Share Transfer Dubai 2026: Process, Fees and Timeline

A share transfer in Dubai changes who owns an existing company without closing it: on the mainland it is an amendment to your trade licence with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) plus a notarised annex to the memorandum of association, and in a free zone it is a service request to that zone's registrar. A clean file typically completes in one to three weeks after signing. Fees depend on the authority: DMCC, for example, publishes AED 4,515 for a share transfer request and AED 7,224 if the new shareholder joins through a capital increase instead.

Most founders search for "share transfer Dubai" at one of four moments: a partner is leaving, an investor is coming in, a local shareholder is being bought out now that full foreign ownership is allowed for most activities, or the whole business is being sold. The legal mechanics are similar in each case. What differs is what can go wrong, and almost all of it goes wrong before the notary appointment rather than after it.

This guide is written for the owner who needs to make a decision this month. It covers the mainland and free zone routes, the documents, a realistic timeline, the published fees we could verify, the knock-on changes to visas, bank and tax records, and the mistakes that turn a two-week job into a three-month one. Where an authority does not publish a fee, we say so rather than guess.

What a share transfer actually changes (and what it does not)

A share transfer moves ownership of some or all of a company's shares from one person or entity to another. The company itself carries on. Its licence number, its establishment card, its bank account, its contracts, its employees and its liabilities all stay where they are. Only the names on the shareholder register and, usually, the licence and memorandum of association change.

That single fact drives most of the decisions in this guide:

• The buyer inherits the history. Debts, disputes, unpaid fines, tax filings and contract obligations stay with the company. A share transfer is not a clean start.
• The licence does not restart. Your renewal date stays the same. If the licence expires in the middle of the process, most authorities will not process the amendment until it is renewed.
• Employees are not transferred. They already work for the company, so their visas and contracts continue. What changes is who signs for the company.
• Third parties must be told. Banks, the Federal Tax Authority, landlords and major customers all hold records that name your shareholders or signatories. Those records do not update themselves.

There are three common variations, and it helps to know which one you are doing before you start:

1. Full transfer. One owner sells 100 percent to a new owner. Often used when a small business is sold.
2. Partial transfer. A partner sells part of their holding, or one partner exits and the remaining partners or a newcomer buy their shares.
3. Capital increase with a new shareholder. No one sells. The company issues new shares to an incoming investor. Some authorities, including DMCC, treat this as a different service with a different fee.

If you are also changing the activity or the company name at the same time, that is a separate amendment. Our guide to adding an activity to a Dubai trade licence covers that process. Doing both in one filing is usually cheaper than two rounds, but it also means one missing document delays both.

Mainland or free zone: who handles your share transfer

The authority that issued your licence is the authority that approves the transfer. There is no central UAE share register that you update once.

Dubai mainland companies are licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism. Share transfers for a mainland limited liability company are governed by the UAE Commercial Companies Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, and processed as a licence amendment through DET's Invest in Dubai platform. The change to ownership is recorded in a notarised annex to the memorandum of association, signed before a notary public.

Free zone companies follow their own zone's company regulations. The zone's registrar approves the transfer, issues an updated share certificate and articles of association, and amends the licence. DMCC, IFZA, Meydan, SHAMS, RAKEZ and Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone each run this through their own client portal with their own forms.

Branches cannot usually do a share transfer at all. A branch has no shares of its own; it belongs to its parent company. DMCC states plainly that branches cannot apply for its share transfer service. If you own a branch and want to sell the Dubai business, the transfer happens at parent level abroad, or the branch is converted into a subsidiary first. DMCC lists that conversion at AED 4,515.

Sole establishments are a special case. A mainland sole establishment is not a company with shares; it is the owner trading under a licence. Selling one usually means either converting it into a company first or closing it and issuing a fresh licence to the buyer. Ask before you sign a sale agreement for a sole establishment, because the path is different.

The mainland share transfer process with DET, step by step

For a Dubai mainland LLC, a well-prepared transfer runs in this order.

