A handshake and a bank transfer do not change who owns a Dubai company. Until the share transfer is notarised, the MOA amended and the authority's records updated, the old ownership stands — with all its legal and banking consequences. Here is the correct process in 2026.
When share transfers happen
- A partner buys out another partner
- A new investor comes in for equity
- Founders rebalance percentages
- Shares move into a holding company for structuring
- An owner exits the UAE entirely
All follow the same legal mechanics.
The step-by-step process
1. Agree the deal and paper it
The parties agree price and terms, captured in a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA). Even between friends, sign one — it fixes price, payment terms, warranties and what happens if either side defaults.
2. Draft the resolutions and amended MOA
A shareholders' resolution approving the transfer, plus the amended Memorandum of Association reflecting the new shareholding — prepared bilingually for the notary.
3. Sign before the notary
All parties (or their attorneys under a power of attorney, useful when a party is abroad) sign the amended MOA before the notary public.
4. Authority approval and new licence
The amendment is filed with DET or the free zone authority. Once approved and fees are paid, an updated trade licence and MOA are issued showing the new ownership. Typical timeline: 3–7 working days end to end.
5. The step everyone forgets — realignment
Ownership changed on paper; now everything attached to it must follow:
- Exiting partner's visa cancelled or transferred
- Establishment card updated
- Bank mandates and KYC refreshed — banks freeze accounts that don't match the licence
- New partner's investor visa processed
Skip this stage and you get frozen accounts and dangling sponsorships months later.
Corporate buyers: one extra layer
If the buyer is a foreign company rather than an individual, its corporate documents (certificate of incorporation, board resolution, incumbency) must be attested and legalised for UAE use — allow extra days for this. Our document clearing team handles the chain.
Free zone transfers
The logic is identical but runs through the free zone's own portal and forms; some zones require an NOC or have pre-emption rules between existing shareholders. Check the zone's process before agreeing completion dates.
Do it cleanly, once
Smartgic Visa manages the whole transfer — SPA, resolutions, notary, authority filing, and the visa/card/bank realignment afterwards — discreetly and typically within a week. See our share transfer service or speak to an advisor.