Company liquidation in the UAE

Liquidation of a Mainland company

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The liquidation process includes the following steps:

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• Preparing a notarized resolution / minutes of company liquidation
• Appointment of a liquidator
• Preparing and submitting documents to the Department of Economy and Tourism for deregistration
• Publishing a liquidation notice in two local newspapers
• Closing the corporate bank account, deregistering for tax, cancelling residence visas, terminating employees, and closing company files with immigration (establishment card cancellation) and labor authorities (e-signature cancellation)
• Preparation of the liquidator’s report
• Settling debts with creditors and distributing remaining assets among shareholders/founders
• (Repeated) submission of the liquidator’s report
• Filing the liquidation application with the Department of Economy and Tourism

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Once the required documents are submitted, the company name will be removed from the commercial register, and the Department will issue a certificate of deregistration.

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On average, the process takes 3–6 months.

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A simplified procedure applies to companies with a sole owner — legal forms Sole Proprietorship / Establishment.

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Liquidation of a Free Zone company

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Each Free Zone has its own requirements and specific procedures.

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In general, the process is similar to Mainland liquidation, but there are key differences:

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• In some Free Zones, newspaper publication is not required
• In many Free Zones, liquidation can be carried out via an electronic portal — a one-stop-shop for interaction with the administration
• The liquidation timeframe depends on the specific Free Zone but is usually faster than in Mainland

Advantages of liquidating with Futura Law

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1. Comprehensive process management We handle all stages — from preparing corporate resolutions and appointing a liquidator to interacting with authorities and obtaining the liquidation certificate. You won’t need to visit government offices or notaries in person — we organize newspaper publications, tax deregistration, and visa cancellations.
2. Risk and time minimization Our team knows the nuances of liquidation in both Mainland and Free Zones, helping avoid delays, fines, or re-submissions.
3. Expertise in complex cases We assist with liquidations involving employees, assets, and outstanding obligations, designing strategies and coordinating settlements with creditors.
4. Experienced team in the UAE Our Dubai and Abu Dhabi team consists of over 20 specialists who work daily with UAE regulators. We know all procedural details and provide support in English, Russian, and Arabic — without barriers and with guaranteed accuracy at every stage of liquidation.