1. Check the memorandum of association. Read the transfer clauses. Most MoAs give existing partners a right of first refusal, set the notice period, and describe how the price is fixed if partners disagree. If the MoA requires a partners' resolution, prepare it now.
2. Confirm the licence is valid. If the licence expires within the next few weeks, renew first. An expired licence blocks the amendment and can block the visa and establishment card updates that follow. Our note on renewing a Dubai trade licence explains the renewal sequence.
3. Clear what the authorities will look for. Outstanding fines, open labour cases or violations on the company file can stop an amendment. Settle them before submission, not after a rejection.
4. Agree commercial terms in a share sale agreement. This is the private contract between buyer and seller: price, payment terms, warranties, indemnities, completion conditions. It sits alongside, not instead of, the notarised documents.
5. Submit the amendment request to DET. The request states the change in partners and percentages. DET may request supporting documents for the incoming partner: passport, visa or entry stamp, Emirates ID if resident, and corporate documents if the buyer is a company.
6. Sign the annex to the memorandum of association before a notary. All parties to the transfer, or their attorneys under a valid power of attorney, sign. For a corporate buyer, the board resolution and corporate documents must be attested.
7. Receive the amended licence. DET updates the partners on the licence and the commercial register.
8. Update everything downstream. Establishment card, MOHRE company file, bank mandate, tax records, visas of the outgoing partner, and the ultimate beneficial owner register. We cover each below.

DET charges an amendment fee and the notary charges its own fee for the annex. These fees are published on the service pages of the authorities and can change with Dubai's periodic relief packages, so confirm the current figure on the official portal on the day you file rather than relying on a number in an old guide. What you should budget for is not only the government line but also attestations, translations and, where the buyer is a foreign company, legalisation abroad.

Buying out a local shareholder

Since the 2021 amendments to the Commercial Companies Law, most mainland commercial and industrial activities can be 100 percent foreign-owned. The UAE Government portal on full foreign ownership explains the policy. For many older companies set up as 51/49, a share transfer from the Emirati shareholder to the foreign partner is how the structure is updated.

This is usually the smoothest kind of transfer, because the parties already know each other and the commercial terms are often settled in advance. Two things to check: first, that your activity is not on the list of activities with strategic impact that still carries ownership conditions; second, whether any side agreement between you and the local shareholder needs to be formally terminated at the same time, so there is no loose end later.

The free zone share transfer process, with DMCC as the worked example

Free zones publish their processes to different degrees. DMCC publishes its steps, its documents and its fees, so we use it as the worked example. Other zones follow a similar pattern through their own portals.

According to DMCC's share transfer guidelines, the steps are:

1. Log in to the DMCC member portal and open the share transfer service under company amendment services.
2. Submit the service request with the required documents.
3. DMCC reviews the request and approves it in principle.
4. Authorised signatories e-sign the documents DMCC generates.
5. Submit any originals, for example a physical power of attorney.
6. DMCC gives final approval.
7. Download the e-share certificate and the updated e-articles of association.

DMCC states two to three weeks of processing time. Two details from its guidelines catch people out. Draft service requests expire after 60 days without action, and requests waiting on the member company are cancelled after 90 days. Application fees are not refunded once the service is approved. Every authorised signatory also needs e-signature activated before the documents can be signed, which is easy to overlook when a signatory lives abroad.

Typical documents DMCC lists include the share transfer form, the articles of association, board resolutions where a shareholder is a company, a certificate of incumbency for corporate shareholders, a KYC form and specimen signature for new individual shareholders, passport copies, visa pages, any required no objection certificates, and power of attorney papers where someone signs on another's behalf.

For zones such as IFZA, Meydan, SHAMS and RAKEZ, the steps are similar, but the fees are not all published in a public schedule. We quote those after checking the zone's current charges for your company type.

Published fees we could verify

The table below lists figures published by the authority itself. Where an authority does not publish a figure, it is not in the table. All DMCC charges are also subject to the AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fee.

Source for DMCC figures: the DMCC schedule of charges, registration amendment and licence amendment sections, checked on 25 September 2026. DMCC notes that its charges can change without notice, so confirm on the DMCC site before paying.

