A mainland business ownership transfer in Dubai follows a clear but formal sequence: the partners agree to the change, approval is secured from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Memorandum of Association is updated and notarized, government fees are settled, and a new trade license is issued reflecting the revised ownership.
What this process allows, in practical terms, is continuity. Shareholders can sell, assign, or restructure ownership in an existing mainland company without closing it down or restarting from scratch. The business keeps its commercial registration, its operating history, and its legal standing – with the ownership change properly recorded rather than worked around.
As of 2026, every ownership change in a Dubai mainland company must be reviewed, approved, and registered with DET. That requirement applies whether shares are transferred to a new partner, redistributed among existing shareholders, or moved between individuals and corporate entities. DET’s role is not administrative box-ticking; it is the authority that confirms the company remains compliant, correctly structured, and legally recognized under UAE commercial law.
For founders, buyers, and investors, this makes proper handling essential. Ownership transfers that are rushed, incomplete, or poorly documented tend to surface later – often during license renewals, bank reviews, or visa processing. When managed correctly, however, a DET-approved ownership transfer becomes a clean pivot point: enabling exits, new partnerships, or restructuring without interrupting operations. With experienced support from Creative Zone, the process stays controlled, compliant, and focused on keeping the business moving forward rather than stuck in paperwork.
When is DET approval required for ownership transfer?
DET approval is required whenever ownership in a Dubai mainland company changes in any way – whether that change affects who the partners are, how shares are divided, or how much of the business each party owns.
The rule applies just as much to small adjustments as it does to full transfers. Adding a partner, removing one, or rebalancing share percentages between existing shareholders all fall under the same requirement. If ownership is moving, even slightly, DET must formally approve and record the change.
It also makes no difference whether the parties involved are individuals or companies. Transfers between people, transfers to holding companies, internal group restructures, and shifts from corporate to individual ownership are all assessed on the same basis. DET’s focus is consistency – making sure the updated ownership still matches the licensed activity, legal structure, and commercial rules the business operates under.
What often catches people out is assuming private agreement is enough. It isn’t. Until DET signs off, the ownership change simply doesn’t exist in legal terms. That gap usually only becomes visible later – during a license renewal, a bank review, or a visa update – when records are checked more closely. Treating DET approval as an essential step from the outset avoids those quiet but costly problems down the line.
Types of mainland business ownership transfers allowed
Dubai allows ownership in a mainland company to change in several recognized ways – whether through a full sale, a partial transfer, internal share reshuffling, movement between individual and corporate owners, or inheritance – as long as the change is approved and recorded by the DET.
The cleanest form of transfer is a full ownership change, where all shares move from the existing owner or partners to a new party. This usually happens when a business is sold outright. From the outside, nothing else really changes – the company keeps trading as it always has – but legally, control shifts completely once DET updates the license.
More often, ownership changes only in part. A partial transfer might involve bringing in a new partner, allowing one to exit, or reshaping the cap table as the business grows. These situations are common in growing companies, and they don’t disrupt day-to-day operations. What they do change is who owns what, which is why they still need to be formally approved.
Sometimes the shareholders stay the same, but the numbers move. Share percentage redistribution happens when partners adjust their stakes between themselves – often after new capital is injected, responsibilities shift, or earlier agreements are revisited. Even though no one new appears on paper, the ownership change still needs to be recorded properly.
Ownership can also move between individuals and corporate entities, and this is where things can feel more technical than they really are. Founders might transfer shares into a holding company, or reverse that structure later on. These are normal steps in long-term planning, as long as the business activity and license still fit the new structure.
Then there are inheritance-based transfers, which follow a different path altogether. When a shareholder passes away, ownership doesn’t disappear – it moves through legal channels. Court documents or inheritance certificates are required, and the process tends to be slower, but the purpose is continuity: making sure the business can carry on with ownership clearly established.
