We provide the service to an organization when seeking liquidation of their business
We are a registered Liquidator in the Ministry of Justice of U.A.E. and we are authorized by the Dubai Economic Development to Liquidate companies that are registered in the Mainland.
We are a listed agent and liquidator in most of the Free Zones and you can appoint us as your liquidator and we can take care of the formalities while taking care more important things that matter to you.
Speak with the qualified liquidators at Asad Abbas & Co. (Chartered Accountants).
Call or send WhatsApp at +971 56 219 2484 or email info@abbasaccounting.com
No matter of what type of business you own in the UAE, you must cancel your business licence and all related permits associated with it when you have made your decision to close it down. This page provides a summary of the formalities for closing your business and cancelling its licence properly.
Why cancelling the licence is a requirement upon business closure?
It is important for relevant government entities to know that you are no longer in the business so you will avoid any accumulated fines and penalties incurred upon your licence, when it is not renewed upon expiry date.
If you are in a shareholding company, it is important to discharge your liabilities towards creditors and partners and protect your interests and shares.
It is also wise to put your goodwill and business reputation in perspective, if you decide to open a business again.
Formalities for cancelling your business licence
Cancelling the licence depends on the form of your company. For establishments and sole proprietorships, the process is simple because all you need to do is to apply for cancellation through DED and acquire all relevant clearances from:
However, for companies with shares, the process is longer because it requires liquidating the shares, collecting the debts and paying the creditors before finalising with DED.
Companies which require a liquidator
You need to appoint a liquidator if the legal form of your company is one of these:
The process involves two stages:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Freezing a trade licence
Freezing a licence is different than terminating a licence completely.
In Dubai, companies may keep their trade licences inactive for three years by paying a certain freezing fee. However, they cannot extend it beyond that specific period.
According to the website of DMCC, there are three types of closures. They are:
Closing a business entails more than just ceasing operations. In DMCC, you need to apply for closing the business through the member portal. The authorities, duties and responsibilities of the Directors of the company will be terminated as an effect of the submission of the company termination application. The application will be reviewed and processed. This will be followed by an announcement in a local Arabic newspaper. DMCC authorities will then file the final termination of the company and issue termination letters.
In JAFZA, you must notify the authorities three months prior for the office and warehouse facility and 6 months prior for plot facility.
In all cases, you will need to cancel the employees’ visas and their work permits. Dubai portal explains that this requires coordination with both Department of Naturalisation and Residency and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
As per the UAE’s Labour Law, employers are required to give their employees a two-month, paid notice period before terminating their contracts. In many cases, employees can keep their residency visas until the company’s trade licence runs out. Then, the company needs to cancel utilities and telecommunication services. Collect an NOC from the utilities providing company for processing the closure.
You should obtain approval of Ministry of Economy.
What specific approval is needed for cancelling public shareholding companies?
You should obtain the Securities and Commodities Authority’s decision to cancel a public shareholding company.
Fill in the required cancellation form.
Cancel the firm card at Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Cancel the foreign partners’ visas sponsored by the company at the respective General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs.
Collect required approvals of other government bodies to cancel a licence.
Prepare a partnership cancellation contract authenticated by the notary public.
Submit the above documents and collect licence cancellation certificate.
For sole proprietorships, you need a no objection letter from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, in addition to a residence cancellation proof for non-Gulf nationals.
You need to provide:
a letter from the company or the institution requesting to stop the licensing temporarily
a letter from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation indicating the absence of sponsored people on the licence
a report from the inspection division in DED.
Can the dissolution of a company be cancelled before the issuance of the payment voucher?
The branch will be dissolved.
The licence expiration date should have ended for more than 2 years.
The Emirati partner shall acknowledge his liability towards the company.
The company needs to provide supporting documents that strengthens the dissolution request such as the escape of a partner.
The company needs to provide a letter from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation indicating the absence of sponsored people on the licence.