Updated August 2026.
- ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) mandates every registered company to appoint a Company Secretary — individual or corporate — under the ADGM Companies Regulations 2020.
- DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) similarly requires all DIFC-incorporated companies to have a Company Secretary under the DIFC Companies Law.
- UAE mainland LLCs under Federal Law 32/2021 are not required to appoint a Company Secretary, though Public Joint Stock Companies (PJSC) listed on DFM or ADX must have one under SCA mandates.
- ADGM Corporate Service Provider (CSP) licence costs AED 15,000 per year with a minimum AED 50,000 capital requirement; DIFC Registered Agent registration costs AED 10,000–15,000 per year.
- Total investment to establish a UAE company secretarial services firm: AED 100,000–500,000 depending on jurisdiction (mainland DED vs. ADGM/DIFC regulated).
The Role of the Company Secretary in UAE
A Company Secretary in the UAE context is a senior officer responsible for ensuring a company’s compliance with its constitutional documents (Memorandum and Articles of Association), relevant corporate laws, and regulatory requirements. The role encompasses maintaining the company’s statutory registers, organising and minuting board and shareholder meetings, managing share transfers and allotments, filing required statutory returns with the relevant registration authority, and advising the Board of Directors on governance obligations.
The importance and legal status of the Company Secretary role varies significantly across the UAE’s parallel regulatory jurisdictions. In onshore mainland UAE, the requirement is largely voluntary for most company types, while in the financial free zones — ADGM and DIFC — it is a mandatory appointment for every registered entity. Understanding these distinctions is essential for any corporate service provider establishing a company secretarial practice in the UAE.
The market for outsourced company secretarial services in UAE has grown substantially since 2019, driven by the expansion of ADGM and DIFC as global financial centres, the introduction of Federal Law 32/2021 (New Companies Law) which increased corporate governance expectations for mainland entities, and the growing sophistication of international investors who insist on professional company secretarial arrangements as a condition of investment.
ADGM Company Secretary Requirements
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is an international financial centre and common law jurisdiction established on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Under the ADGM Companies Regulations 2020, every company incorporated in ADGM — whether a Private Company Limited by Shares (PCSB), Public Company Limited by Shares, or other permitted entity type — must appoint a Company Secretary. This appointment is not optional; failure to maintain an appointed Company Secretary is a regulatory breach that can result in fines from the ADGM Registration Authority (ARA).
The Company Secretary can be an individual (a natural person who is ordinarily resident in the UAE) or a corporate entity (a company licenced to provide company secretarial services). For corporate providers, ADGM requires that the firm hold a Corporate Service Provider (CSP) licence issued by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). The FSRA CSP licence covers the provision of company secretarial services, registered office services, and nominee director/shareholder services within ADGM. FSRA CSP licence fees: AED 15,000 per year. Minimum share capital for an ADGM CSP entity: AED 50,000 paid up.
ADGM Company Secretaries are responsible for: filing annual returns with the ADGM Registration Authority (ARA) within 12 months of the company’s anniversary, maintaining the company’s ADGM-registered office address (which must be within ADGM’s jurisdiction on Al Maryah Island), keeping the company’s Register of Members, Register of Directors, and Register of Charges up to date, and notifying ARA of any changes to company details (directors, shareholders, constitutional documents) within specified timeframes. ADGM annual return filing fee: AED 1,000–2,000 per company.
DIFC Company Secretary and Registered Agent Requirements
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) operates as a common law jurisdiction within Dubai, governed by the DIFC Companies Law (Law No. 5 of 2018 and subsequent amendments). The DIFC Companies Law requires all DIFC-incorporated companies to appoint a Company Secretary. The Company Secretary must be an individual resident in the UAE or a DIFC-registered Registered Agent (RA).
A DIFC Registered Agent is a corporate entity registered with the DIFC Registrar of Companies to provide company secretarial, registered office, and related corporate services to DIFC-incorporated companies. Registered Agent registration with the DIFC Registrar costs AED 10,000–15,000 per year and requires the RA to demonstrate: adequate professional indemnity insurance, qualified personnel with relevant corporate law experience, and a physical registered office address within DIFC (Gate District, DIFC-licensed premises). The DIFC Gate District office costs are significant — Grade A DIFC office space commands AED 200–400 per square foot per year.
DIFC company secretarial obligations include: annual return filings with the DIFC Registrar (deadline: within 60 days of the company’s financial year end), maintenance of the DIFC statutory registers (Members, Directors, Charges), preparation and minuting of Annual General Meetings (AGMs), and notifying the DIFC Registrar of changes to company details within 14 days. DIFC annual return fee: AED 1,500–3,000 per company. DIFC Registered Agents typically charge DIFC companies AED 5,000–15,000 per year for a comprehensive company secretarial package.
