The federal commercial companies law sets which company forms a mainland company can take, which categories it does not apply to, and a list of strategic activities with special licensing. It is the starting point for reading a UAE company.
What the federal commercial companies law says about company forms, exclusions and strategic activities.
Under the federal commercial companies law, a company must take one of five forms: joint liability company, limited partnership company, limited liability company, public joint stock company or private joint stock company. An entity in none of these forms is treated as null and void.
The federal commercial companies law lists categories it does not apply to (save for registration in an exempt register), including companies wholly owned by federal or local government and companies exempt under special federal laws. This is one reason not every UAE entity type follows the same company-law rules.
The federal companies law provides for a Cabinet-approved list of activities with strategic impact with special licensing controls, and lets the competent authority set a percentage of national participation in the capital or boards of companies. Foreign ownership can therefore be conditional for some activities.
The AML guidelines treat mainland, non-financial free zones and financial free zones (ADGM, DIFC) as separate registration regimes for beneficial-ownership disclosure; the federal UBO resolution covers the mainland and non-financial free zones but not the two financial free zones.
Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies (English text) — Ministry of Economy and Tourism, UAE
AML/CFT and Illegal Organisations Guidelines for Financial Institutions (June 2021) — Central Bank of the UAE
Fact sheet last reviewed 2026-09-28. Jurisdiction rules are confirmed against the sources above; a provider's own requirements differ and are confirmed by the provider.
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Under the federal commercial companies law, a company must take one of five forms: joint liability company, limited partnership company, limited liability company, public joint stock company or private joint stock company. An entity in none of these forms is treated as null and void.
The federal companies law provides for a Cabinet-approved list of activities with strategic impact with special licensing controls, and lets the competent authority set a percentage of national participation in the capital or boards of companies. Foreign ownership can therefore be conditional for some activities.
No. Latynex is not a bank, EMI or payment institution. We review your case and, where suitable, introduce it to an independent, regulated financial provider who handles the account itself.
No. No introducer can guarantee a banking or payment-account decision. The provider you are introduced to runs its own KYC/KYB review and makes the final call under its own policies.
Typically: certificate of incorporation, register of directors and shareholders, proof of UBO identity and address, a description of business activity, and evidence of source of funds. Exact requirements vary by provider.
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