How to Add a Corporate Shareholder to Your UAE Free Zone Company 2026
UAE free zone companies can have corporate (company) shareholders as well as individual shareholders. Here is the 2026 step-by-step guide on adding a corporate shareholder.
In this guide:
Why Add a Corporate Shareholder?
- Holding structure: Your UAE free zone company becomes a subsidiary of a holding company
- Investment: A new corporate investor acquires shares in your company
- Joint venture: Two companies merge interests in a new or existing UAE free zone entity
Documents Required for Corporate Shareholder
- Certificate of Incorporation of the corporate shareholder
- Memorandum and Articles of Association of the corporate shareholder
- Certificate of Incumbency (list of directors/shareholders; issued by company registry or registered agent)
- Board resolution from corporate shareholder authorizing the share acquisition
- Passport copies of directors and UBOs of the corporate shareholder
- All foreign documents: Typically require apostille and/or notarization
Step-by-Step Process
- Step 1: Prepare all corporate shareholder documents (apostilled)
- Step 2: Sign share transfer or new share issue agreement
- Step 3: Pass board resolution authorizing the shareholder change
- Step 4: Submit amendment application to free zone with all documents
- Step 5: Free zone reviews and approves; MOA amended
- Step 6: Updated MOA and trade licence reflecting new corporate shareholder
Timeline and Cost
- Timeline: 5-15 business days depending on free zone and document completeness
- Cost: AED 1,000-5,000 free zone amendment fee; professional service charges if using formation agent