Across all of these scenarios, the principle stays the same. The structure can change, but it has to be visible, approved, and properly recorded. That’s what keeps the business stable, bankable, and fully compliant as it evolves.
Eligibility rules for transferring business ownership in Dubai
Both sides of a mainland ownership transfer – the seller and the buyer – must meet DET rules for transferring business ownership in Dubai to be approved and formally recorded.
In reality, the process starts with the company itself. If the trade license isn’t active and in good standing, everything else slows down. An expired or suspended license doesn’t automatically block a transfer, but it usually has to be dealt with first. DET looks at what exists today, not what the business plans to fix later.
Past behavior also matters more than many people expect. A company with a clean compliance history tends to move through the process far more smoothly than one carrying unresolved issues. Missed filings, unanswered notices, or loose ends from earlier years don’t always stop a transfer – but they do tend to surface when ownership changes are under review.
The same goes for outstanding government fines. These can sit quietly for years, linked to licensing, immigration, or municipal matters, until an ownership transfer brings everything into focus. As a rule, DET expects those obligations to be cleared before approving any structural changes.
There’s also the question of whether the business activity still fits. Companies evolve. What they do today doesn’t always match what was approved when the license was first issued. If the proposed ownership structure no longer aligns with the licensed activity, DET may ask for adjustments before signing off.
In some cases, nationality requirements still play a role. While most mainland activities now allow broad foreign ownership, certain sectors come with specific conditions. When they apply, those rules are checked quietly but carefully as part of the approval process.
None of this is about creating barriers. It’s about alignment. DET reviews ownership transfers by looking at the company as a whole – where it stands, how it operates, and who is stepping in – to make sure the transition makes sense on paper and in practice.
Step-by-step process for mainland ownership transfer via DET
A mainland business ownership transfer in Dubai follows a clear but formal sequence: the partners agree to the change, approval is secured from the DET, the Memorandum of Association is updated and notarized, government fees are settled, and a new trade license is issued reflecting the revised ownership.
The order matters more than the paperwork itself. Each step sets up the next, and trying to rush ahead usually means retracing your steps later.
Step 1: Partner agreement and ownership transfer resolution
The process starts with agreement between the partners. All current shareholders must formally sign off on the ownership change, whether someone is exiting, joining, or adjusting their stake. This agreement is captured in a written resolution. Getting this right early avoids unnecessary back-and-forth later, which is why many businesses choose to structure it with Creative Zone’s guidance from the outset.
Step 2: Initial DET approval application
Once the partners are aligned, the proposed ownership change is submitted to DET. This is an early check to confirm the new structure fits within the company’s existing license and activity. If anything doesn’t align, it tends to show up here rather than further down the line.
Step 3: Drafting and notarization of the amended Memorandum of Association
After initial approval, the Memorandum of Association is updated to reflect the new ownership details. Share percentages and partner information are adjusted, then document attestation and certification are needed. This is where the change moves from agreement to legal form.
Step 4: Submission of documents and fee payment
The notarized documents are submitted back to DET, along with the required government fees. DET completes its final review at this stage, checking that everything is consistent and that the company is in good standing.
Step 5: Issuance of the updated trade license
The transfer is only complete once the updated trade license is issued. Until then, the change isn’t legally recognized. Once the new license is released, the company continues operating as normal under its revised ownership.
Documents required for business ownership transfer in Dubai
A mainland ownership transfer in Dubai depends on a small group of documents that show who’s involved, what’s changing, and whether the company is in a position to make that change legally.
In most cases, DET will ask for the following:
- Valid trade license – Confirms the company is active and not suspended or expired.
- Passport copies of existing and incoming shareholders – Used to identify all parties linked to the ownership change.
- Emirates ID copies (if applicable) – Required where shareholders or signatories are UAE residents.
- Share transfer agreement – Sets out which shares are moving and between whom.
- Amended Memorandum of Association (MoA) – Updates the company’s legal records to reflect the new ownership.
