Your Memorandum of Association defines your company's structure, ownership, and operations in the UAE. Whether opening a bank account, applying for licenses, bidding on government contracts, or working with authorities, the MOA translation must accurately reflect your company's legal status. Banks and government entities examine MOA translations closely because these documents determine who controls the company and what it can legally do.
The MOA establishes your company's legal name, registered address, business activities, share capital, ownership structure, and governance provisions. Banks verify shareholder details and authorized signatories before opening accounts. Government authorities confirm business activities match license applications. Investors review MOA translations before entering agreements or purchasing shares. The translation must be precise because errors can delay transactions or raise questions about your company's legitimacy.
| Type | Regulator | Legal Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland (DED) | Department of Economic Development | UAE Commercial Companies Law |
| Free Zone | Zone Authority (DMCC, JAFZA, etc.) | Zone-specific regulations |
| DIFC / ADGM | Financial Centre Authority | Common Law (English-based) |
Mainland (DED) companies operate under UAE Commercial Companies Law with specific MOA formats for LLCs, sole establishments, civil companies, and branch offices. Share percentages, capital contributions, profit distribution, and management authority all require precise translation. Free zone companies follow their zone authority's regulations—DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South each have unique conventions. DIFC and ADGM follow common law structures with Articles of Association rather than MOA, requiring different terminology.
Adding shareholders, changing business activities, increasing share capital, or modifying governance provisions all require certified translation of the amendments. We can translate consolidated MOAs showing all changes, or individual amendment documents as required by the receiving authority. For complex corporate histories with multiple amendments, we recommend a comprehensive approach to ensure consistency.
If any UAE bank or authority rejects our MOA translation due to our error, we correct and redeliver at no charge—including courier costs for urgent bank appointments.
For banking: MOJ certification is typically sufficient for UAE-issued MOAs. For foreign companies establishing UAE presence, additional attestation may be required through home country and UAE embassy channels. Court submissions or certain government filings may require notarization. We advise on appropriate authentication levels based on your specific requirement.
Complete MOA documents including company name, registered address, business activities (as listed on trade license), share capital and ownership percentages, management provisions, profit distribution terms, dispute resolution clauses, and any special conditions. For Power of Attorney documents associated with your company, we ensure consistent translation of party names and corporate designations.
Include all pages, schedules, and any amendments. Specify if mainland or free zone company.
MOJ-licensed translator handles corporate terminology and share structures accurately.
Collect in Dubai or arrange courier. Digital PDF sent immediately upon completion.
DED company formation documents translated with proper Commercial Companies Law terminology.
DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC, ADGM, and all other UAE free zones. Authority-specific formatting.
Partner percentages, capital contributions, and profit distribution accurately rendered.
Mainland companies registered with the Department of Economic Development follow UAE Commercial Companies Law requirements. The MOA includes specific articles about capital structure, partner obligations, profit distribution, and management authority.
We use terminology recognized by DED and UAE courts to ensure the translation serves its purpose in official proceedings. See our legal translation services for court-ready documents.
Free zone MOAs are governed by the respective free zone authority and often follow different templates with provisions specific to that zone's regulations. Each authority has preferred terminology and formatting.
We translate for all UAE free zones including DMCC, JAFZA, RAKEZ, SHAMS, and others.
Common law free zones like DIFC and ADGM use different corporate structures including companies limited by shares, limited liability partnerships, and other forms. The documents follow English common law conventions.
We handle Articles of Association, Shareholders' Agreements, and other corporate governance documents for these jurisdictions.
If your MOA has been amended since initial formation, we translate the current consolidated version. If you need translation of both the original and amendments separately, we can provide that as a package.
UAE banks require MOA translations as part of corporate account opening. The translation must clearly show company ownership, authorized signatories, and capital structure.
For personal banking documents, see our bank statement translation services.
When applying for additional trade licenses or expanding business activities, authorities need to verify your existing company structure. A certified MOA translation supports these applications.
