Dubai Trade License Amendment

Change your Dubai company's licence details properly: shareholders, manager, trade name, activities or office. We handle DET mainland and free zone amendments and the updates that follow.

Description

When something recorded on your licence changes, the licence has to be amended. In Dubai that covers a new or departing shareholder, a share transfer, a new manager, a different trade name, added or removed activities, a change of legal form, or a move to new premises. A mainland amendment is filed with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); a free zone amendment is filed with the free zone that issued the licence. Running the business on details that no longer match the licence causes problems with banks, visas and contracts.

**Share transfers and new partners (mainland).** The usual sequence is: check the MOA for pre-emption rights or transfer limits, apply to DET for initial approval of the transfer, prepare the share transfer agreement and the MOA amendment together, sign them before a notary in Dubai (in person, through Dubai Courts' remote notary service, or by an attorney holding a valid power of attorney), and then register the change with DET, which issues the updated licence and company documents. Regulated activities may need the regulator's approval first. A shareholder who will live in the UAE usually applies for an investor visa once the change is registered.

**Manager, name and activities.** A new manager is recorded in the MOA or licence and usually needs an immigration file update. A new trade name needs a fresh name reservation and then changes everywhere your old name appears. New activities have to fit your licence type; activities supervised by another authority (for example tourism, real estate, healthcare or education) need that authority's approval before DET adds them.

**Office moves.** A move needs a new tenancy registered in Ejari and the licence address updated. If you need a new space, our office rental team can help. Free zone companies moving within the zone sign a new facility agreement with the zone.

**Free zone amendments.** Each free zone runs its own amendment process on its portal, usually with a shareholder or board resolution and, for overseas corporate shareholders, attested documents. We work through the zone's requirements for you.

**After the amendment.** Banks ask for the updated licence and MOA after any ownership, manager or name change, so update your corporate bank account records straight away. VAT-registered businesses must also notify the Federal Tax Authority of changes to their registration details; see VAT registration. If your licence is due soon, the amendment can be run alongside your trade license renewal.

**What affects the cost.** The type of change, the number of changes, notarisation, any regulator approval, and whether a new Ejari is needed. Tell us what you want to change on WhatsApp or live chat and we'll send a written quote and a list of what each party must sign.

What's Included

Assessment of what changes, and which approvals and signatures are needed
DET initial approval for ownership changes (mainland)
Share transfer agreement and MOA amendment preparation
Notary appointment coordination (in person or remote)
Trade name reservation for name changes
Activity additions or removals, with regulator approval where needed
Ejari and address update for office moves
Free zone amendment applications
Updated licence and company documents
Checklist for bank, immigration and VAT updates afterwards

Requirements / Prerequisites

A valid Dubai trade licence with no unpaid fines
Agreement of all shareholders affected by an ownership change
New activities that fit your licence type, plus regulator approval where required
A new Ejari-registered lease for a mainland office move
A notarised and attested power of attorney for anyone who can't sign in person

Required Documents

Copy of the current trade licence and MOA
Passport copies of all current and incoming shareholders and the manager
Emirates ID copies (UAE residents)
Share transfer agreement (ownership changes)
Shareholder or board resolution (corporate shareholders and free zone companies)
Attested company documents for a new corporate shareholder
New Ejari certificate (mainland office move)
Regulator approval for regulated activities
Power of attorney, where someone signs on a shareholder's behalf

Our Process

Confirm what is changing and list the approvals and signatures needed
Check the licence is valid and fines are paid
Apply for DET initial approval (mainland ownership changes) or submit to the free zone
Reserve the new trade name or obtain regulator approval, if relevant
Prepare the share transfer agreement and MOA amendment
Sign before a notary (in person, remotely or by power of attorney)
Register the amendment and pay the fees
Receive the updated licence and company documents
Update the bank, immigration file and FTA records

Pricing

Contact via WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

What changes need a Dubai trade license amendment?

Adding or removing shareholders, transferring shares, changing the manager, changing the trade name, adding or removing activities, changing the legal form and moving office.

How does a share transfer work for a Dubai mainland company?

Check the MOA for transfer restrictions, get DET initial approval, prepare the share transfer agreement and MOA amendment, sign before a notary, then register the change with DET, which issues the updated licence.

Do all shareholders need to be in Dubai to sign?

No. Shareholders can sign through Dubai Courts' remote notary service where they are eligible, or appoint someone under a notarised power of attorney. Documents signed abroad must be legalised and attested for use in the UAE.

Can I add a regulated activity to my licence?

Yes, if it fits your licence type and the regulator approves. Activities such as real estate brokerage, healthcare, tourism or education need the relevant authority's approval before DET adds them.

How long does a licence amendment take?

Simple changes such as adding a non-regulated activity move quickest. Ownership changes take longer because of DET initial approval and notarisation, and regulated activities add the regulator's review time. We give you a timeline once we know the change.

What do I need to update after an amendment?

Your bank records, the company's immigration file (for a new manager or shareholder), your VAT registration details with the FTA, and any contracts or platforms that show your old details.

Can I amend and renew at the same time?

Yes. They are separate transactions, but we can run them together so your renewed licence already shows the new details.