply until time to issue the new trade license.

Stages of Foreign License Activity Change/ Addition

Upon meeting all requirements, the activity addition or change shall be achieved in two stages as follows:

1. Submittal of all required documents, fees and copy of ad from local newspapers (in case of complete change of company activities.)
2. Amendment of foreign establishment/ company registration details and issuance of new license and certificates.

First Stage: Initial Approval

Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company.
2. Foreign establishment/company license details amendment application of form
3. Attested original copy of establishment owner/board members’ resolution to add/ remove and change license activities.

Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, ad placement request will be sent to the local newspapers and a 14- day-waiting period from date of publishing (in case of complete change of company activities).

Second Stage: Foreign License Details Modification

Upon expiry of the specified period, the foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents:

Required Documents:

1. Original license copy of foreign establishment/company
2. Original copy of shares and incorporation certificates

Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, license reprinted and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only), noting that in case of any claims made against the company, the application will be cancelled and company owner shall submit a new application after ensuring settlement of all claims.

Upon completing all required documents, the capital amount amendment and change of partners’ share percentages shall be achieved through one single stage.

Required Documents:

1. Request letter from foreign establishment/ company
2. Foreign establishment/company license details amendment application form.
3. Original trade license copy of foreign establishment/company.
4. Original copies of shares and incorporation certificates.
5. Attested original copy of board members’ resolution to amend capital amount or partners’ share percentages.

Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the foreign establishment/ company register shall be amended, shares certificate reprinted and annexure to the memorandum of association will be prepared. Subsequently, authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign the annexure (for foreign companies only).