Two practical points on cost. First, a single ownership change almost always triggers more than one line. A partner who leaves is often also the manager, so a DMCC company typically pays for the share transfer and the change of manager together. Second, the government fees are usually the smaller part of the budget. Legal drafting, attestation of foreign corporate documents, translation and courier costs across two countries often cost more than the transfer fee itself.

Documents to prepare before anyone signs

Collect these before you file. Most delays we see are documents that could have been prepared weeks earlier.

From the seller

• Passport copy and, if resident, visa page and Emirates ID.
• Written consent to the sale in the form the MoA or articles require.
• If the seller is a company: board resolution approving the sale, certificate of incumbency or equivalent, and a certificate of good standing, attested for use in the UAE.
• If signing through an attorney: a power of attorney that names the company, the number of shares and the buyer, notarised and legalised where it was signed, and attested in the UAE.

From the buyer

• Passport copy, and visa page and Emirates ID if resident.
• KYC form and specimen signature where the authority asks for them.
• If the buyer is a company: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, board resolution approving the purchase, register of shareholders and directors, and an ultimate beneficial owner declaration, all attested.

From the company

• Current trade licence, memorandum or articles of association, and share certificate.
• Partners' resolution approving the transfer, or waivers of pre-emption rights from the remaining partners.
• Resolution appointing a new manager or authorised signatory if that is changing.
• Evidence that the licence is valid and that there are no blocking fines.

A note on foreign corporate documents. When the buyer or seller is a company incorporated abroad, its documents generally need notarisation and legalisation in the home country, then attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legal translation into Arabic where the authority requires it. This chain can take longer than the entire UAE process, so start it first.

Visas, establishment card and MOHRE: what changes after the transfer

A share transfer does not cancel employee visas, because employees are sponsored by the company rather than by a shareholder. It does, however, affect three things that people forget.

The outgoing partner's visa. If the partner who is leaving holds a partner or investor residence visa through the company, that visa is linked to their shareholding. In Dubai, residence matters are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); elsewhere, by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). The visa normally has to be cancelled or moved to another sponsor once they are no longer a shareholder. Plan the timing with the outgoing partner so they are not left without status.

The incoming partner's visa. A new shareholder who wants residence through the company goes through the normal residence steps: entry permit or change of status, medical fitness test, Emirates ID and residence stamping. For reference, the published standard medical fitness fee in Dubai is AED 270, and the Emirates ID fee is AED 100 per year of residence plus service charges. The visa quota of the company, set by its office space or package, still applies. A share transfer does not create new visa slots.

The establishment card and the MOHRE file. The establishment card, which lets the company sponsor visas, records the company's details and authorised signatory. It must be updated after the licence amendment. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) company file for mainland companies should also show the new owner or signatory, otherwise work permit applications can be rejected for a mismatch.

None of these steps are optional. They are also where the process quietly stalls, because each one sits with a different authority and none of them are triggered automatically by the licence change.

Bank, tax and UBO records: the updates that come after the licence

Once the amended licence is issued, the company's external records need to catch up.

The bank mandate. Your bank holds a mandate naming who owns the company and who may operate the account. Send the amended licence, MoA annex and new signatory details, and expect the bank to run full KYC on the new owner. Until that is done, the bank may restrict the account. Some buyers prefer to open a fresh account for the company alongside the old one; banks decide account opening on their own criteria, so no provider, including us, can guarantee approval.

Tax records with the FTA. If the company is registered for corporate tax or VAT, the Federal Tax Authority requires a tax records amendment on EmaraTax within 20 business days of a change in the registered details. The FTA tax records amendment service describes the process. Shareholder and authorised signatory changes fall squarely inside that rule. Leaving it undone can attract administrative penalties and causes friction later, for example when applying for a tax residency certificate.

