Glossary · AOA (Articles of Association)
What Is AOA (Articles of Association) in the UAE
The Articles of Association are a company's internal rulebook: share rights, director powers, voting and dividend mechanics. They complement the MOA — which fixes who the shareholders are and what the company may do — and in most UAE free zones the standard AOA template is adopted with the license.
Why it matters
Why it matters when opening a company
Shareholder disputes are settled by the AOA first; bespoke articles cost extra but fix deadlock, exit and pre-emption rules before they trigger.
Banks and notaries ask for the AOA alongside the license when opening accounts or certifying resolutions.
Mini-FAQ
Common questions
Is an AOA mandatory in the UAE?
Most free-zone and mainland forms adopt the authority's standard articles at registration; bespoke AOAs appear in joint ventures and regulated or multi-investor structures.
Can the AOA be changed later?
Yes — by shareholder resolution and a registry amendment, the same paid cycle as an MOA change.