Legal Forms

Comprehensive guide to business legal structures in Dubai

Business Structures / الهياكل القانونية للأعمال

Choose the right legal form for your business / اختر الشكل القانوني المناسب لعملك

Sole Proprietorship / الملكية الفردية

A business owned and run by one person with no distinction between the owner and the business entity. / عمل يمتلكه ويديره شخص واحد دون تمييز بين المالك والكيان التجاري.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • All commercial, professional, and industrial activities / جميع الأنشطة التجارية والمهنية والصناعية
  • Subject to activity-specific approvals / خاضع للموافقات الخاصة بالنشاط
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • UAE or GCC national only / مواطن من الإمارات أو دول مجلس التعاون فقط
  • 100% single owner / ملكية فردية بنسبة 100%
Manager Requirements / متطلبات المدير
  • Owner acts as manager / المالك يقوم بدور المدير
  • Can appoint a manager with Power of Attorney / يمكن تعيين مدير بوكالة قانونية
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • No minimum capital requirement / لا يوجد حد أدنى لرأس المال
  • Depends on activity type / يعتمد على نوع النشاط
Trade Name Rules / قواعد الاسم التجاري
  • Must include owner's name or activity description / يجب أن يشمل اسم المالك أو وصف النشاط
  • Cannot use misleading names / لا يمكن استخدام أسماء مضللة
Branch Regulations / لوائح الفروع
  • Can open multiple branches / يمكن فتح عدة فروع
  • Same license applies to all branches / نفس الرخصة تنطبق على جميع الفروع

One Person Company (LLC) / شركة الشخص الواحد (ذ.م.م)

A limited liability company owned by a single person, offering liability protection. / شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة يمتلكها شخص واحد، توفر حماية قانونية للمسؤولية.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • All activities allowed for LLC / جميع الأنشطة المسموح بها لشركة ذ.م.م
  • Except insurance, banking, and money exchange / باستثناء التأمين والبنوك وصرافة الأموال
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • Single owner (natural or legal person) / مالك واحد (شخص طبيعي أو اعتباري)
  • 100% foreign ownership allowed / السماح بالملكية الأجنبية بنسبة 100%
Manager Requirements / متطلبات المدير
  • Owner or appointed manager / المالك أو المدير المعين
  • Must be listed in license / يجب أن يكون مدرجاً في الرخصة
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • Minimum AED 300,000 / الحد الأدنى 300,000 درهم
  • Must be fully deposited / يجب أن يكون مكتمل الإيداع
Trade Name Rules / قواعد الاسم التجاري
  • Requires DED approval / يتطلب موافقة دائرة التنمية الاقتصادية
  • Can include owner's name / يمكن أن يشمل اسم المالك
Branch Regulations / لوائح الفروع
  • Can establish branches / يمكن إنشاء فروع
  • Subject to licensing requirements / خاضع لمتطلبات الترخيص

Civil Company / الشركة المدنية

A partnership between professionals practicing the same or complementary professions. / شراكة بين مهنيين يمارسون نفس المهنة أو مهنًا مكملة.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • Professional and consulting activities only / الأنشطة المهنية والاستشارية فقط
  • Based on partners' qualifications / بناءً على مؤهلات الشركاء
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • Two or more licensed professionals / اثنان أو أكثر من المهنيين المرخصين
  • 100% foreign ownership allowed for professionals / السماح بالملكية الأجنبية بنسبة 100% للمهنيين
Manager Requirements / متطلبات المدير
  • One of the partners must act as manager / يجب أن يقوم أحد الشركاء بدور المدير
  • Professional qualification required / مطلوب المؤهل المهني
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • No minimum capital requirement / لا يوجد حد أدنى لرأس المال
  • Partners contribute according to agreement / يساهم الشركاء وفقاً للاتفاقية
Trade Name Rules / قواعد الاسم التجاري
  • Can include partners' names / يمكن أن يشمل أسماء الشركاء
  • Must reflect professional activity / يجب أن يعكس النشاط المهني
Branch Regulations / لوائح الفروع
  • Can open branches / يمكن فتح فروع
  • Same license covers all locations / نفس الرخصة تغطي جميع المواقع

