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YABS
Amendments · Trade name

Trade name change — Dubai DED, 7–14 days.

Rebrand without re-incorporating. Reserve new name + amend MoA + DED reissuance. Same legal entity, new trading name. From AED 3,500 fully delivered.

From
AED 3,500
Timeline
7–14 days
Authority
Dubai DED + Notary
Bank update
5–10 days
Definition

What trade name change involves.

A trade name amendment changes the trading name of an existing UAE mainland LLC without dissolving the legal entity. The process: reserve the new name with Dubai DED (AED 620 government fee), amend the Memorandum of Association reflecting the new name, attest the amended MoA at a Dubai Notary Public, submit to Dubai DED for licence reissuance with the updated name. The underlying legal entity, licence number, MOHRE establishment card, GDRFA immigration file, and bank accounts persist — contracts signed under the old name remain valid; new contracts use the new name. Total 7–14 working days from start to amended licence in hand.

Cost breakdown

Itemised pricing.

Line itemAmountNote
New trade name reservationAED 620Government fee
MoA amendment + Notary attestationAED 1,100Government + Notary fee
Dubai DED licence reissuanceAED 600Government fee
YABS service feeAED 1,200Single line
5% VAT (on YABS service only)AED 60Government tax
TOTALAED 3,580From price; complex MoA may add cost
Source: 2026 Q2 Dubai DED + Dubai Notary Public + YABS rate card. Excludes new branding / signage / website costs.
Common pitfalls

Where this gets stuck.

Name conflicts with existing licence

YABS fix: we run pre-reservation search across DED + Trademark register before drafting the MoA — confirms the name is available before fees are spent.

Arabic translation mismatch

YABS fix: Ministry of Justice-licensed translator drafts the Arabic version to match the English semantically and culturally.

Forgotten bank account update

YABS fix: we send the bank an amendment-letter pack the same day DED issues the new licence.

Not notifying customers / suppliers

YABS fix: we draft a customer / supplier notification template you can send within 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my Dubai LLC trade name?

Yes. Dubai DED allows trade name amendments at any time. Process: reserve new trade name (AED 620), amend MoA, attest at Notary Public, submit to DED for licence reissuance with new name. Total 7–14 working days. Old licence number stays the same; only the trading name changes.

Why do trade name changes get rejected?

Most common reasons: (1) Already-used name (DED checks against existing licences + Trademark register); (2) References to religion, politics, ruling families (prohibited); (3) Generic names without differentiator; (4) Translation mismatch between English and Arabic versions; (5) Name implies regulated activity not on the licence (e.g., 'Bank' or 'Insurance' without licence). Pre-screening avoids 90% of rejections.

What happens to bank accounts and contracts?

Bank: notify your bank with the amended licence + DED amendment letter. Most banks update the account name within 5–10 working days. Contracts: existing contracts remain valid (the legal entity is the same), but new contracts should use the new trade name. Notify customers + suppliers within 30 days. VAT certificate auto-updates with FTA.

Change your trade name

From AED 3,500 fully delivered. 7–14 working days. Pre-screening prevents the 30% of name applications that competitors waste fees on.

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.