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UAE Company Formation / Licensing LawLaw No. (22) of 2009 Concerning the Central Register of Corporations and Companies in the Emirate of Dubai

Dubai Law·22 of 2009

Issued Date
July 5, 2009
Effective from
July 5, 2009
Articles
12
Last synced
Jun 8, 2026
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Plain-language summary

Establishes the Central Register of Corporations and Companies in Dubai, managed by DED. Requires competent authorities to enter and update company data, grants…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

12 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) This Law will be cited as “Law No. (22) of 2009 Concerning the Central Register of Corporations and Companies in the Emirate of Dubai”.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise: Emirate: The Emirate of Dubai. Executive Council: The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. DED: The Department of Economic Development. Competent Authority: Any entity responsible for licensing Corporations and Companies in the Emirate, including any free zone authority. Corporations and Companies: Natural or legal persons licensed by the Competent Authority to conduct any business or Economic Activity. ©2016 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai 1 Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict the Arabic text will prevail.

    -- 1 of 3 --

    Law No. (22) of 2009 Concerning the Central Register of Corporations and Companies in the Emirate of Dubai Page 2 of 3 Central Register: The register maintained by the DED for registering data and information related to Corporations and Companies.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) A register known as the “Central Register of Corporations and Companies in the Emirate of Dubai” is hereby created at the DED. All the data and information related to the Corporations and Companies operating in the Emirate, including free zones, will be entered in the Central Register.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) The DED will have the powers and duties to: 1. create, supervise, maintain, and develop the Central Register in coordination with the Dubai eGovernment; 2. provide Competent Authorities with the Central Register software, and install and run the same; 3. allow Competent Authorities to enter data and information related to the Corporations and Companies into the Central Register; 4. link any Competent Authority, Government department, or public authority or corporation to the Central Register, and determine access privileges to the Central Register; and 5. compile and update statistical data and information of Corporations and Companies, and provide access to such data and information to any entity wishing to use the same in accordance with the relevant rules and conditions approved by the DED.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) A Competent Authority must enter all data and information of Corporations and Companies licensed by it and enter any change or variation to such data and information in accordance with the Central Register classification and the relevant time frames and procedures adopted by the DED.

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) The DED is the sole owner of the Central Register including all related software, systems, data, and information. Neither a Competent Authority nor any third party may use such software, systems, data, or information without first obtaining the relevant written approval of the DED.

    -- 2 of 3 --

    Law No. (22) of 2009 Concerning the Central Register of Corporations and Companies in the Emirate of Dubai Page 3 of 3

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) The DED may publish the Corporations and Companies’ statistical data and information maintained in the Central Register in periodic bulletins or annual reports.

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) A Competent Authority or any third party may access the data and information maintained in the Central Register to the extent permitted by the relevant rules and authorisations determined by the DED.

  9. 9

    Article 9

    Article (9) A Competent Authority will bear all costs arising from any modification made by the DED to the Central Register or its systems or software to render them compatible with the software and systems of the Competent Authority.

  10. 10

    Article 10

    Article (10) All Competent Authorities must comply with the provisions of this Law no later than six (6) months from its effective date.

  11. 11

    Article 11

    Article (11) The Chairman of the Executive Council will issue the regulations and resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Law.

  12. 12

    Article 12

    Article (12) This Law comes into force on the day on which it is issued, and will be published in the Official Gazette. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 5 July 2009 Corresponding to 12 Rajab 1430 A.H.

    -- 3 of 3 --

Note: This legislation is sourced from the Dubai Legislation Portal (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). The original Arabic text is the authoritative version.

Articles in this law(12)
  1. 1Article (1) This Law will be cited as “Law No. (22) of 2009 Concerning the Centr
  2. 2Article (2) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law,
  3. 3Article (3) A register known as the “Central Register of Corporations and Compan
  4. 4Article (4) The DED will have the powers and duties to: 1. create, supervise, ma
  5. 5Article (5) A Competent Authority must enter all data and information of Corpora
  6. 6Article (6) The DED is the sole owner of the Central Register including all rela
  7. 7Article (7) The DED may publish the Corporations and Companies’ statistical data
  8. 8Article (8) A Competent Authority or any third party may access the data and inf
  9. 9Article (9) A Competent Authority will bear all costs arising from any modificat
  10. 10Article (10) All Competent Authorities must comply with the provisions of this L
  11. 11Article (11) The Chairman of the Executive Council will issue the regulations an
  12. 12Article (12) This Law comes into force on the day on which it is issued, and wil
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