How to Redomicile or Relocate an Existing Company to the UAE

Relocating an established company to the UAE does not always mean closing the original business, forming a brand-new UAE entity and transferring every asset and contract individually.

In the right circumstances, you can redomicile the company to the UAE through a process also called continuation, migration or transfer of incorporation.

The important difference is continuity. Instead of replacing the old company with a new one, the existing legal entity changes its jurisdiction of incorporation. Its corporate history, assets, liabilities and contractual relationships can continue with it, subject to the rules of both jurisdictions.

The UAE has expanded the options available for this type of corporate relocation. Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025 introduced a clearer framework for transferring company registration between UAE authorities, while free zones such as ADGM, DIFC and RAK ICC already maintain their own continuation regimes. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s explanation of the 2025 Commercial Companies Law amendments confirms the introduction of a formal mechanism for transferring company registrations.

What Does Company Redomiciliation Mean?

Redomiciliation allows a company to leave one jurisdiction and continue in another without terminating its legal existence.

For example, an eligible overseas holding company may move its place of incorporation to a UAE jurisdiction. Once approved, the UAE registry issues a certificate of continuation or equivalent registration document and the company completes the required exit procedure in its previous jurisdiction.

A successful continuation can preserve:

• The company's original corporate identity

• Historical incorporation information

• Existing assets and shareholdings

• Contractual rights and obligations

• Outstanding debts and liabilities

• Intellectual property owned by the company

• Existing legal proceedings

DIFC regulations expressly provide for continuation and require evidence that the foreign company is legally permitted to transfer from its original jurisdiction. Its Registrar issues a Certificate of Continuation once the application is approved.

Can Any Foreign Company Redomicile to the UAE?

No. The first test takes place outside the UAE.

The law of the company's current jurisdiction must allow outbound continuation or redomiciliation. If the departing country's legislation does not permit a company to migrate while retaining its legal identity, the UAE receiving authority cannot solve that problem.

The destination UAE jurisdiction must also accept incoming continuation for the proposed company type and activity.

ADGM, for example, requires evidence that the company is authorised under the law of its existing jurisdiction to apply for continuation. Its requirements also address solvency, liquidation proceedings, creditor arrangements and constitutional documents. ADGM's registration and incorporation guidance provides the current regulatory resources for companies considering the jurisdiction.

A company undergoing liquidation, insolvency or certain creditor proceedings may therefore be unable to continue until those issues are resolved.

Which UAE Jurisdictions Allow Company Redomiciliation?

There is no single UAE redomiciliation authority. The right destination depends on whether you operate a trading business, holding structure, investment vehicle, regulated business or another type of company.

Some notable options include:

RAK ICC describes transfer of domicile as moving the company's registration while maintaining the same legal identity and preserving operational history. Applications are submitted through registered agents. RAK ICC's official Transfer of Domicile service sets out the main stages.

For companies comparing a free zone with mainland operations, Nexture's Dubai mainland vs free zone guide can help clarify the commercial differences.

What About UAE Mainland Redomiciliation?

This area changed significantly with Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025.

The amended Commercial Companies Law now provides a statutory basis for transferring registration from one UAE competent authority to another, including transfers between mainland and free-zone authorities where the relevant registries permit and approve the move.

This does not mean every foreign company can automatically redomicile directly into any mainland licensing authority. Procedures still depend on the receiving authority, company form, activity and applicable implementing rules.

If you already operate within the UAE and want to change jurisdictions, the process may also differ from international redomiciliation. See Nexture's guide on moving a free zone company to Dubai mainland for that situation.

How to Redomicile a Company to the UAE

Although individual authorities have different procedures, most international continuation projects follow the same general sequence.

1. Confirm That Both Jurisdictions Permit the Transfer

   Check the company's existing corporate law and the rules of the proposed UAE registry before preparing documents.

   You need legal continuity at both ends. One authority approving the transfer is not enough if the other does not recognise continuation.

2. Choose the UAE Jurisdiction and Legal Form

   Do not select a free zone based only on licence cost.

   Review your:

   • Business activities

   • Customer location

   • Office requirements

   • Shareholding structure

   • Regulatory approvals

   • Banking requirements

   • UAE market access

   • Tax position

3. Obtain Shareholder and Board Approval

   The shareholders normally approve the continuation through the required resolution. Board resolutions may also authorise representatives, adopt new constitutional documents and approve applications to the UAE authority.