- Board resolution (for corporate shareholders) – Confirms internal approval where a company is involved as a shareholder.
- No-objection certificates (if required) – Requested in specific setups where third-party consent is needed.
- Power of Attorney (if applicable) – Allows the process to continue if someone is signing through a representative.
DET fees and government charges for ownership transfer (2026)
The cost of transferring ownership in a Dubai mainland company typically falls between AED 3,000 and AED 8,000, depending on how the business is structured and how involved the change is. Straightforward transfers between individuals usually cost less, while corporate shareholders, multiple partners, or internal restructures increase the overall spend.
A core part of the cost is DET approval fees, which apply once the ownership change is submitted for review. These are standard government charges and form the base of the process.
Most transfers also involve notary and Memorandum of Association amendment fees. The MoA must be updated and notarized, with costs influenced by the number of partners, whether companies are involved, and the details reflected in the document.
Trade license amendment fees are typically charged as well, covering the reissue of the license with the updated ownership information.
Where documents originate outside the UAE or are not in Arabic, legal translation costs apply. This is common for shareholder paperwork and corporate resolutions.
In more involved cases, professional service fees may be added. These usually relate to document handling, coordination with DET, notarization logistics, and keeping the process moving where timelines or structures are less straightforward.
How long does mainland ownership transfer take?
There isn’t a single timeline that applies to every mainland ownership transfer in Dubai. How long it takes usually comes down to two things: how ready the documents are when the process starts, and how complicated the ownership change really is.
When the setup is simple and the paperwork is already in order, the transfer can move through fairly quickly – often within 5 to 10 working days. Once corporate shareholders are involved, or there are several partners and layered approvals, it’s more realistic to expect something closer to 10 to 15 working days.
What slows things down is rarely the authority itself. More often, it’s small gaps that only become visible once the review begins. Documents that don’t quite line up, approvals that were assumed rather than confirmed, or outstanding fines tied to the license can all bring the process to a pause until they’re dealt with. Changes to the Memorandum of Association tend to add time as well, especially if the ownership structure doesn’t cleanly match the licensed activity.
Where transfers move fastest is when none of that exists. Clear paperwork from day one, partner approvals already signed, and submissions made in the right order usually keep things moving without friction. When the process is handled deliberately rather than reactively, ownership changes tend to progress steadily – without the stop-start pattern that causes most delays.
Common rejection reasons and how to avoid delays
Most ownership transfer rejections and delays come down to a handful of recurring issues: paperwork that doesn’t quite match up, unresolved fines or compliance gaps, MoA changes that aren’t fully aligned, ownership structures that don’t sit comfortably with the licensed activity, or approvals that were assumed rather than properly issued.
Documentation is where problems tend to start. Not because it’s missing entirely, but because details don’t line up. Names spelled differently across documents, signatures in the wrong place, or resolutions that don’t reflect the final version of the ownership change can all trigger questions once the file is reviewed. These things are easy to overlook early on, but they’re rarely ignored later.
Another common slowdown comes from issues the company already carries. Outstanding fines, old compliance matters, or unresolved license points don’t always surface in day-to-day operations. Ownership transfers tend to bring them into focus. When they do, approval usually pauses until those loose ends are tied up.
Misalignment between documents is another frequent cause. If the amended Memorandum of Association tells a slightly different story from the ownership resolution, or if it doesn’t sit neatly with the licensed activity, the process stalls. Even small inconsistencies are enough to send things back for correction.
Then there’s the structure itself. Businesses change over time, but licenses don’t always keep up. Bringing in a new shareholder or reshaping ownership can expose that gap, particularly if the new structure doesn’t clearly fit the activity the company is licensed to carry out.
Missing approvals, especially where companies are involved as shareholders, are also more common than they should be. Board resolutions that weren’t properly issued, or authority that hasn’t been clearly documented, can quietly block progress until they’re resolved.
