Stop the fines
An unrenewed license keeps adding penalties. Closing it properly stops them.
Liquidation and de-registration
Company liquidation in the UAE, completed the right way
Company de-registration and liquidation are the legal processes used to close a company and remove it from the official register. This may occur when the business ceases trading, shareholders decide to close it, or the company is unable to meet its obligations.
- Liquidator and final report
- Visas and immigration cleared
- Bank, tax and utility clearances
- License cancelled and de-registered
De-registrationClosed
Oldco Trading LLC
De-registered with the licensing authority
- License
- Cancelled
- Visas
- Cleared
- Liquidator
- Report filed
- Status
- Closed
License
Cancelled
Cancelled
What we close out
Everything attached, closed first.
A license cancellation is only clean if everything attached to it is closed first. We work through each clearance in the right order so nothing is left open in your name.
Visas cancelled
Employee and investor visas closed in order.
Immigration card
Establishment card and labour file cancelled.
Bank account
Corporate account settled and closed.
Tax deregistered
VAT and corporate tax deregisteration with the Federal Tax Authority.
Lease and utilities
Office lease, the tenancy registration (Ejari) and utilities cleared.
The order of things
Six stages to a clean closure.
A company has to be wound up in sequence, each stage clearing the way for the next. We run them in order so the closure completes without a clearance bouncing back.
1Resolution2Liquidator appointed3Public notice4Clearances5Final report6License cancelled
Filed with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the Mainland, or your Free Zone authority.
De-registration or liquidation?
They are two parts of the same exit. Liquidation is the process of winding the company up; de-registration is the final removal from the register. We confirm exactly what your structure needs.
- Liquidation: the winding-up process
- De-registration: removal from the register
- We confirm which your company needs
How it works
From resolution to de-registered.
01. Resolution and liquidator
Week 1Shareholders resolve to close the company, and for a limited liability company (LLC) a liquidator is appointed to oversee the wind-up.
02. Public notice
45 days (Mainland)A notice is published and a grace period runs for any creditor claims before the closure can complete.
03. Clear and cancel
2 to 4 weeksVisas, the immigration card, the bank account, tax registration, the lease and utilities are all closed off.
04. Final report and de-registration
1 to 2 weeksThe liquidator's report is filed, the authority cancels the license and issues the de-registration certificate.
Why it matters
Walk away with nothing left to settle.
A clean exit
Debts settled and every clearance done, so no liability follows you afterwards.
Visas cleared
Your visa and your staff visas are cancelled in order, freeing everyone to move on.
Free to start again
A proper closure keeps owners and managers off the blacklist, so you can re-enter the market.
The work, split
You hand over the file, we wind it down.
What you provide
- Trade license and memorandum of association
- Shareholder details and passports
- Latest financial statements
- List of active visas and staff
- Bank, lease and utility details
What we handle
- Draft the resolution and appoint a liquidator
- Publish the notice and run the grace period
- Cancel visas and the immigration card
- Get the bank, tax and utility clearances
- File the final report and de-register the license
Closed properly, off the blacklist
Why FZM
A clean close, nothing left open.
After fifteen years and more than 1,500 companies supported, we close UAE companies across DET and every major Free Zone, and we know exactly which clearance each authority wants first.
- 1,500+
- Companies set up and supported
- 15+
- Years of UAE corporate changes
- 1
- Advisor, resolution to closure
- 4 to 8 wk
- Typical closure timeline
Corporate services
Before you close, compare the options.
Good to know
Closing a company, answered.
- What is the difference between de-registration and liquidation?
- Liquidation is the winding-up process: appointing a liquidator, settling debts, distributing any assets and producing a liquidation report. De-registration is the final step that removes the company from the register and cancels the trade license. For an LLC you liquidate and then de-register; some simpler entities can de-register without a formal liquidation. We confirm which route your company needs.
- How long does it take to close a company in the UAE?
- Most closures take about four to eight weeks. On the Mainland it runs longer because of the mandatory public-notice period of around 45 days, during which creditors can come forward. Free Zone closures are often faster. We map your timeline at the start and keep every clearance moving in parallel.
- How much does company liquidation cost in the UAE?
- It depends on your jurisdiction, the liquidator's fee, the newspaper notice and any outstanding clearances or fines, plus our service fee. We review your company first and confirm a clear, fixed quote before any work begins, with government charges passed through at cost.
- What happens if I just stop paying for my license?
- The license is not cancelled automatically. Renewal fines keep adding up, and the economic department and immigration can blacklist the owners and managers, which blocks future visas and companies in the UAE. Closing the company properly is the only way to avoid those penalties and protect your record.
- Do I need a liquidator to close my company?
- For an LLC and most corporate structures, yes. An approved liquidator, usually a licensed audit firm, must be appointed and issue a liquidation report. Sole establishments and some Free Zone forms do not require one. We arrange an approved liquidator and manage their report as part of the service.
- Can I close a Free Zone company?
- Yes. Every Free Zone has its own de-registration process and visa-cancellation steps, and they differ between zones such as IFZA, Ajman and DIFC. We handle the closure with your specific Free Zone, including the visa cancellations and the establishment-card closure.
- What happens to my visas when I close the company?
- Every visa held under the company, your own and your employees', must be cancelled as part of the closure, along with the establishment card and labour file (the company's immigration and labour registrations). We sequence the cancellations so no one overstays and everyone is free to move to a new sponsor or leave the country cleanly.
- Should I sell the company instead of closing it?
- Sometimes that is the better move. If the license, name or structure still has value, transferring the shares to a new owner can be cleaner and quicker than a full liquidation. We will tell you honestly which path fits, and can handle a share transfer instead if it makes more sense.
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Maha BadrHighly recommended. A professional team, prompt on every detailed query and seamless on every requirement, trade license, corporate tax, bank account, residence ID, medical.
Largo HomeSimply impeccable. They didn't just meet deadlines, they anticipated them, with quick and effective solutions even in complex situations.
Maciej KolodziejczykVery efficient. Company formation, employment contract, residency visa, and all the prerequisites handled. Friendly and professional throughout.
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