Licensing foreign establishments/companies within DMCA geographical boundaries.
Licensing foreign establishments/companies within DMCA geographical boundaries.
The company owner shall apply for initial approval and appoint liquidator (for companies only) before proceeding with foreign establishment/company license cancellation procedures.
Licensing foreign establishments/companies within DMCA geographical boundaries.
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall apply for license renewal within a month from license expiry date.
Through licensing foreign establishments/companies, DMCA aims at attracting foreign investments and consolidating UAE economic situation while ensuring that all licensed companies comply with laws and regulations applicable in the country.
Individuals: including expatriates, company owners and foreign investors
Service Provision Channels |
Service Provision Timing |
Customer Happiness Centre – Dubai Maritime City Authority, Ground Floor – Maritime Business Center, Dubai Maritime City. |
From Monday to Thursday 08:00 am till 02:30 pm. |
Customer Happiness Centre -Al Shindagha area -Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) building. |
From Monday to Thursday 08:00 am till 12:30 pm. |
No data available
Attestation of original contracts and documents.
Attestation of Official Documents:
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall ensure that all submitted official documents are attested by the competent authorities, in or out of UAE.
Attestation Abroad:
Official documents attested abroad shall also have the following:
Attestation in UAE:
Official documents attestation may be completed through the Notary Public in the UAE or DMCA. All concerned shall attend in person or authorise a representative to sign on their behalf. DMCA attests three copies of each document. In case any additional copy is required, an additional fee shall be charged per document. The customer may apply for official documents attestation outside DMCA offices against additional fees per service
True Copy of Original DMCA Documents
Required Documents:
Replacement Copy of Lost/Damaged DMCA Original Documents
Required Documents:
Copy of DMCA Regulatory Legislations for Companies or Establishments
Required Documents:
Letters and Certificates
Required Documents:
P.O. Box Renewal
Required Documents:
Upon completing all requirements, the trade name change shall be achieved in two stages as follows:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
First Stage: initial approval
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain initial approval
Required Documents:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Trade name change in all official documents, stamps and the company letterheads.
The changes include:
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:
First Stage: initial approval
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:
Required Documents:
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:
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:
Stages of Sale:
Upon submitting all required documents, the sale process shall be achieved in two stages as follows:
First Stage: initial approval
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:
Required Documents:
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:
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:
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:
First Stage: Initial Approval
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:
Required Documents:
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:
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:
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).
The company owner shall apply for initial approval and appoint liquidator (for companies only) before proceeding with foreign establishment/company license cancellation procedures.
Stages of Foreign Establishment/Company License Cancellation
Upon completing all required documents, the cancellation process shall be achieved in two stages as follows:
First Stage: initial approval
Foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents to obtain the initial approval:
Required Documents:
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 cancellation
Upon expiry of the specified period, foreign establishments/company owners or their representatives shall submit the following documents:
Required Documents:
Upon receiving and reviewing all required documents, DMCA shall cancel the P.O. Box, establishment card and shall issue foreign license cancellation certificate.
DMCA issues licenses for foreign establishments to the following:
Licensing Foreign Establishments – Foreign Ownership
Stages of License Issuance:
Upon completing all requirements, DMCA foreign establishment licensing process shall be achieved through the following 3 stages:
First Stage: initial approval:
Required Documents:
Upon reviewing all the required documents, and receiving the initial approval from the competent authorities, trade name reservation certificate shall be issued along with the initial approval certificate which will be valid for (90) days and renewable for a similar period. During such period, establishment owners or their representatives shall complete the required documents for the second stage of license issuance.
Second Stage: submitting required documents for final approval
Required Documents:
Upon receiving and reviewing all the required documents for the second stage, the following letters shall be issued:
Third Stage:
Upon completing all procedures of bank account opining, establishment capital amount depositing and lease agreement finalising, the establishment owner shall submit the following documents:
Required Documents:
Upon receiving and reviewing all the required documents, DMCA shall prepare the memorandum of association draft, and authorised signatories shall be physically present to sign. Subsequently, the following official documents will be prepared and handed over:
Stages of Foreign License Renewal:
Upon completing all requirements, DMCA foreign establishment license renewal shall be achieved through the following 2 stages:
First Stage: Initial Approval:
Required Documents:
Upon receiving and reviewing all the required documents, the foreign establishment/company license and establishment card shall be renewed.
No data available
Attestation of original contracts and documents.