Most of these issues aren’t serious on their own. They become problems when they’re discovered mid-process. Transfers tend to move far more smoothly when documents are checked before submission, company records are reviewed with fresh eyes, and the ownership change is shaped around the license rather than adjusted after the fact.
Mainland ownership transfer vs new company formation
Deciding between transferring ownership of an existing mainland company and setting up a new one usually comes down to what you want to keep – and what you’re prepared to rebuild.
An ownership transfer makes sense when continuity matters. The company already exists. It has a license, a trading history, bank relationships, contracts, and often visas in place. Changing ownership allows all of that to stay intact, provided the transfer is handled correctly. For buyers stepping into an operating business, or partners restructuring without disrupting day-to-day operations, this route is usually faster and less invasive.
A new company formation, by contrast, is a clean start. It’s often the better option when the existing structure no longer fits – the activity has changed, the license is outdated, or the business carries legacy issues that would complicate a transfer. Starting fresh means rebuilding everything, from licensing and banking to visas and commercial relationships, but it also removes any historical baggage.
Cost and timing play a role, but they’re rarely the deciding factors on their own. Ownership transfers are typically quicker once documents are in order, while new formations take longer but offer more freedom to redesign the structure from the ground up. The trade-off is between speed and flexibility.
There’s also the question of exposure. An ownership transfer carries the company’s past with it – its compliance record, fines (if any), and operating history. A new setup starts with a blank slate, which can be appealing if the existing company hasn’t been maintained carefully.
In practice, the better choice depends on intent. If the goal is to step into an established operation or adjust ownership without resetting the business, a transfer is usually the cleaner move. If the goal is reinvention, a new license and structure often make more sense. The key is knowing which path supports where the business is actually headed, rather than choosing based on convenience alone.
How Creative Zone can handle DET transfers smoothly
Handling a mainland ownership transfer isn’t just about submitting forms. It’s about understanding how each step affects the next, and where small issues tend to surface if they’re not addressed early. That’s where experienced handling makes a difference.
Creative Zone manages the ownership transfer process end to end, from the initial structuring of the change through to DET coordination, document preparation, notarisation, and the reissue of the trade license. The focus isn’t speed for its own sake, but keeping the process clean – so ownership changes don’t create problems later with renewals, bank account changes and support, or visas.
What clients usually value most is clarity. Before anything is submitted, the ownership structure is reviewed against the existing license, the company’s compliance position is checked, and documents are aligned so they tell the same story. That upfront work is what prevents revisions and delays once the file is under review.
Creative Zone also acts as the single point of coordination between all parties involved – outgoing shareholders, incoming owners, notaries, tax compliance and support, and the DET. That reduces friction, especially in transfers involving multiple partners or corporate shareholders, where communication gaps often slow things down.
For founders, buyers, and investors, this means the transition happens with minimal disruption. The company keeps operating, ownership changes are properly recorded, and the business moves forward under its new structure without loose ends. It’s the same practical, detail-led approach Creative Zone applies across business setup in Dubai, adapted to ownership transfers where precision matters just as much as momentum.
Ready to move ahead with a mainland ownership transfer? Speak to our team at Creative Zone and let the process move forward smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cancel visas before transferring ownership?
Not usually. Existing visas can often remain in place during an ownership transfer, but they may need to be updated or re-linked once the new trade license is issued, depending on the structure.
Can ownership be transferred if the license is expired?
In most cases, no. An expired license typically needs to be renewed before DET will approve an ownership transfer, as the company must be active and in good standing at the time of the change.
Is bank approval required for ownership transfer?
Bank approval isn’t part of the DET process, but banks usually require updated ownership documents afterward. Failing to update the bank once the transfer is complete can cause issues later.
Can I transfer ownership remotely without being in Dubai?
Yes, in many cases. Ownership transfers can often be handled remotely using notarized documents and Powers of Attorney, provided everything is prepared correctly.
