Close your UAE company — cleanly, in 60–90 days.
Proper Dubai DED liquidation closes the chapter. Board resolution + 45-day public notice + audit + creditor settlement + FTA + MOHRE clearance + DED cancellation. From AED 8,000.
- From
- AED 8,000
- Timeline
- 60–90 days
- Notice period
- 45 days mandatory
- Audit
- Required
What proper liquidation involves.
UAE company liquidation is a regulated wind-down process governed by the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law 32/2021). The licensee passes a shareholder resolution to liquidate, appoints a UAE-licensed liquidator, publishes a 45-day notice in two Arabic-language newspapers (mandatory), settles creditors, completes a final audit, obtains FTA tax clearance, MOHRE labour clearance, and cancels the Dubai DED licence. The cancellation certificate is the legal proof the entity is closed — without it, the licence remains formally active and continues to generate compliance obligations and renewal penalties.
6-step closure process.
| Step | What happens | Typical fee | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Shareholder resolution + liquidator appointment | MoA-amended resolution + Notary Public attestation + liquidator MoU | AED 1,500–2,500 | 5–7 days |
| 2. 45-day public notice (Arabic newspapers) | Mandatory public notice in 2 Arabic newspapers; creditors can claim during this window | AED 1,200 (publication) | 45 days |
| 3. Liquidator audit + creditor settlement | Final accounts audited; outstanding creditors paid or settlement-agreed | AED 5,000–10,000 (audit) | Parallel with notice |
| 4. FTA tax clearance + final corporate-tax filing | Final corporate-tax return filed; FTA issues clearance certificate | AED 1,500–3,500 | 21–30 days |
| 5. MOHRE labour clearance + visa cancellations | All employment visas cancelled; Establishment Card closed; Immigration File closed | AED 100/visa + Establishment Card fees | 5–10 days |
| 6. Dubai DED cancellation certificate | Final DED filing issues cancellation certificate; licence officially closed | AED 500–1,200 (DED fee) | 5–7 days |
Liquidation vs insolvency.
If your entity's liabilities exceed assets — or you can't pay debts as they fall due — you can't liquidate the standard way. UAE Bankruptcy Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023, replacing earlier Decree-Law 9/2016) governs financial restructuring, preventive composition, and full bankruptcy. The court appoints a trustee, creditors are protected, and the process can take 12–24 months. Different from solvent liquidation. YABS can refer to insolvency-specialist counsel for these cases.
Frequently asked questions
How do I liquidate a Dubai mainland LLC?
Six-step process: (1) Shareholder resolution to liquidate + appointment of liquidator, (2) 45-day public notice in 2 Arabic newspapers, (3) liquidator audit + creditor settlement, (4) tax clearance from FTA + final corporate-tax filing, (5) MOHRE labour clearance + visa cancellations, (6) Dubai DED cancellation certificate. Total 60–90 working days.
What does Dubai liquidation cost?
Total typical AED 8,000–18,000 fully delivered: liquidator appointment fee + 45-day notice publication (AED 1,200) + audit fees (AED 5,000–10,000 depending on size) + Dubai DED cancellation fee + YABS coordination + 5% VAT. Excludes outstanding creditor settlements (paid separately). YABS retainer-clients get bundled liquidation at AED 6,500.
Why not just let my licence expire?
Three reasons. (1) Late-renewal penalties accumulate AED 250/month capped at AED 5,000 — not catastrophic but adds up. (2) The licence remains formally active for ~12 months until DED cancels it; during this time, MOHRE / GDRFA / FTA filings remain due, and ignoring them generates additional penalties. (3) Founders / shareholders cannot freely set up a new UAE entity until the previous one is properly closed — outstanding licences appear in DED checks. Proper liquidation closes the chapter cleanly.
What if I have outstanding bank loans or debts?
Liquidation requires creditor settlement before cancellation. The liquidator publishes the 45-day notice specifically to allow creditors to come forward. Outstanding loans must be settled or refinanced (with creditor approval) before cancellation. If liabilities exceed assets, the entity files for insolvency under UAE Bankruptcy Law (Federal Decree-Law 51/2023) — different process, requires court involvement.
Other end-of-life services.
Close your UAE company properly
Proper liquidation costs less than 12 months of late-renewal penalties + ongoing compliance fees. From AED 8,000 fully delivered.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.