Closing a UAE company takes a formal process, not a lapsed licence. Free zone companies close through their zone, and mainland companies go through a liquidator. Visas, dues and tax deregistration come first. A licensed liquidator or lawyer should run any formal liquidation.
By Imran Mirza, Founder & CEO, Xillion Group UAE. Born and raised in the UAE, with 18+ years of professional working experience, including nearly seven years at Barclays and ADCB and 12 years in UAE business setup. Last reviewed 29 October 2026.
On the mainland, you pass a dissolution resolution, appoint a liquidator, publish a notice in two Arabic local newspapers, wait 45 days for creditor claims, then file the final report. Free zones have their own routes: RAKEZ publishes AED 3,000 for cancellation of office and co-working licences with 5 working days processing and a 14 day publication, and DMCC states 45 to 60 days. Corporate tax deregistration is due within 3 months and VAT within 20 working days.
Xillion Group UAE is a business setup consultancy. It is not a licensing authority, a liquidator or a law firm. Liquidation is a legal process, so it is coordinated through independent licensed external professional partners, including liquidators and lawyers, who are not Xillion employees. The authority decides approvals.
Xillion Group UAE is a consultancy. It is not a licensing authority, a bank or a law firm, and approvals are decided by the authority. This page is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice, and nothing here is a guarantee.
Your case may need more or less. We confirm the exact list with the authority or partner before you spend time on it.
| Item | As published |
|---|---|
| Mainland dissolution certificate | AED 520 for the dissolution and liquidator appointment certificate on the UAE portal, plus liquidator, newspaper and other fees. Check current fees. |
| Mainland creditor period | 45 days after the newspaper notice |
| RAKEZ cancellation | AED 3,000 plus third-party fees for office and co-working. AED 4,500 for an industrial licence. Processing 5 working days and a 14 day publication. |
| DMCC termination | 45 to 60 days once requirements are complete, including two 14 day publications. No fee amounts in the guideline. |
| Corporate tax deregistration | Within 3 months. FTA says a complete application is processed within 40 working days and the service is free. |
| VAT deregistration | Within 20 working days of the triggering event |
| Our service fee | Quote on request |
Cancellation ends the licence. Liquidation is the formal winding up of a company, which settles assets and debts. The route depends on your authority and whether the company can pay its debts.
No. The company stays on record and penalties can build. See expired trade licence.
Mainland companies do, and DMCC says its liquidator should be a reputable auditing or law firm. Free zones differ. A licensed partner can advise.
Corporate tax within 3 months and VAT within 20 working days of the triggering event.
Official fees are listed above where published. Our fee and partner fees are quote on request.
RAKEZ states 5 working days plus 14 days publication, DMCC 45 to 60 days, mainland has a 45 day creditor period plus clearances. Your case may take longer.
Pages on this site that sit next to this topic:
Figures were checked against the authority pages on 29 October 2026 and match our detailed pages. Liquidation wording still needs a lawyer's review.
Message us on WhatsApp and we will reply with the next step. The button below opens a chat with the page name already filled in, so we know what you read.
WhatsApp us about this page Book a free 30 minute call
Phone and WhatsApp: +971 50 158 5088. You can also contact us through the website.
Book a free 30 minute consultation with Imran Mirza, Founder & CEO. We look at your plans and set out the right route, the documents and the costs in plain words. Licences, visas and bank accounts remain subject to authority and bank approval.