To change your company structure in the UAE, you amend the company's Memorandum of Association (MOA), have the change approved by the shareholders, and file it with the authority that issued your licence — the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland companies, or the relevant free zone authority for free zone entities. Below is a step-by-step look at the types of changes, the procedure, the documents you'll need and what it costs in 2026.
What counts as a structural change
In the UAE, a "structural change" means amending the company's constitutional documents. The MOA is the core document — it records the owners, their shareholdings, the capital, the licensed activities and the management. Any material change goes through an MOA amendment. Four scenarios come up most often:
- Shareholder changes. Adding a new partner, the exit of an existing one, or redistributing shares between owners.
- Business activity changes. Adding new activities to the licence or removing ones no longer carried out.
- Capital changes. Most commonly an increase in share capital to support new plans or meet a regulator's requirement.
- Management changes. Appointing a new director or general manager, or changing the authorised signatory.
These can be combined — bringing in a new shareholder often goes hand in hand with a capital increase and a new director. In that case a single consolidated MOA amendment is prepared, which saves both time and fees.
The procedure step by step
The logic is the same across the country, even if the details vary by jurisdiction. The general sequence looks like this:
- Step 1. Shareholders' resolution. Every change is approved by the owners through a formal resolution at a general meeting. This is the starting point — nothing moves without an agreed decision.
- Step 2. Prepare the documents. An updated MOA, or a standalone amendment, is drafted. For mainland companies the document is prepared in Arabic in line with UAE commercial law, with a certified translation where needed.
- Step 3. Notarisation. The updated MOA is submitted to a UAE Public Notary. The notary verifies the identities of the signatories and the legal validity of the document before attesting it.
- Step 4. File with the licensing authority. The package is submitted to DET (mainland) or the free zone authority, and the amendment fees are paid.
- Step 5. Licence re-issuance. After review and payment, the company receives an updated trade licence reflecting the changes.
Certain activities or share transactions may require additional approvals from sector regulators — more on that below.
Changing a shareholder: what you'll need
A change in ownership is one of the most common — and most sensitive — procedures. Alongside the notarised MOA amendment, you'll typically prepare:
- A share transfer agreement between the seller and the buyer of the shares.
- A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the existing shareholders, and in some cases from a sponsor or the free zone.
- Documents for the incoming shareholder: a passport, or for a corporate shareholder, its corporate documents and a resolution to take up the shares.
The signatories attend before the notary in person (or through an attorney under a power of attorney). Once the notary records the transfer, the change is reflected in the licence and the register.
Changing business activities
Widening or narrowing the list of activities is handled as a licence amendment. Adding an activity is technically straightforward, but two points matter:
- Some activities are regulated and need prior approval from the relevant authority — financial, medical, educational or legal services, for example.
- Certain activities cannot sit together under one licence, and some require a minimum capital or dedicated premises.
Removing an activity you no longer carry out is good housekeeping too: it reduces the regulatory load and keeps renewals simple.
Timelines and cost in 2026
Simple changes — adding an activity or switching a manager — move quickly, usually within 1–3 business days once the full package is filed. More complex scenarios involving shareholder changes and extra approvals take longer.
Indicative costs in Dubai (mainland, 2026):
- Trade licence amendment — roughly AED 500–5,000, depending on the type of change.
- Notarisation and translation — around AED 500–1,500.
- Adding a new activity — often AED 1,000–3,000 per activity.
The final figure depends on the emirate, the zone, the number of changes and whether external approvals are needed. Always confirm exact fees with DET or your free zone authority.
| Type of change | Key documents | Indicative timeline | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shareholder change | Notarised MOA amendment, share transfer agreement, NOC, incoming shareholder's documents | A few days to 2 weeks | AED 2,000–6,000+ |
| Adding an activity | Application, licence amendment, regulator approval (if required) | 1–3 business days | AED 1,000–3,000 per activity |
| Capital increase | Shareholders' resolution, notarised MOA amendment | A few days | AED 500–3,000 |
| Director / manager change | Shareholders' resolution, licence data update | 1–3 business days | AED 500–2,000 |
Figures are indicative and given to show the order of magnitude; confirm actual fees with the licensing authority.
Mainland vs free zone
The MOA-amendment logic is the same, but the administration differs:
- Mainland. Changes go through the DET of the relevant emirate, documents are drawn up in Arabic under UAE commercial law, and the MOA is attested by a UAE notary.
- Free zone. Everything is handled within the free zone authority under its own rules. Many zones offer their own templates and online filing, and an authorised zone officer often performs the notary's role.
So the first practical question for any change is where the licence was issued: that determines both the document set and the filing channel.
Conclusion
Changing a company structure in the UAE is a clear, predictable process: shareholders' resolution → MOA amendment → notarisation → filing with the licensing authority → licence re-issuance. Simple edits take a matter of days and cost little; more complex shareholder scenarios call for extra documents and approvals. The key to a smooth run is to assemble the full package in advance and check the requirements of your own jurisdiction.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Requirements, timelines and fees can change — verify current conditions with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or your free zone authority.
