Glossary · MOA (Memorandum of Association)
What Is MOA (Memorandum of Association) in the UAE
A Memorandum of Association is the constitutional document of a UAE company: it fixes the shareholders, their shares, the business activities and the management rules. No company is registered without one.
Why it matters
Why it matters when opening a company
The MOA defines what the company may and may not do — the activities listed there are the legal boundary of your license.
Any change of shareholders, activities or capital requires an MOA amendment with the registry — a routine but paid procedure.
Mini-FAQ
Common questions
Who drafts the MOA?
The zone authority or DED provides standard MOA templates; custom MOAs are possible for joint ventures with external legal review.
Does the MOA need to be notarized?
In most free zones a digital signature on the standard template is enough; mainland MOAs are notarized through the DED system.