Renewing and Closing a UAE Company

Last verified: 2026-10-06

Summary

A UAE licence has to be renewed before it expires, and a company that stops trading has to cancel its licence and related permits rather than let it lapse. Renewal and closure are run by the free zone authority or, on the mainland, by the emirate’s Department of Economic Development. The sections below describe what each source publishes.

Renewing a licence

DMCC

1. Log in to the DMCC Member Portal and open Company Services, then Licensing Services, then Licence Renewal.
2. Select the licence and choose a renewal term.
3. Upload the required documents, then pay and submit.

DMCC says renewal must happen on or before the expiry date and that sanctions and penalties apply otherwise, which may lead to licence termination. It lists a processing time of 2 business days and renewal terms of 1, 2, 3 or 5 years for service and trading licences (certain regulated activities annual only), and 1 year for industrial licences. Documents it mentions include workmen’s compensation insurance, a tenancy contract or Ejari number, and a certificate of good standing for branches, subsidiaries and joint ventures.

JAFZA

JAFZA’s service page says licences must be renewed yearly, with multi-year renewal possible only for customers holding plot leases. Renewal is requested on the Dubai Trade Portal. It states renewal can be requested within three months before expiry and that a fine applies for late renewal. Required documents depend on company type; for an FZE or FZCO the page lists an Operational Fitness Certificate (with an exception for offices and workstations).

RAKEZ

RAKEZ’s service page lists four steps: start the request on Portal 360, pay the renewal fees, upload the required documents, and receive the renewed licence. Requirements include valid passport copies where earlier copies have expired, corporate shareholder documents where relevant, any needed No Objection Certificate, and signed lease agreements for physical facilities. The page says the licence is renewed instantly once requirements are met and that fees vary by licence type, activity and facility.

Cancelling a licence and closing a company

Free zone companies (u.ae)

u.ae describes closure as a structured process handled by the free zone authority. Typical steps are:

1. Pass a shareholder resolution to close the business.
2. Cancel employee and investor visas.
3. Settle outstanding financial obligations.
4. Deregister with the Federal Tax Authority if applicable.
5. Submit a licence cancellation or liquidation request.
6. Provide the required clearances and documents.
7. Receive the final de-registration certificate on approval.

u.ae notes that Dubai, Ajman, ADGM, DMCC, JAFZA and RAKEZ each have their own eServices and requirements, and does not give timeframes or fees.

Examples from individual zones

• JAFZA. Its termination page distinguishes partial termination (one licence or lease) from complete termination. Complete termination items include an exit interview, a de-registration form, a liquidation report from the company’s auditors, a lease termination form, utility and telecommunications clearances, and visa cancellation or transfer for sponsored personnel for FZE and FZCO companies. It does not state a processing time.
• RAKEZ. Its de-registration page for physical facilities lists cancelling employee visas first, returning the facility, submitting the request on the RAKEZ 360 portal, a facility inspection, paying the invoice and receiving the de-registration certificate. It states a processing time of 5 working days for licence cancellation and a 14-day newspaper publication period, and lists a notarised shareholders’ resolution among the documents.
• DMCC. DMCC’s termination guideline could not be read for this guide, so its closure steps are not described here.

Mainland companies (Dubai, per u.ae)

u.ae says you must cancel the business licence and all related permits when you decide to close, to avoid fines and penalties for non-renewal. For a company in Dubai, the stated process has two phases:

1. Notice phase. Submit notarised general assembly minutes confirming liquidation and the appointment of a liquidator, together with the liquidator’s acceptance letter, and publish the liquidation announcement in two Arabic newspapers. A 45-day period allows creditors to submit claims.
2. Final phase. Submit the original newspaper announcements and the final company report, a liquidator or partner declaration that no objections were received, and cancel labour cards.

u.ae gives different documents for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman, and for branches (a Board of Directors decision in Dubai). Work permit cancellation, according to u.ae’s work permits page, involves a formal request, settling fines and confirming the worker received due entitlements.

What it costs

Renewal, late-renewal, cancellation and termination fees are set by each authority and differ by licence type and facility. This guide quotes no amounts; use the comparison tool on this site to see the cost items, and check the authority’s current fee page.

Common pitfalls

• Letting a licence expire instead of cancelling it. u.ae refers to fines and penalties for non-renewal, and DMCC, JAFZA and RAKEZ describe penalties for late renewal.
• Starting closure before visas are cancelled. u.ae, JAFZA and RAKEZ all list visa cancellation among the steps.
• Leaving lease and utility clearances until the end. JAFZA and RAKEZ list facility and utility clearances.
• Missing the renewal window, which can differ by authority (JAFZA states three months before expiry).
• Assuming one process applies everywhere. u.ae says each free zone and emirate has its own requirements.

Check the authority

Processing times, terms and notice periods in this guide are as stated on the cited pages as of 2026-10-06, and they change. Confirm the current process with your free zone authority or Department of Economic Development, and with u.ae, before renewing or closing.

Sources

• https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Doing-business/doing-business-in-free-zones/closing-a-business-in-a-free-zone-
• https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Doing-business/doing-business-on-the-mainland/closing-a-business-on-the-mainland-
• https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits
• https://dmcc.ae/members/support/knowledge-bank/licence-renewal-guidelines
• https://www.jafza.ae/resource-centre/guides/renew-license/
• https://www.jafza.ae/resource-centre/guides/terminating-your-license-at-jafza/
• https://rakez.com/en/service-cards/renewals/license-renewal-freezone
• https://rakez.com/en/customer-services/licensing-renewals
• https://rakez.com/en/service-cards/de-registration-and-exit-procedures/de-registration-physical-facility

This information is general; rules and fees can change. Check current details with the relevant authority.

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