Company amendments in the UAE. Changed once, updated everywhere.
New shareholder, revised MOA or a new business activity? Your account manager handles the amendment with the licensing authority and then updates everything that depends on it: UBO register, VAT and corporate tax records, and your bank. No WhatsApp. No chasing. No records left out of sync.
companies
fee
response
team
The license is updated. Is everything else?
An amendment rarely ends at the licensing authority. A new shareholder also changes your UBO register, may need to be reported to the FTA, and has to be added at the bank. Most problems come later, when a bank, auditor or the FTA finds records that no longer match. ComplyUAE treats each amendment as one request and closes every follow-on update with it.
Change your company, keep it compliant
Three of the most common amendments, handled end to end for mainland and free zone companies.
Shareholder change
For adding or removing a shareholder, transferring shares between partners, or changing ownership percentages.
Update UBO details within 15 daysA share transfer needs agreement between the parties, a notarised or authority-approved transfer document, and an amended license and MOA. Your account manager prepares the paperwork, coordinates signatures and notarisation, submits to the authority, and then updates your UBO register, tax records and investor visas where needed.
What we handle
- Share transfer or sale agreement
- Notarisation or authority attestation
- Amended license, MOA and share certificates
- UBO register update
- FTA registration updates for VAT and corporate tax
- Investor visa for the new shareholder, or cancellation for the outgoing one
Documents you upload
- Current trade license and MOA
- Passports, visas and Emirates IDs of incoming and outgoing shareholders
- Board or shareholder resolution approving the transfer
- Corporate documents, if the new shareholder is a company
- NOC from the outgoing shareholder, where required
MOA amendment
For changes to the manager, share capital, profit split, signing authority, company name or legal form.
Signed and notarised before filingYour Memorandum of Association is the rulebook for your company, and banks and authorities read it closely. Your account manager drafts the amended MOA or addendum, arranges signatures and notarisation, gets it approved by your authority, and makes sure the new version matches your license and records everywhere else.
What we handle
- Drafting the MOA addendum or restated MOA
- Shareholder resolution for the change
- Notarisation and authority approval
- Manager or signatory changes on the license
- Capital increase or reduction
- Bank and FTA updates where the change affects them
Documents you upload
- Current MOA and trade license
- Passports and Emirates IDs of all shareholders
- Details of the change you want to make
- New manager's passport and visa, if changing manager
- Bank letter, if capital is being changed
Business activity change
For adding, removing or replacing activities on your trade license as your business grows or shifts.
Some activities need outside approvalBefore adding an activity, it's worth checking that it can sit on your license type, whether it needs approval from another authority, and how it affects your VAT treatment or free zone tax status. Your account manager checks all of this first, then files the change and updates your license.
What we handle
- Activity code search and compatibility check
- Approvals from regulators for restricted activities
- License amendment with your authority
- Office or space requirement check for the new activity
- VAT and Qualifying Free Zone impact review
- Updated license in your portal
Documents you upload
- Current trade license
- Description of the new activity
- Shareholder resolution, where required
- Ejari or office agreement, if space changes
- Professional qualifications, for regulated activities
Any change to your company, covered too
Beyond the big three, your account manager handles every other change to your company file through the portal.
Trade name change
Name availability check, approval and an updated license, followed by bank, FTA and visa record updates.
Manager or signatory change
New manager on the license and MOA, with signing authority updated at the bank.
Share capital change
Capital increase or reduction approved, reflected in the MOA and share certificates.
Address and Ejari change
New office registered with your authority, with the change reported to the FTA.
Legal form change
Converting between forms, such as sole establishment to LLC, where your authority allows it.
Compliance calendar
Follow-on deadlines from every amendment tracked alongside your license, VAT and visa dates.
From request to updated license in four steps
No forms to fill out over and over. No chasing. Your account manager handles the rest once you submit.
- 1
Add your company
Mainland, free zone or offshore. Your license, MOA and shareholders are stored once.
- 2
Raise an amendment
Pick the change, describe it briefly and upload documents. Your AM asks for specifics via portal chat.
- 3
AM files the change
Drafting, signatures, notarisation and authority approvals, all coordinated for you.
- 4
Every record updated
New license and MOA in your portal, with UBO, FTA and bank updates tracked to completion.
One change, no loose ends
UAE business owners who moved their compliance from WhatsApp chaos to the portal.
"We have three companies under our group. Keeping track of all the compliance deadlines was a nightmare. ComplyUAE shows everything in one dashboard. The compliance calendar alone is worth the fee."
Who we handle amendments for
- Mainland companies (DED, DDA)
- Free zone companies (DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA and all major free zones)
- Offshore entities
- Companies bringing in investors or partners
- Founders exiting or restructuring
- 800+
- Active companies
- 24hr
- AM response
- AED 0
- Setup fee
- 14 days
- Free trial
Amendments, trade license, VAT, corporate tax and visas tracked together, per entity.
Amendment questions, answered
Can't find what you need? Your account manager replies within 24 hours.
What counts as a company amendment in the UAE?
Any change to the details on your trade license or MOA: shareholders, share percentages, manager, business activities, trade name, share capital, address or legal form. Each needs approval from your licensing authority before it takes effect.
How do I change shareholders in a UAE company?
The outgoing and incoming shareholders agree the transfer, a share transfer document is signed and notarised or attested by the authority, and the license and MOA are amended. The UBO register and any tax registrations are then updated.
Does an MOA amendment need to be notarised?
For most mainland companies, yes: the amended MOA or addendum is signed before a notary. Free zones usually have their own approval and signing process. Your account manager follows the route your authority requires.
Can I add a new business activity to my trade license?
Usually, yes, as long as the activity is compatible with your license type and jurisdiction. Some activities need approval from another authority first. Your account manager checks this before filing.
Do I need to tell the FTA about company amendments?
Changes that affect your VAT or corporate tax registration, such as a new name, address, shareholders or activities, must be reported to the FTA within 20 business days. ComplyUAE handles this as part of the amendment.
Do I need to update my UBO register after a shareholder change?
Yes. UBO details must be updated within 15 days of a change in ownership or control. We update the register as soon as the amendment is approved.
How long does a company amendment take?
Simple changes can be done within days. Shareholder changes or activities needing outside approval take longer. Your account manager gives you a realistic timeline before starting and you track each step in the portal.
Will I need to update my bank after an amendment?
Usually, yes. Banks need to know about changes to shareholders, managers, signatories or the company name. Your account manager prepares the updated documents your bank will ask for.
General information about company amendments in the UAE. Requirements, fees and timelines differ by emirate and free zone and change from time to time; your account manager will confirm what applies to your company.
Stop coordinating amendments on WhatsApp
Join 800+ UAE businesses that handle shareholder, MOA and activity changes through a proper system, managed by your account manager. 14-day free trial. No credit card required.
14 days free · No setup fee · UAE-based support team