Here our goal is to collect documentation that validates everything you'd told us in the previous section. We'll store this documentation on file in case we ever need to refer back to it in the future.
Documentation requirements may differ based on whether you already have businesses officially registered in the UAE or whether you're in the process of registering one.
For businesses already registered, documents should include the Trade License and ownership structure details.
For those in the process of registration, preliminary approval certificates or relevant incorporation documents may be required.
Before you begin the registration process, please make sure you have the following documents at hand.
Trade license | A trade license is the certificate that proves you have a registered business in the UAE. This is typically issued by the Department of Economic Development (DED) or any of the many free zones in the UAE.
Your trade license should:
This document is not required if you are a freelancer i.e. you do not yet have a registered business. |
Memorandum of Association
| This can be one of the following:
The goal here is to establish who the ultimate beneficial owners of the company are.
These documents are typically contracts that specify your company's shareholding structure. If you don't have one, a shares register or certificate of incumbency will work.
If you don't have these, please check the appropriate box.
This document is not required if you are a freelancer i.e. you do not yet have a registered business. |
Proof of address
| The goal here is to establish that you and your business physically exist and operate in the UAE.
The following documents are valid proofs of address:
Documents submitted must meet the following criteria:
If your trade license already mentions your business's address, please upload it again here.
Living with someone else? If you live with family or friends and don't have a proof of address document in your name, provide the following:
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Other documents (optional)
| This section can be used to upload any additional documents that we ask for when following up with you on your application. |
Ownership structure documentation
To verify the ownership structure of your company, you need to submit documentation that clearly identifies the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) and shareholders. The following documents are acceptable:
Memorandum of Association
Articles of Association
Shareholder Register Please ensure that all business owners listed in your Trade License, Memorandum of Association, or Articles of Association are represented. Note that you do not need to submit an employee organizational chart; only ownership or UBO and shareholder structures are required.
Source of Wealth documentation
The source of wealth refers to the origin of the owners’ accumulated net worth and explains how it was built over time. This helps verify the source of funds used to operate the business. Acceptable documents include the following:
Owner’s personal salary slips
Proof of investment income (e.g., dividends, interest statements)
Asset sale documents (e.g., sale of property or shares)
Inheritance documentation (e.g., inheritance certificates) These documents provide evidence of the lawful origin of funds linked to your business.
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