UAE Free Zone Company Banking KYC Document Checklist 2026
Getting your banking KYC documents right the first time dramatically improves account opening success. Here is the complete 2026 checklist.
In this guide:
Standard Corporate KYC Documents (ALL UAE Banks)
- Trade licence: Certified copy; valid (not expired)
- Certificate of Incorporation: Certified copy
- Memorandum of Association (MOA): Certified copy; complete; all pages
- Shareholder register: List of shareholders with percentage holdings
Director / Shareholder Personal KYC
- Passport: Coloured copy; all pages including blank pages (some banks)
- UAE Emirates ID: If UAE resident
- Proof of address: Utility bill; bank statement; less than 3 months old
- Source of funds/wealth: Letter explaining origin of company capital and personal wealth
Business Information
- Company profile: 1-2 page overview of business; what it does; markets served; client types
- Business plan: Some banks (especially for new companies)
- Bank statements: 6-12 months personal bank statements of director
- Expected transaction profile: Estimated monthly inflows/outflows; currencies; countries
Additional Documents (Bank-Specific)
- Reference letter: From existing UAE bank or well-known banker
- Professional CV: Of director/signatory
- Contracts/invoices: Samples of existing or intended business contracts
- Client list: Names of expected major clients or suppliers
Document Quality Tips
- Certified copies: Have trade licence and MOA certified by free zone (official stamp)
- Translation: Arabic documents going to some banks may need certified English translation
- Consistency: Ensure address on all documents is consistent; any mismatch raises KYC flags