4. Prepare the Corporate Documents

   Common requirements include:

   • Certificate of incorporation

   • Certificate of good standing

   • Certificate of incumbency or company extract

   • Existing memorandum and articles

   • Shareholder resolution

   • Board resolution

   • Register of shareholders

   • Register of directors

   • Audited financial statements where requested

   • Solvency declaration

   • UBO information

   • Passport and address documents for shareholders and directors

   • Legal opinion confirming outbound continuation is permitted

   Foreign documents may require certification, legalisation, attestation or certified translation.

   DIFC, for example, requires constitutional documents, evidence that continuation is permitted under the original jurisdiction and supporting corporate information. Regulated firms can also require prior DFSA consent.

5. Apply to the UAE Receiving Authority

   The receiving authority performs corporate, compliance and KYC checks.

   Some jurisdictions first issue provisional approval. Dubai Development Authority, for example, provides a provisional Certificate of Continuity before completing registration and later requires evidence of deregistration from the original jurisdiction.

6. Complete the Exit Requirements in the Existing Country

   The company may need to:

   • Notify its existing registrar

   • Publish creditor notices

   • Obtain tax clearance

   • Pay outstanding government fees

   • Obtain regulatory consent

   • File continuation-out documents

   Do not cancel the old company prematurely. The sequence must prevent a gap in the company's legal existence.

7. Receive the UAE Certificate of Continuation

   Once approved, the UAE authority registers the entity under its rules.

8. Update Banking, Tax and Operational Records

   Legal continuation does not mean every third-party record updates automatically.

   After the move, review:

   • Bank KYC records

   • Customer and supplier contracts

   • Insurance policies

   • Payment gateways

   • Intellectual property registrations

   • Customs registrations

   • UAE immigration files

   • Tax registrations

   • Regulatory permissions

   Banks may carry out fresh KYC even when the legal entity remains the same.

How Much Does Company Redomiciliation to the UAE Cost?

There is no standard UAE-wide redomiciliation fee.

Government charges vary considerably. DIFC's published fee schedule, for example, lists a USD 8,000 transfer fee for a private or public company and USD 1,000 for transfer of a Prescribed Company. Dubai Development Authority currently lists AED 5,000 for provisional approval before applicable licence fees.

Your actual budget can also include:

• UAE licence fees

• Registered office costs

• Corporate service provider fees

• Legal opinions

• Document certification

• Translation and attestation

• Home-country continuation fees

• Tax advice

• Regulatory approvals

For this reason, comparing only the receiving authority's application fee can give a misleading cost estimate.

Corporate Tax After Redomiciliation

Moving the company to the UAE can materially change its tax position.

A juridical person incorporated or otherwise established under UAE laws is generally a UAE Resident Person for Corporate Tax purposes. Free-zone companies are also within the Corporate Tax regime and a 0% rate is not automatic. A Qualifying Free Zone Person must satisfy the relevant conditions for the 0% rate on Qualifying Income.

Nexture's UAE Corporate Tax guide explains the wider registration, tax-rate and filing rules.

The old jurisdiction may also impose exit taxes, deemed disposals or final filing requirements, so cross-border tax advice should be obtained before the continuation date.

Redomiciliation vs Opening a New UAE Company

A new company is often easier where the departing jurisdiction does not permit continuation or where transferring the existing entity creates unnecessary tax, regulatory or contractual problems.

Conclusion

Redomiciling an existing company to the UAE can preserve years of corporate history while moving the business under a UAE legal and regulatory framework. It can be particularly useful for holding companies, investment structures and established operating businesses that do not want to rebuild contracts, ownership structures and assets around an entirely new legal entity.

The main question is not simply whether the UAE accepts redomiciliation. You must confirm that both the departing jurisdiction and the chosen UAE authority permit the same continuation structure.

Before filing anything, review the corporate law, tax impact, banking arrangements, licences, contracts and regulatory approvals on both sides. A properly sequenced continuation can be much cleaner than liquidation and reincorporation. A poorly planned one can create gaps in registration, tax residence or banking access.

Frequently Asked Questions