How to check if a company is registered in United Arab Emirates
Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.
Search Company Records in United Arab Emirates
Free basic search · no sign-up required.
How do I check if a company is registered in United Arab Emirates?
To check if a company is registered in United Arab Emirates, search its exact registration number or legal name on DED / Free Zone Authorities (https://www.dubaided.gov.ae). Compare the identifier and available identity fields before reading the recorded status. A name-only match is a candidate, not confirmation. Official access requirements and document fees vary.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the official DED / Free Zone Authorities
Go to https://www.dubaided.gov.ae. This is the primary government-operated source.
https://www.dubaided.gov.ae - 2
Search by name or number
Use the legal name or identifier supported by DED / Free Zone Authorities. Trading-name and partial-name searches are not universal.
- 3
Check status and legal name
Compare the exact identifier and legal name. Preserve the source's status wording: historical and dissolved entities can still have registry records.
- 4
Cross-check the registered address
Compare the available registered address with the counterparty's documents. A registered office can differ legitimately from a trading address; clarify the difference rather than treating it as evidence of misconduct.
- 5
Download the official extract (optional)
Most registers let you download a formal extract or certificate. Use this for KYC, procurement, or contract files.
United Arab Emirates: choosing and checking the right record
- Choose the correct source
- Identify the licensing authority, emirate and whether the business is mainland or in a free zone. Use the corresponding official licence or register search rather than assuming one portal covers every UAE entity.
- Confirm the entity
- Record the licence or registration number together with its issuing authority. Compare the legal name and licensed activity; a brand and the licensed contracting entity may differ.
Check current access and document options on the official DED / Free Zone Authorities site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the United Arab Emirates registry guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a company is registered in United Arab Emirates?
Search the exact registration number on DED / Free Zone Authorities at https://www.dubaided.gov.ae, then compare the legal name and available identity details. Read the status and its date in the source's own terminology. Name similarity alone does not confirm the entity.
How can I check if a United Arab Emirates company is still active?
Read the status on the exact entity's DED / Free Zone Authorities record, preserving its wording and retrieval date. Liquidation is not the same as dissolution: an entity can remain registered while undergoing liquidation. A registry status is not a solvency or trustworthiness assessment.
Is a United Arab Emirates company with a website automatically registered?
No. A website, email domain or invoice letterhead proves nothing. The only authoritative proof is a current entry in DED / Free Zone Authorities with a matching legal name and registration number.
What proves a United Arab Emirates company is legally registered?
An entry in DED / Free Zone Authorities with an "active" or equivalent status is the definitive proof. The registration number returned by DED / Free Zone Authorities is the authoritative identifier.
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 check if a company is registered 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.
How can I check if a United Arab Emirates company is legitimate?
Look the company up on the DED / Free Zone Authorities. If the entity returns an "active" (or equivalent local status) result, matches the registered address on its invoices, and its listed directors match who is signing your contract, it is a real registered entity. Anything reported as "dissolved", "struck off" or "in liquidation" should be treated with caution.
What information can I get about a United Arab Emirates company for free?
Free public data from the DED / Free Zone Authorities typically includes: legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, current status, business type, and current directors / officers. Historical filings and certified copies may carry a small fee.
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.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
United Arab Emirates data
- United Arab Emirates company search
Search every DED / Free Zone Authorities record.