United Arab Emirates business registry search
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in United Arab Emirates
3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.
How do I search the business registry in United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates business registry is operated by DED / Free Zone Authorities. It covers LLC (Limited Liability Company). Search by business name to find the registered entity behind a trading name — free, no signup.
Step-by-step
- 1
Search the trading name you were given
Start with the name on the invoice, website or contract. It is often a trading name rather than the registered legal name.
- 2
Identify the legal entity behind it
DED / Free Zone Authorities records the legal entity. Matching a trading name to its registered entity is the whole point of a registry search — the two are frequently different.
- 3
Check the entity type
United Arab Emirates recognises LLC (Limited Liability Company). Entity type determines liability and who is legally responsible, so it matters before you contract.
- 4
Note what the registry does not cover
Sole traders and unregistered activity may not appear at all. An absent record is not automatically proof of fraud — it can simply mean the business is not required to register.
Frequently asked questions
What does the United Arab Emirates business registry cover?
DED / Free Zone Authorities records LLC (Limited Liability Company). Businesses that are not legally required to register — commonly small sole traders — may not appear.
Can I search the United Arab Emirates business registry by trading name?
Yes, and that is usually the practical starting point. The registry will link the name to the registered legal entity where the two differ.
Is a business registry search free in United Arab Emirates?
Yes. Name search and the public entry on DED / Free Zone Authorities are free. Only certified documents are chargeable.
What if a United Arab Emirates business has no registry entry?
It may not be required to register, or it may be trading under a different legal name. Ask for the registration number directly before assuming either.
What is the difference between mainland and free zone?
Mainland companies (registered with DED) can trade freely within the UAE and need a local sponsor/partner (51% ownership rule relaxed in 2021 for most sectors). Free zone companies have 100% foreign ownership, tax benefits, and simplified setup, but traditionally can only trade within the free zone or internationally.
People also ask about search the business registry in United Arab Emirates
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the United Arab Emirates company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the DED / Free Zone Authorities are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official United Arab Emirates business registry?
The DED / Free Zone Authorities is the official public register of companies incorporated in United Arab Emirates. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.dubaided.gov.ae.
Related guides and tools
More United Arab Emirates guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
- Look up a company by number
Search by the official identifier — exactly one entity, every time.
United Arab Emirates data
- United Arab Emirates company search
Search every DED / Free Zone Authorities record.