Civil Company / الشركة المدنية

A partnership between professionals practicing the same or complementary professions. / شراكة بين مهنيين يمارسون نفس المهنة أو مهنًا متكاملة.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • Professional and consulting activities only / الأنشطة المهنية والاستشارية فقط
  • Based on partners' qualifications / بناءً على مؤهلات الشركاء
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • Two or more licensed professionals / مهنيان مرخصان أو أكثر
  • 100% foreign ownership allowed for professionals / ملكية أجنبية كاملة للمهنيين
Manager Requirements / متطلبات المدير
  • One of the partners must act as manager / يجب أن يكون أحد الشركاء مديرًا
  • Professional qualification required / يشترط توفر المؤهل المهني
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • No minimum capital requirement / لا يوجد حد أدنى لرأس المال
  • Partners contribute according to agreement / مساهمة الشركاء حسب الاتفاق
Trade Name Rules / قواعد الاسم التجاري
  • Can include partners' names / يمكن أن يتضمن أسماء الشركاء
  • Must reflect professional activity / يجب أن يعكس النشاط المهني
Branch Regulations / تنظيم الفروع
  • Can open branches / يمكن فتح فروع
  • Same license covers all locations / نفس الرخصة تغطي جميع المواقع

Limited Liability Company (LLC) / شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة

A company with limited liability where partners' liability is limited to their share in capital. / شركة تكون مسؤولية الشركاء فيها محدودة بنسبة حصصهم في رأس المال.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • All commercial, industrial, and professional activities / جميع الأنشطة التجارية والصناعية والمهنية
  • Except insurance, banking, and investment / باستثناء التأمين والبنوك والاستثمار
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • 2–50 partners / من 2 إلى 50 شريكًا
  • 100% foreign ownership allowed for most activities / ملكية أجنبية كاملة لمعظم الأنشطة
Manager Requirements / متطلبات المدير
  • One or more managers / مدير واحد أو أكثر
  • Appointed in Memorandum of Association / يتم تعيينه في عقد التأسيس
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • No minimum except specific activities / لا يوجد حد أدنى إلا لبعض الأنشطة
  • Divided into equal shares / مقسم إلى حصص متساوية
Trade Name Rules / قواعد الاسم التجاري
  • Must include “LLC” or “ذ.م.م” / يجب أن يتضمن (ذ.م.م)
  • DED approval required / يتطلب موافقة دائرة التنمية الاقتصادية
Branch Regulations / تنظيم الفروع
  • Unlimited branches allowed / يسمح بعدد غير محدود من الفروع
  • Across same or different emirates / داخل نفس الإمارة أو إمارات أخرى

Private Shareholding Company / شركة مساهمة خاصة

A company with capital divided into shares not offered to the public. / شركة مقسمة إلى أسهم غير مطروحة للاكتتاب العام.

Activities Allowed / الأنشطة المسموح بها
  • Commercial and industrial activities / الأنشطة التجارية والصناعية
  • Banking and insurance with approval / التأمين والبنوك بموافقة
Ownership Requirements / متطلبات الملكية
  • 3–200 shareholders / من 3 إلى 200 مساهم
  • Mixed ownership allowed / يسمح بالملكية المختلطة
Manager Requirements / متطلبات الإدارة
  • Board of Directors / مجلس إدارة
  • Majority UAE nationals / أغلبية من مواطني الدولة
Capital Requirements / متطلبات رأس المال
  • Minimum AED 2,000,000 / الحد الأدنى 2,000,000 درهم
  • 50% paid at incorporation / 50% مدفوع عند التأسيس
Trade Name Rules
  • Must include "Private Shareholding" or "PJSC"
  • Subject to approval
Branch Regulations
  • Can establish branches locally and internationally
  • Subject to regulations

Public Shareholding Company

A company with shares offered to the public through a stock exchange.

Activities Allowed
  • All commercial and industrial activities
  • Banking, insurance, and investment funds
Ownership Requirements
  • Minimum 10 shareholders
  • Public subscription required
Manager Requirements
  • Board of Directors (5-11 members)
  • Chairman must be UAE national
Capital Requirements
  • Minimum AED 30,000,000
  • At least 55% offered to public
Trade Name Rules
  • Must include "PJSC" or "شركة مساهمة عامة"
  • Securities authority approval required
Branch Regulations
  • Can establish branches globally
  • Listed on stock exchange

Simple Limited Partnership

A partnership with general partners (unlimited liability) and limited partners.

