Civil Company — licensed-professional partnership.
The mainland structure for credentialed-professional partnerships: doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants. 2+ partners, all holding the relevant UAE professional licence. From AED 17,500.
- From
- AED 17,500
- Partners
- 2+
- Liability
- Unlimited (joint)
- Activities
- Licensed pros only
What Civil Company is.
A Civil Company is a Dubai DED partnership structure restricted to UAE-credentialed professional activities. Each partner must hold the relevant licence — DHA / DOH for medical, Ministry of Justice for legal practice, Society of Engineers UAE for engineering, FTA-registered for audit / accounting. All partners share unlimited personal liability for the partnership's professional and financial obligations. Used for genuine professional partnerships — multi-doctor clinics, multi-lawyer law firms, multi-engineer consultancies. For investor-led or corporate-owned advisory firms, LLC is the right structure because of its limited-liability protection.
Multi-professional partnership comparison.
Three structures available for credentialed professionals operating mainland. Each has its trade-offs.
| Structure | Partners | Liability | Activity scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Company | 2+ all credentialed | Unlimited joint | Licensed professional only |
| Mainland LLC | 1–50 (any) | Limited to capital | All activities |
| Sole Establishment | 1 credentialed | Unlimited personal | Professional only |
| Branch of foreign firm | Parent only | Parent guarantees | Same as parent |
Frequently asked questions
What is a Civil Company in the UAE?
A Civil Company is the partnership structure under Dubai DED for licensed professionals — doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, consultants — practising together. 2+ partners. Each partner must hold the relevant professional credential (Ministry of Justice for lawyers, DHA for doctors, Society of Engineers UAE for engineers). All partners share unlimited personal liability for the partnership's professional and financial obligations.
Civil Company vs LLC for consultancies?
Civil Company suits true partnerships of credentialed professionals (a 4-doctor clinic, 3-lawyer practice, multi-engineer firm). LLC suits investor-led businesses where shareholders may not hold the credentials themselves (corporate-owned consultancy with hired professionals). LLC also offers limited-liability protection that Civil Company does not. For most modern consultancies, LLC is the right structure.
Why does Civil Company need a Local Service Agent?
Civil Companies historically required a UAE national Local Service Agent (LSA) — paid annual fee for representation, no shareholding. Post-2021 Commercial Companies Law amendments removed this requirement for most professional activities. Confirm with YABS whether your specific activity still triggers LSA — most do not.
Can a foreign professional start a Civil Company in Dubai?
Yes for most professional activities. Each partner must hold the relevant UAE professional licence. For doctors: DHA / DOH credentialing. For lawyers: Ministry of Justice admission (UAE national requirement persists for some legal practice categories). For engineers: Society of Engineers UAE. Foreign professionals can hold UAE professional credentials and form Civil Companies.
Other mainland structures.
Set up Civil Company in Dubai
From AED 17,500, 7–10 working days. Each partner's credentials pre-verified before MoA drafting.
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.