Commercial Companies Law

The UAE Commercial Companies Law (CCL) — Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, replacing Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 — is the core statute governing mainland companies. It regulates the formation, governance, financing, accounts, restructuring, and dissolution of Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Private and Public Joint-Stock Companies (PJSC/PrJSC), Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, and Simple Limited Partnerships. Key features of the current CCL include removal of the blanket 51% Emirati-ownership rule, recognition of sole-shareholder LLCs, detailed minority shareholder rights, dividend rules, conflict-of-interest controls for directors, and provisions for holding companies. Public joint-stock companies are also subject to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) rules. Free zones (DIFC and ADGM) are exempt and apply their own companies laws.