Company closure (also called liquidation or deregistration) is the legal process of formally shutting down a business in the UAE.
Whether your company is Mainland (DED) or in a Free Zone, the government requires a strict, multi‑step procedure before a licence can be cancelled and all liabilities cleared.
Liquidation is the process of:
– Cancelling the trade licence
– Settling government fees
– Cancelling visas
– Closing labour & immigration files
– Publishing liquidation notices (Mainland)
– Preparing liquidation reports
– Clearing outstanding liabilities
– Closing bank accounts
– Removing company from government records
Once complete, the company legally ceases to exist.
1. Mainland (DED) Liquidation
2. Free Zone Liquidation (IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, RAKEZ, UAQ, SPC, etc.)
3. Branch Closure
4. License Cancellation (sole establishment)
5. Dormant company deregistration
6. Voluntary liquidation
7. Forced liquidation assistance
Preparation & notarisation.
A qualified auditor must be appointed (VADA arranges this).
Submitted to DED.
Published in:
2 local newspapers
Official Gazette (if applicable)
Cancel all employee visas
Cancel investor visas
Close labour file
Cancel establishment card
Bank closure letter required.
Auditor prepares final report.
Company officially dissolved.
Via Free Zone portal.
Prepared and uploaded.
Employee visas
Investor visas
Dependent visas
Office contract closed with clearance certificate.
Required by all Free Zones.
Free Zone verifies that:
No fines exist
No outstanding obligations
Company removed from registry.
1. Cancel all employee visas
2. Cancel dependent visas
3. Cancel partner/investor visas
4. Clear labour file
5. Cancel establishment card
6. Close e-channel accounts (if applicable)
– Bank account closure
– Settlement of outstanding payments
– Obtaining bank closure letter
– VAT deregistration
– Corporate tax deregistration
– Final financial statements (if required)
STEP 1 — Consultation & document review
STEP 2 — Prepare board resolution
STEP 3 — Appoint liquidator (Mainland only)
STEP 4 — Apply for liquidation approval
STEP 5 — Publish liquidation notices (Mainland)
STEP 6 — Cancel all visas
STEP 7 — Close labour & immigration files
STEP 8 — Obtain bank closure letter
STEP 9 — Submit final liquidation report (Mainland)
STEP 10 — Final approval & closure certificate
(if Mainland)
– Full Mainland & Free Zone expertise
– Zero mistakes or missing steps
– Fast liquidation process
– Legal protection for shareholders
– No risk of hidden fines
– Full visa, labour & immigration cancellation
– Proper accounting closure
– Clear and final deregistration