Corporate tax on the sale itself. The seller's position depends on who the seller is. Where the seller is a company, a gain on selling shares is generally within the 9 percent UAE corporate tax net unless the participation exemption applies, which requires, among other conditions, a holding of at least 5 percent kept for at least 12 months. Our guide to the UAE participation exemption sets out the tests. Where the seller is an individual, the position depends on whether the holding is part of a taxable business. Take tax advice on the sale before you agree the price, not after.

The UBO register. Mainland and most free zone companies must keep a register of ultimate beneficial owners and file it with the licensing authority. A change of shareholder almost always changes the UBO. Update the register at the same time as the licence.

Contracts and Ejari. Leases, supplier contracts and customer contracts are signed by the company, so they continue. Some contracts include change of control clauses that require notice or consent when ownership changes. Check your main contracts before completion.

Share transfer, asset sale or close and restart: which one fits

A share transfer is the right tool when the company itself is worth keeping. It is not always the right tool.

Closing a company is a real process in its own right. It involves liquidation, a creditors' notice period where the rules require it, clearance from authorities, visa cancellations and tax deregistration. Our company liquidation guide covers it. As a reference point, DMCC charges AED 4,015 for its company winding-up service before any other costs. If the company is clean and useful, a transfer is almost always faster.

For owners thinking beyond a single change, it is worth reading the UAE Commercial Companies Law guide alongside this one, because the MoA clauses that govern a transfer are set when the company is formed. If you are drafting or amending your MoA now, our memorandum of association drafting guide explains which clauses to add so the next transfer is simpler.

A realistic timeline

This is what we see on clean files. Anything with a foreign corporate party, a missing consent or an expired licence runs longer.

The number that matters for planning is the whole chain, not the licence step. From first conversation to a company that is fully operational under its new owners, six to eight weeks is a realistic plan for a straightforward file, and less when both parties are UAE residents with their papers ready.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing a sale agreement before reading the MoA. Pre-emption rights and consent clauses can make a signed deal unenforceable against the company. Read the MoA first.
• Letting the licence expire mid-process. Most authorities will not amend an expired licence. Renew first if the date is close.
• Treating the share sale agreement as the transfer. The private contract does not change the register. Only the notarised annex or the zone's approved documents do.
• Relying on a side agreement instead of a formal transfer. Informal ownership arrangements are not recognised against the company or third parties.
• Forgetting the outgoing partner's visa. It is linked to their shareholding and has to be dealt with.
• Skipping the FTA amendment. The 20 business day window runs from the change, not from when you remember it.
• Ignoring change of control clauses. A key lease or distribution contract may require notice or consent.
• Buying without due diligence. The buyer inherits the company's liabilities. Ask for accounts, bank statements, tax filings and a list of open contracts and disputes.
• Using a generic power of attorney. A POA that does not name the company, the shares and the buyer is often rejected, and redoing it abroad costs weeks.
• Starting foreign document attestation last. It is usually the longest step. Start it on day one.

What Noble Core does for you

We are an independent private business setup consultancy, founded in 2020, with six offices across the UAE. We are not a government body and we do not approve transfers; the licensing authority does. What we do is run the whole file so it reaches the authority complete, and then carry every downstream update through to the end.

For a share transfer, that means:

• Reading your MoA or articles and telling you, before anyone signs, which consents and resolutions you need.
• Preparing the amendment request for DET or your free zone, and coordinating the notary appointment or e-signatures.
• Managing attestation and translation for foreign shareholders and powers of attorney.
• Updating the establishment card, the MOHRE file and the visas of the outgoing and incoming partners.
• Supporting the bank mandate update and, where you want one, a new corporate account application at AED 800.
• Filing the tax records amendment with the FTA inside the 20 business day window, and corporate tax or VAT registration if the company was never registered.
• Renewing the licence first if it is close to expiry, so the amendment is not blocked.

We cannot guarantee approvals, visas or bank accounts, and we will tell you plainly if a share transfer is the wrong route and a new company would serve you better.

To start, send us your current trade licence and MoA and tell us who is buying and who is selling. Message us on WhatsApp or call +971 52 253 5694. We will review the file and reply with the steps, the documents and a fixed quote for your authority.

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