Articles of Association in UAE

Best Legal Consultancy drafts, reviews and amends Articles of Association for UAE mainland and free zone companies. Our team writes clear rules for ownership, management and share transfers. As a result, your partners know where they stand before any disagreement starts.

✔ Led by an advocate, BA LLB ✔ 30+ years in legal and business documents ✔ Offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kerala ✔ Licensed company

Our Articles of Association services

We support you at every stage, from the first draft to the final filing.

New drafting: custom articles that match your ownership split and licence type.
Document review: a full read of your current articles, with gaps and risks marked.
Amendments: updated clauses, shareholder resolutions and authority filing.
Arabic and English versions: accurate wording through our legal translation service.
Notarisation and attestation: we arrange notarisation and certificate attestation for your documents.
Mainland and free zone support: we match the draft to your licensing authority.

Who needs this service

You may need us when you:

set up a new company with two or more partners.
add a shareholder or sell shares.
appoint a new director or manager.
restructure ownership or create new share classes.
run a family business and want clear succession rules.
live abroad and own shares in a UAE company.

What your Articles can cover

A strong draft answers the questions your owners will ask in year two.

Share capital and share classes.
Share transfer approvals and first offer rights.
Director and manager powers, appointment and removal.
Meeting notices, quorum and voting thresholds.
Dividend rules.
Deadlock rules for equal partners.
Company records and winding up.

For example, a first offer clause lets existing partners buy shares before an outsider can. That one line keeps a stranger out of your business.

UAE rules we work with

The right draft depends on where you register.

Mainland companies

The Commercial Companies Law, Federal Decree Law No. 32 of 2021, applies. The UAE amended it in October 2025.
The Memorandum of Association must be in Arabic and attested. The Arabic version prevails over any translation.
The 2025 changes let LLCs and private joint stock companies add tag along and drag along rights. They can also add rules for the shares of a deceased partner.
Each share class and its rights must appear in the Commercial Register.

Free zone companies

Each free zone, such as DMCC or JAFZA, sets its own templates and filing steps. See our page on UAE free zone business setup.
DIFC and ADGM follow their own common law company regulations and model articles.

We confirm the exact requirement for your licence before we draft a single clause. You can also read about company formation in Dubai and company formation in Abu Dhabi.

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Our process

Consultation: you tell us about your company, partners and goals.
Review or draft: our team reads your current articles or writes a new draft.
Approval: we explain each clause in plain language, and you confirm the final text.
Filing: we handle the resolution, notarisation and submission through our PRO services team.
Final check: we verify names, capital figures and attachments before you submit.

Memorandum and Articles of Association: What Is the Difference?

Business owners often search for memorandum of association and articles of association because the two documents can appear together during company formation. The easiest way to understand them is to look at their general purpose. However, the distinction can vary according to the legal system and company structure.

Memorandum of Association	Articles of Association
Provides foundational company information	Provides internal management rules
Can describe company objectives and structure	Can explain management procedures
Can address ownership and capital matters	Can address meetings and voting
Helps establish the company’s constitutional framework	Helps govern internal company operations

Documents we usually ask for

Requirements vary by authority and company type. Typically, we ask for:

Your trade licence.
Your current Memorandum and Articles, where they exist.
Passport and Emirates ID copies of shareholders and directors.
Details of share capital and ownership percentages.
Any shareholder agreement.

Shareholders abroad can sign through a power of attorney. Likewise, we confirm the full list for your case during the consultation.

Why do clients choose Best Legal Consultancy?

Lawyer led: Sunilkumar K, BA LLB, Advocate and Legal Consultant, leads the team. Meet the team.
30+ years of experience in legal and business documentation.
Wider coverage: support across GCC countries and India for cross border owners.
One team for formation, attestation, translation and visa services, so your documents stay consistent.
Licensed company: Best Legal Consultancy FZE, Licence No. 4311462.01.
Local offices: Dubai (Sheikh Zayed Road), Abu Dhabi (Electra Street) and Kerala (Cochin and Thrissur).

Related services

Corporate tax registration for new or restructured companies.
Bank account opening assistance once your documents are ready.
Signature verification for shareholder and director signatures.

Book your free consultation

Talk to our team about your company type and next steps.

Call +971 50 591 5724 | WhatsApp +971 52 930 0200 | Email info@bestlegalconsultancy.com

Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Conrad Business Tower, opposite World Trade Centre Metro Station 2
Abu Dhabi: Thaha Building, Electra Street

Articles of Association in UAE

How much does Articles of Association drafting cost?

The fee depends on your company type, number of shareholders and the complexity of your clauses. Contact us for a clear quote after a short consultation.

Is the Memorandum the same as the Articles?

No. The memorandum records the basic details and objects. The articles set the internal rules. For many mainland LLCs, the memorandum also carries key governance terms.

Can I use foreign Articles of Incorporation in the UAE?

Not automatically. Each country uses different terms and rules. Our lawyers check the document against your licence type first.

Should I choose a template or a custom draft?

A template covers common matters. A custom draft suits uneven ownership splits, investor rights or approval limits. Most growing businesses need custom clauses.