Company Closure and Liquidation Support in the UAE

Company closure in the UAE is the formal process of terminating a business entity - cancelling the trade license, deregistering from taxes, cancelling all sponsored visas, closing the immigration file, settling employee obligations, and closing the corporate bank account.

The process is significantly more complex than formation. Multiple government authorities are involved, each with their own requirements. Most importantly, the steps have a strict order - tax deregistration must happen before license cancellation, visa cancellations must happen before immigration file closure, and outstanding fines must be cleared before any cancellation can proceed.

Step 1: Settle employee obligations. Pay all outstanding salaries, calculate and pay end-of-service gratuity, and serve any required notice periods.

Step 2: Cancel all employee and dependent visas. Cancel the residence visas of all sponsored employees and their dependents through GDRFA.

Step 3: Deregister from VAT (if registered). Submit a VAT deregistration application through EmaraTax. File a final VAT return.

Step 4: File the final corporate tax return. Prepare and file the final corporate tax return through EmaraTax.

Step 5: Cancel the trade license. Submit the license cancellation application to DED or the free zone authority.

Step 6: Close the immigration file. After all visas are cancelled, close the establishment card with GDRFA.

Step 7: Close the corporate bank account. Close the bank account after all other financial obligations are settled.

Step 8: Receive closure confirmation. The licensing authority issues a closure confirmation or deregistration certificate.