Shareholder change —
MoA amendment, end-to-end.
Add a partner, buy out a shareholder, transfer shares between existing partners. MoA amendment + Notary Public + Dubai DED filing. From AED 4,500.
- Authority
- DED + Notary
- Timeline
- 7–14 d
- From
- AED 4,500
- MoA update
- Required
Definition — Shareholder Amendment
Shareholder amendment in a UAE mainland LLC requires updating the Memorandum of Association (MoA), Dubai Notary Public attestation of the amended MoA, Dubai DED submission, and updated trade licence reflecting new shareholding structure. If new shareholder is foreign, their passport must be MoFAIC-attested. If existing shareholder is exiting, exit terms must be documented in a Share Sale Agreement before MoA amendment.
Common shareholder changes and what they cost.
Each amendment requires MoA update + Notary attestation + Dubai DED filing. Below: the typical scenarios.
| Scenario | Documents required | Government fees | YABS fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add new partner (foreign) | MoFAIC-attested passport + sale agreement | AED 1,500–2,500 | AED 2,500 | 7–14 days |
| Remove existing partner | NOC + share sale agreement + paid-up capital evidence | AED 1,200 | AED 2,500 | 5–10 days |
| Share transfer between existing partners | Share sale agreement + amended MoA | AED 1,200 | AED 2,000 | 5–10 days |
| Change manager / GM | Board resolution + new manager passport / EID | AED 600 | AED 1,500 | 3–5 days |
| Change shareholding percentages | Amended MoA + DED template | AED 1,500 | AED 2,200 | 5–10 days |
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Filing amendment without exit settlement letter from leaving shareholder
Cost: DED rejects; shareholder dispute can block amendment indefinitely
YABS fix: We require signed share-sale + settlement-and-no-claims paper before MoA drafting.
Missing MoFAIC attestation on incoming foreign shareholder's passport
Cost: Notary refuses to attest; full chain restart
YABS fix: We pre-screen documents and route through MoFAIC before booking the notary.
Document checklist.
- Existing MoA + trade licence
- Incoming shareholder's passport (MoFAIC-attested if foreign)
- Existing shareholder NOC (if exiting)
- Share Sale Agreement (if shares transferring)
- Power of Attorney if any party signing remotely
Frequently asked questions
How long does shareholder change take?
Standard shareholder amendment: 7–14 working days from MoA draft to amended trade licence issuance. Steps: MoA amendment drafting (1–2 days), Notary Public attestation (1 day), Dubai DED submission (3–5 days), licence reissuance (1–3 days). Add 7–21 days for MoFAIC attestation if incoming shareholder's passport documents are issued abroad.
Can I add a foreign shareholder to my Dubai mainland LLC?
Yes — most activities allow 100% foreign ownership since 2021. Adding a new foreign shareholder requires MoA amendment, their passport MoFAIC-attested if issued abroad, and Dubai DED approval. Some restricted activities (oil/gas, defence) still require Emirati ownership — confirm activity eligibility before adding.
What if a shareholder won't sign the MoA amendment?
MoA amendments require unanimous shareholder consent under standard UAE Commercial Companies Law. If a shareholder refuses, options include: court-ordered amendment (slow, expensive), buy-out via voluntary share purchase, or amended MoA via written shareholder resolution if MoA originally allowed majority amendment. YABS coordinates legal counsel for disputed cases.
Also useful.
Get started with shareholder amendment
Apply online in 4 steps. Itemised AED quote, no sales-call gate.
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.