Activities Allowed
  • All commercial activities
  • Based on general partners' activities
Ownership Requirements
  • At least one general and one limited partner
  • General partner must be UAE/GCC national
Manager Requirements
  • General partners manage the company
  • Limited partners cannot participate in management
Capital Requirements
  • No minimum requirement
  • Limited partners contribute capital only
Trade Name Rules
  • Must include general partner's name
  • Cannot include limited partners' names
Branch Regulations
  • Can open branches
  • General partner responsible for all

Partnership Company

A company where all partners have unlimited liability for company debts.

Activities Allowed
  • All commercial and industrial activities
  • Partners jointly responsible
Ownership Requirements
  • Minimum 2 partners
  • All must be UAE/GCC nationals
Manager Requirements
  • All partners can manage
  • Or appoint a managing partner
Capital Requirements
  • No minimum requirement
  • Based on partnership agreement
Trade Name Rules
  • Must include all or one partner's name
  • With "& Partners" suffix
Branch Regulations
  • Unlimited branches allowed
  • All partners liable

Branch of Foreign Company

A branch of a company incorporated outside the UAE.

Activities Allowed
  • Same activities as parent company
  • Subject to UAE regulations
Ownership Requirements
  • 100% owned by foreign parent
  • Requires local service agent
Manager Requirements
  • Branch manager appointed by parent
  • Must be resident in UAE
Capital Requirements
  • Based on parent company's capital
  • Bank guarantee may be required
Trade Name Rules
  • Same as parent company name
  • With "Branch" designation
Branch Regulations
  • Can open additional branches
  • Same service agent required

Representative Office

An office that represents a foreign company but cannot conduct commercial activities.

Activities Allowed
  • Marketing and promotion only
  • Cannot conduct commercial transactions
Ownership Requirements
  • 100% owned by foreign parent
  • Requires local service agent
Manager Requirements
  • Representative appointed by parent
  • Limited authority
Capital Requirements
  • No minimum requirement
  • Funded by parent company
Trade Name Rules
  • Parent company name
  • With "Representative Office" suffix
Branch Regulations
  • Single location only
  • No additional branches allowed

Branch of Dubai-based Company

A branch of a company already registered in Dubai.

Activities Allowed
  • Same as parent company
  • No additional approvals needed
Ownership Requirements
  • Same as parent company
  • No separate registration
Manager Requirements
  • Branch manager if needed
  • Under parent company management
Capital Requirements
  • Covered by parent company
  • No additional capital required
Trade Name Rules
  • Same as parent
  • Plus "Branch" designation
Branch Regulations
  • Unlimited branches in Dubai
  • Simple registration process

Branch of UAE-based Company

A branch of a company from another emirate operating in Dubai.

Activities Allowed
  • Same as parent company
  • Subject to Dubai DED approval
Ownership Requirements
  • Same as parent company
  • Parent company responsible
Manager Requirements
  • Branch manager appointed
  • Must be available in Dubai
Capital Requirements
  • No additional requirement
  • Based on parent company
Trade Name Rules
  • Parent company name
  • With "Dubai Branch"
Branch Regulations
  • Multiple branches allowed
  • Each requires registration

Branch of GCC-based Company

A branch of a company from a GCC country operating in Dubai.

Activities Allowed
  • Commercial activities only
  • Subject to bilateral agreements
Ownership Requirements
  • 100% GCC ownership
  • No local partner required
Manager Requirements
  • GCC national as manager
  • Must be resident or have visa
Capital Requirements
  • Based on parent company
  • May require bank guarantee
Trade Name Rules
  • Parent company name
  • With "GCC Branch" designation
Branch Regulations
  • Can open branches
  • Each requires separate registration

Branch of Free Zone Company

A branch of a UAE free zone company operating in mainland Dubai.

Activities Allowed
  • Same as free zone company
  • Subject to DED approval
Ownership Requirements
  • Free zone company ownership
  • Local service agent required
Manager Requirements
  • Branch manager appointed
  • Free zone company responsible
Capital Requirements
  • No additional requirement
  • Free zone company capital applies
Trade Name Rules
  • Free zone company name
  • Plus "Mainland Branch"
Branch Regulations
  • Can operate in mainland
  • Limited to specific activities

Quick Reference

Overview of legal structures at a glance

For Solo Entrepreneurs

Sole Proprietorship or One Person Company (LLC) are ideal for individual business owners.

For Partnerships

Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Civil Company for professional partnerships.

For Foreign Companies

Branch Office or Representative Office for companies entering the UAE market.

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