Service | Fees |
Capital amount certificate attestation – foreign license | AED 1,020 |
Company memorandum and article of association attestation – foreign license | AED 1,020 |
Signature attestation – foreign license | AED 520 |
Board members’ resolution attestation – foreign license | AED 1,020 |
Attestation out of DMCA offices in Dubai – foreign license | AED 1,500 |
Attestation out of DMCA offices – out of Dubai and within UAE – foreign license | AED 2,500 |
True Copy of Original DMCA Documents
Service | Fees |
True copy | AED 120 |
Replacement Copy of Lost/Damaged DMCA Original Documents
Service | Fees |
Damaged or lost replacement for certificates | AED 1,020 |
Damaged or lost replacement for licenses | AED 1,020 |
Copy of DMCA Regulatory Legislations for Companies or Establishments
Service | Fees |
Board members resolution form | AED 520 |
Copy of DMCA regulatory legislation of companies or establishments | AED 220 |
Letters and Certificates
Service | Fees |
Foreign license letter | AED 520 |
To whom it may concern certificate issuance | AED 120 |
Company Continuity Certificate | AED 520 |
P.O. Box Renewal
Service |
Fees |
P.O. Box Renewal | AED 870 |
Foreign Establishment/Company Trade Name Change
Service | Fees |
Trade name amendment | AED 1,020 |
Trade name change | AED 1,020 |
Amendment of establishment card details | AED 380 |
Addition or amendment to the registration | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Incorporation certificate reprint – foreign license | AED 220 |
Share certificates reprint – foreign license | AED 220 |
License advertisement publishing in daily newspapers | AED 1,902 |
Attestation and notarization of the memorandum and articles of association (foreign companies only) | AED 1,020 |
Foreign Establishment/ Company Activity Location Change
Service | Fees |
Relocation of business activity | AED 1,020 |
Addition or amendment to the registration | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Attestation of the memorandum and articles of association (foreign companies only) | AED 1,020 |
Foreign Establishment/Company License Activity Change or Addition
Service | Fees |
Activity addition | AED 1,020 |
Activity deletion | AED 1,020 |
License activity change | AED 1,020 |
Addition or amendment to registration | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Addition of more than five activities to license (per activity) | AED 1,020 |
Attestation of memorandum and articles of association (foreign companies only) | AED 1,020 |
Foreign Establishment/Company Legal Form Change
Service | Fees |
Addition or amendment to the register | AED 1,020 |
Legal form change | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Incorporation certificate issuance | AED 220 |
Share certificates issuance | AED 220 |
Signature authorisation request | AED 520 |
Amendment of establishment card details | AED 380 |
Postal services | AED 220 |
Attestation of memorandum and article of association | AED 1,020 |
License ad publishing in daily newspapers | AED 1,902 |
Foreign Establishment/ Company Board Members Details Change
Service | Fees |
Addition or amendment to the register | AED 1,020 |
Manager addition | AED 1,020 |
Manager removal | AED 1,020 |
Owner/partner/manager nationality change | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Signature authorisation request | AED 520 |
Attestation of the memorandum and article of association | AED 1,020 |
License ad publishing in daily newspaper | AED 1,902 |
Capital Amendment and Shareholder’s Percentage Change
Service | Fees |
Addition or amendment to the register | AED 1,020 |
Change of capital shares | AED 1,020 |
Change of capital amount | AED 1,020 |
Share certificates reprint | AED 2,020 |
Attestation of memorandum and article of association | AED 1,020 |
Sale of Foreign Establishment or Shares of Foreign Company
Service | Fees |
Initial approval | AED 520 |
Addition or amendment to the register |
AED 1,020 |
Partner addition | AED 1,020 |
Partner Removal | AED 1,020 |
Establishment owner change | AED 1,020 |
Capital share percentages change | AED 1,020 |
License reprint | AED 520 |
Incorporation certificate reprint | AED 220 |
Share certificates reprint | AED 220 |
Signature authorisation request | AED 520 |
Amendment of establishment card details | AED 380 |
Postal services | AED 220 |
Attestation of memorandum and article of association | AED 1,020 |
License ad publishing in daily newspapers | AED 1,902 |
Service | Fees |
License cancellation upon company request |
AED 2,020 |
Company liquidation and legal liquidator appointment (for foreign companies) | AED 1,020 |
Deregistration of establishment/ company with DMCA | AED 1,020 |
Establishment card cancellation | AED 380 |
Postal services | AED 220 |
Attestation of memorandum and article of association | AED 1,020 |
License ad publishing in daily newspapers |
AED 1,902 |
Service |
Fees |
Initial approval | AED 520 |
NOC for bank account opining | AED 520 |
NOC for site leasing | AED 520 |
Foreign Establishment registration in DMCA records | AED 10,020 |
Foreign establishment license issuance | AED 10,020 |
Authorised signatory approval | AED 520 |
Establishment card issuance | AED 380 |
P.O. Box issuance | AED 870 |
Additional postal services | AED 220 |
Attestation of memorandum of association |
AED 1,020 |
Service | Fees |
Foreign establishment/company license renewal | AED 10,000 |
Establishment card renewal |
AED 380 |
Payment can be made in cash to the Customer Service Centers of Dubai Maritime City Authority or through portal electronic payment gateway.
From Sunday to Thursday 08:00 am till 01:00 pm
The service is not available during official holidays determined by the country.
Processing time varies depending on the procedure and type of submitted application.
All our customers’ inquiries shall be handled at the same time, or within a period that does not exceed (48) hours in case the request is needed to be addressed to another division.
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Customer shall contact DMCA call center through:
Customer shall apply for any suggestion or complain through: