Documents and licensing
Free zone company setup in the UAE: the documents
Short answer
A free zone company is registered by the free zone authority under that zone's own rules. Each zone publishes its own document list, so start there. Foreign-issued records such as a board resolution, power of attorney or memorandum may need notarisation and attestation. Where UAE attestation applies, MoFA lists AED 2,000 per commercial document and AED 150 per individual-affairs document.
- Registered by
- The individual free zone authority
- Document list
- Set by each zone — ask for it first
- MoFA fee, commercial document
- AED 2,000, if UAE attestation is required
- MoFA fee, individual-affairs document
- AED 150
- Apostille on its own
- Not accepted — continue to UAE mission and MoFA
Process map
Your route at a glance
- 01 Get the zone's current document list for your shareholder type Free zone authority
- 02 Separate UAE-issued from foreign-issued documents
- 03 Check the signing route Free zone authority
- 04 Notarise and, where required, attest foreign records Notary, UAE mission, MoFA
- 05 Translate if the zone asks
Start with the zone’s own list
A free zone company is registered by the free zone authority under that zone’s own rules. Each zone publishes its own document list, so start there. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s establishing companies page sets out the free-zone steps and the documents zones commonly request.
EasyAttestation is an information and referral portal operated by Sandesh Solutions FZE. We do not form companies, issue licences, perform attestation or provide legal or tax advice. A referral does not certify a provider’s credentials or guarantee an application outcome.
Documents free zones commonly ask for
The table below quotes the items MoET lists as commonly required by free zones. It is not a mandatory list for every zone or every applicant. Your zone’s written checklist governs your application.
| Document (MoET wording) | MoET step | MoET marks as “notarised and attested” |
|---|---|---|
| Completed application form | 5 | — |
| Business plan | 5 | — |
| Copy of existing trade license/registration certificate (if applicable) | 5 | — |
| Passport copies of the company’s shareholders and appointed manager | 5 | — |
| Registry Identification Code Form (RIC) for appointed manager | 5 | Original and notarised |
| Specimen signatures | 5 | — |
| Letter of Intent | 5 | — |
| 2 years audited financial reports or certificate of reference from a bank (as required) | 5 | — |
| Board Resolution appointing Manager/Director | 6 | Yes |
| Power of Attorney given to Manager/Director | 6 | Yes |
| Memorandum and Articles of Association | 6 | Yes |
| Specimen signature of Manager/Director | 6 | Yes |
For an individual shareholder, zones often also ask for proof of residential address and, for UAE residents, the Emirates ID and current visa page. None of that normally needs legalisation.
What may need notarisation and attestation
Documents issued inside the UAE are handled here. Foreign-issued records are the ones that may need notarisation and attestation — typically a corporate shareholder’s board resolution, constitutional documents and registry certificates, and any power of attorney signed abroad. Ask the zone which items it needs attested and which it accepts as certified copies before you pay for anything.
Where the chain applies, it runs: a local notary, the issuing country’s own authentication (the apostille, in apostille countries), the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, then MoFA inside the UAE — unless your UAE mission runs MoFA’s combined ‘one service, two attestations’ route, where both attestations are made under one application — see MoFA attestation. The full chain and the exceptions are set out in documents required for UAE business setup and in commercial document attestation.
An apostille is not the finish line. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not accepted. In apostille countries it is simply the first half.
MoFA accepts English, Arabic or an official translation. The zone decides whether it needs a translation and which translator it accepts, so confirm the language requirement before you commission one. See legal translation.
Avoid unnecessary legalisation
The UAE embassy fee is set per mission and varies by country, so check your own UAE mission’s page. Ask the zone whether one registry document can prove both the company’s status and its authorised signatory. If you are physically in the UAE, a power of attorney is executed directly before a UAE Notary Public with no legalisation chain at all. MoFA also confirms that anyone can attest documents on your behalf, so you do not need to be present for that step either.
Signing from abroad
Zones publish their own signing routes. DMCC’s 2016 company setup FAQ lists three: signing at DMCC, signing “at your local Notary Public and then attesting the same in the UAE Embassy”, or signing before an approved International Service Provider in your own country. The first and third avoid legalising the signature. Ask your zone which routes it accepts before you book a notary.
If you use a power of attorney instead, draft it so it expressly covers the acts your representative will perform, then follow power of attorney attestation.
MoFA fees if the zone requires UAE attestation
MoFA charges AED 2,000 per commercial document and AED 150 per individual-affairs document.
MoFA’s FAQ lists examples in each band. Individual-affairs documents (AED 150) include a power of attorney of personal nature. Commercial documents (AED 2,000) include commercial registration, board of directors decisions, minutes, memorandums, trade licences, shareholder certificates, a power of attorney of commercial nature and a general power of attorney. The lists are ‘not limited to’, and MoFA says a contract or agreement may count as several documents. Confirm a borderline document with MoFA on 800 44444 before budgeting.
Multiply only the documents your zone confirms, and do not add the MoFA component again if your mission’s combined service already includes the MoFA stage. Zone, mission, notary and translation charges are separate. To budget the document costs, ask each body for a written figure.
Why these applications get rejected
- The document is laminated MoFA states plainly that laminated documents cannot be attested and will be rejected. Order a fresh copy rather than trying to remove the lamination.
- An apostille was obtained and the file was submitted on that alone Add UAE embassy attestation in the country of issue, then MoFA attestation inside the UAE. The apostille is a step in the chain, not a substitute for it.
- Embassy attestation was done abroad but the MoFA step was skipped MoFA must attest the document again inside the UAE, unless your UAE mission runs MoFA's combined 'one service, two attestations' route, where both attestations are made under one application.
- The certificate of incumbency or good standing is stale Age limits differ by authority. For example, DMCC's 2017 change-of-shareholder guideline asks for an incumbency certificate not more than one year old, and RAK ICC's incorporation checklist asks for 'current' documents dated within 3 months of the application. Ask your authority for its window before ordering.
- A power of attorney does not cover the required acts Ask the receiving authority for the required wording before notarising or legalising it.
- A parent-company board resolution signed but not legalised DMCC requires it to be signed by the authorised signatories and notarised and legalised, unless it is signed in front of DMCC. Signing it at home and scanning it is not enough.
- A document in a language other than English or Arabic with no official translation MoFA requires documents to be in English or Arabic, or accompanied by an official translation. Arrange the translation before submission, not after a rejection.
What this page does not cover
Corporate tax, Qualifying Free Zone Person status, audits and beneficial-ownership filings are outside this guide; check the Federal Tax Authority and your zone, and take qualified advice.
Licence packages, premises, visa quotas and trading rights are also outside this guide. Confirm them with the zone. If your company will sponsor your residence, the investor visa documents guide covers the personal certificates that file may draw on.
The process, step by step
Get the zone's current document list for your shareholder type
Ask the zone for its written list for individual shareholders and, separately, for corporate shareholders. Lists and age limits differ between zones.
Separate UAE-issued from foreign-issued documents
UAE-issued documents are handled inside the UAE. Foreign-issued records are the ones that may need notarisation and attestation before the zone accepts them.
Check the signing route
DMCC's 2016 company setup FAQ lists three: signing at DMCC, signing "at your local Notary Public and then attesting the same in the UAE Embassy", or signing before an approved International Service Provider. Ask your zone which routes it accepts.
Notarise and, where required, attest foreign records
Where the zone asks for attested records, the chain is a local notary, home-country authentication, the UAE mission and MoFA. An apostille alone is not accepted.
Translate if the zone asks
MoFA accepts English, Arabic or an official translation. Ask the zone whether it needs a translation and which translator it accepts.
Submit to the zone
File the complete set with the zone's application. Keep copies of everything submitted.
What it costs
| Item | Payable to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MoFA attestation — commercial document Commercial-nature or general POA: AED 2,000; personal-nature POA: AED 150 (MoFA FAQ). A contract or agreement may count as several documents. Do not add this again if your mission's combined service already includes the MoFA stage. | MoFA | AED 2,000 each |
| MoFA attestation — individual-affairs document Personal and educational documents. Do not add this again if your mission's combined service already includes the MoFA stage. | MoFA | AED 150 each |
| MoFA courier inside the UAE Normal is 3 working days for up to 25 documents; express is 1 working day for up to 10. | MoFA | AED 40 normal, or AED 150 express excluding VAT |
Cost summary: Confirmed document count × MoFA band; zone, mission, notary and translation charges are separate and must be quoted by the relevant body.
This summary covers only the scope stated in this table. Unknown or excluded charges are not zero; confirm the full payable amount before accepting a quote.
Figures: MoFA attestation FAQ (mofa.gov.ae) · Checked 27 September 2026. Government fees change — confirm with the issuing authority before you pay.
Document enquiry
Check the documents for your company file
Describe the company document, issuing country and receiving authority. You may request an independent provider referral for the document requirement. Sandesh Solutions FZE does not form companies or perform attestation.
EasyAttestation is operated by Sandesh Solutions FZE. We provide information and referrals; we do not perform attestation.
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Common questions
Which documents need attestation for a free zone company setup?
How much does MoFA charge for free zone company documents?
Is an apostille enough for a UAE free zone application?
Can I sign free zone documents without coming to the UAE?
Do I need an NOC from my current employer?
Do free zone documents need Arabic translation?
How recent must a certificate of good standing or incumbency be?
Does EasyAttestation form companies or give tax advice?
Sources and last review
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism — establishing companies (free-zone steps)
- MoFA — attestation FAQs and service fees
- DMCC — company setup FAQs
- DMCC — change of shareholders and officers details guidelines
- RAK ICC — company incorporation checklist
- HCCH — status table, Apostille Convention
Reviewed 27 September 2026. Fees and procedures in this area change without notice — always confirm against the authority's own published information before paying. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Next steps
Documents required for UAE business setup→
The full checklist, and which items may need legalising before you file.
Mainland company formation documents→
What DET asks for, and what a duly attested MOA means.
Business setup cost: budget for the documents→
Separate company-document attestation, translation and provider charges from a licence quote.
Offshore company formation documents→
The RAK ICC checklist, certification and translation rules.
Investor visa documents→
Documents a partner visa file may need.
Commercial document attestation for the UAE→
The chain for corporate records, step by step.