Many government entities and large corporations require translated MOAs as part of vendor registration or tender submissions. The translation demonstrates your company's legal standing and structure.
Investors reviewing your company need to understand the corporate structure. A certified translation of the MOA provides clarity on ownership percentages, voting rights, and governance provisions. For Golden Visa investor applications, additional documents may be needed.
When you open a corporate bank account in the UAE, the bank needs to understand your company structure. Who owns it? Who can sign checks? What activities does it do? The MOA (Memorandum of Association) answers all these questions. But if your MOA is in English and the bank's compliance system works in Arabic, they need a certified translation.
This is not just a formality. Banks use the translated MOA to set up signatory authorities in their system. If the translation does not clearly show who can sign for what amount, you will have problems every time you need a transaction approved.
DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) and ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) are different. These are common law jurisdictions with English as the official language. Their corporate documents include:
These documents are already in English. You may need Arabic translation for use with mainland UAE authorities, courts, or certain government tenders.
When reviewing your translated MOA, bank compliance officers focus on:
We ensure these elements are clearly translated so banks can configure your account correctly.
Many government entities and large corporations require translated MOAs for vendor registration. This includes:
The translation proves your company's legal standing and ownership structure. Some tenders have specific formatting requirements. Let us know the tender reference and we can format accordingly.
If your company structure has changed since formation, your MOA may have been amended. Common changes include:
You can translate either the consolidated current MOA (if your Free Zone provides one) or the original MOA plus each amendment. For bank purposes, the current consolidated version is usually preferred.
If your company is registered outside the UAE and you need to use your MOA here, the process is different:
Corporate documents from Hague member countries need an apostille from the issuing authority. After apostille, bring the document to UAE for Arabic translation.
Full attestation chain required: notarization in home country, Chamber of Commerce (if applicable), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE Embassy, and MOFA UAE.
MOA translation is more complex than simple documents because of specialized terminology:
Our translators have corporate law backgrounds and understand these concepts in both English and Arabic legal contexts.
Standard MOA translation takes 24 hours. Express service delivers in 6 hours. Complex MOAs with multiple schedules, annexes, or lengthy shareholder provisions may need additional time. We confirm the timeline after reviewing your document.
If you need the translation for a specific bank appointment or tender deadline, tell us upfront. We can often prioritize to meet your schedule.
Many clients need MOA translations for multiple banks or government submissions. Order additional certified copies upfront. It is more efficient than requesting them later, and we offer package pricing for multiple copies.
Every MOA translation includes:
Sent via WhatsApp and email. Suitable for initial bank submissions and internal review.
Physical copy with official stamp, QR verification, and translator license details.
Additional copies for multiple banks, government submissions, or investor packages.
Free delivery across Dubai. Next-day delivery to other Emirates.
Pricing depends on document length and complexity:
24-hour delivery
6-hour delivery
Rush processing
A Mainland MOA is registered with DED and follows UAE Commercial Companies Law, with specific provisions about capital, partners, and profit distribution. Freezone MOAs are governed by the respective free zone authority with provisions specific to that zone. We adapt translation terminology to match the regulatory context of your company structure.
Yes. Our MOJ-certified MOA translations are accepted by all major UAE banks for corporate account opening. The translation includes all elements banks require: ownership structure, authorized signatories, capital details, and the official MOJ stamp.
We can translate your current consolidated MOA, or we can translate the original MOA plus each amendment separately, depending on your needs. Let us know how the documents will be used and we will advise on the appropriate approach.
Standard service delivers within 24 hours for typical MOAs. Express service completes in 6 hours. Complex MOAs with multiple schedules or lengthy shareholder agreements may require additional time, which we confirm upfront.
Yes. We translate corporate formation documents from companies registered in any country. Foreign MOAs typically need attestation for use in the UAE. We verify attestation status during our pre-validation review.
Send your document via WhatsApp for a free assessment. We will confirm requirements and provide a quote within 15 minutes during working hours.
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