Company Closure in UAE
Close your UAE company cleanly and without surprises
Whether you are exiting the market, pivoting the structure, or shutting down operations — we coordinate the full closure process: financial finalization, regulatory de-registration, and licence cancellation.
Voluntary closure — turnkey · Bankruptcy — with licensed legal partners · Final closure certificateThis service is right for you if
Founders Exiting UAE
Owners who are leaving the market and need a clean, documented closure.
Restructuring Businesses
Companies consolidating entities or migrating from one Free Zone to another.
Dormant Companies
Entities that stopped operating but were never formally closed — and are still accruing obligations.
Businesses With Open Obligations
Companies with outstanding VAT, payroll, or corporate tax filings that must be resolved before closure.
Everything you need — nothing you don't
A coordinated closure covering financial, regulatory, and administrative steps.
- Internal audit — accounts reconciliation and open liabilities review
- Preparation of final financial statements
- VAT and Corporate Tax de-registration with the FTA Regulatory
- Corporate tax final filing (if applicable) Tax
- Payroll finalization and WPS clearance for all employees
- Visa and Emirates ID cancellation coordination
- Licence cancellation with the Free Zone authority or DED Regulatory
- Bank account closure support
- Clearance certificates from all relevant authorities
A structured process — from decision to final closure certificate
Fixed price for a full closure
Free Zone Closure
e.g. RAKEZ, IFZA, DMCC and other Free Zones
from AED 6,000 full project
- Financial finalization & final statements
- FTA de-registration (VAT & CT)
- Visa & Emirates ID cancellation
- Licence cancellation with Free Zone authority
- Clearance certificates
Mainland Closure
DED-registered companies
from AED 10,500 full project
- Financial finalization & final statements
- FTA de-registration (VAT & CT)
- Visa & Emirates ID cancellation
- DED licence cancellation
- Ministry of Labour clearance
- Clearance certificates from all authorities
Bankruptcy (court)
Court-supervised process under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023
from AED 40,000 full project
- Court-supervised process via our licensed legal partners
- Financial side prepared by CoreLedger
- Creditor claims register & final accounts
- Single point of contact end to end
Questions about closing a company in UAE
How long does it take to close a company in UAE?
Timeline varies by jurisdiction and how clean the company's records are. A straightforward Free Zone closure with no outstanding obligations typically takes 4–8 weeks. Mainland closures usually take 6–12 weeks due to additional authority clearances. Companies with open VAT, payroll, or tax issues will need those resolved first, which adds time.
Can I close a company that has not been operating for years?
Yes — and it is often more complex than closing an active one. Dormant companies may have accumulated licence renewal fees, missed VAT filings, or lapsed employee records. We assess the backlog first, resolve open obligations, then proceed with formal closure.
What happens if I just stop renewing the licence?
Non-renewal does not constitute legal closure. The company remains legally active, obligations (VAT, payroll, fines) continue to accrue, and shareholders may be restricted from obtaining new licences or visas in the UAE. A formal de-registration is the only way to cleanly exit.
Do I need to file a final corporate tax return?
Yes, if the company was registered for corporate tax (which applies to most UAE businesses for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023). The final tax period must be filed even if no taxable income was earned. We prepare and submit this as part of the closure process.
What is included in the fixed fee?
The fixed fee covers financial finalization, VAT and Corporate Tax de-registration, visa and Emirates ID cancellation, coordination with the relevant authority, and all clearance certificates. Government fees payable directly to authorities (e.g. Free Zone or DED) are charged at cost and billed separately — we provide an estimate upfront.
Can CoreLedger close a company that has outstanding debts?
Outstanding debts to authorities (unpaid fines, renewal fees, government charges) must be settled before closure can be completed — this is a regulatory requirement, not a CoreLedger policy. Debts to suppliers or banks are a separate matter and require legal advice. We scope all open obligations in the initial assessment.
Do you involve external parties in the closure process?
Yes. For certain regulated steps — government filings, authority submissions, and formal de-registration — we engage licensed subcontractors who specialize in UAE regulatory procedures. CoreLedger coordinates the entire process, so you have a single point of contact throughout.