DED Mainland Company Secretarial Services
For UAE mainland companies incorporated under DED (Department of Economy and Tourism) in Dubai, or under equivalent Departments of Economic Development in other emirates, company secretarial requirements are less prescriptive under Federal Law 32/2021. Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), which constitute the majority of UAE mainland business entities, are not legally required to appoint a Company Secretary. However, the Companies Law requires LLCs to maintain: a Register of Partners (shareholders), accurate company records, and to convene Annual General Meetings of partners where required by the MOA.
Public Joint Stock Companies (PJSCs) — UAE companies listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) or Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) — are a different matter. The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) mandates that every PJSC appoint a qualified Company Secretary who meets specific educational and experience criteria set out in the SCA Corporate Governance Guide for Public Shareholding Companies. SCA-mandated PJSCs must maintain detailed board meeting minutes, implement formal corporate governance frameworks, and file quarterly corporate governance compliance reports with SCA.
Professional company secretarial firms in mainland UAE operate under DED “Management and Business Consultancy” licences (AED 10,000–20,000 per year) and offer mainland LLCs services such as: AGM organisation, MOA amendments, share transfer documentation, nominee shareholder arrangements (now permitted under Federal Law 32/2021 with appropriate disclosure), and registered agent services where companies require a UAE-address point of contact for official communications.
Emiratisation and Corporate Governance Services
A growing extension of UAE company secretarial services is Emiratisation compliance management. UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2023 introduced mandatory Emiratisation quotas for private sector companies with 50 or more employees across defined economic activities, requiring these companies to ensure a specified percentage of their workforce consists of UAE nationals (Emiratis). Emiratisation targets escalate annually, with significant financial penalties for non-compliance: AED 96,000 per unfilled Emirati position per year.
Corporate service providers increasingly offer Emiratisation advisory and management services as an extension of their governance portfolio. Services include: Emiratisation gap analysis, registration with Nafis (the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources programme that incentivises private sector Emiratisation), MOHRE Emiratisation quota management, and in some cases, facilitation of Emirati staff placement through Emirati human resources networks. Some CSPs offer “virtual Emirati employee” arrangements where Emiratis are employed through the CSP’s own payroll and seconded to client companies — a complex arrangement that requires careful compliance with MOHRE and Nafis rules.
UAE Company Secretarial Services Fee Comparison 2026
| Jurisdiction | Annual Filing Fee (AED) | Company Sec. Required? | CSP Annual Package (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADGM | 1,000–2,000 | Yes (mandatory) | 8,000–20,000 |
| DIFC | 1,500–3,000 | Yes (mandatory) | 5,000–15,000 |
| DED Mainland LLC | 1,000–5,000 (licence) | No (optional) | 3,000–8,000 |
| DFM/ADX Listed PJSC | SCA filing fees | Yes (SCA mandate) | 20,000–60,000 |
| Free Zone (non-ADGM/DIFC) | 500–2,000 (per zone) | No (varies by zone) | 2,000–6,000 |
Establishing a UAE Company Secretarial Services Firm
Setting up a UAE company secretarial services firm requires decisions about which jurisdictions to operate in — mainland DED, ADGM, DIFC, or a combination. Each jurisdiction has different licensing requirements, target client bases, and fee structures. Most established corporate service providers in UAE operate across multiple jurisdictions to offer clients a comprehensive service regardless of where their entities are incorporated.
For a mainland DED-focused firm: DED “Management and Business Consultancy” licence (AED 10,000–20,000), physical office, and qualified staff with UAE corporate law expertise. For an ADGM-regulated CSP: FSRA CSP licence application (AED 15,000 per year), minimum AED 50,000 paid-up capital, ADGM-licensed office (Al Maryah Island), and FSRA-approved compliance officer. For a DIFC Registered Agent: DIFC Registrar of Companies RA registration (AED 10,000–15,000), DIFC-licensed office, and professional indemnity insurance. Total investment range: AED 100,000 (mainland only) to AED 500,000 (multi-jurisdiction with ADGM and DIFC).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Company Secretary mandatory for all UAE companies?
No. The requirement depends on the company’s jurisdiction. In ADGM and DIFC, a Company Secretary is mandatory for every registered company. For UAE mainland LLCs incorporated under Federal Law 32/2021, a Company Secretary is not legally required but is advisable for governance purposes. UAE Public Joint Stock Companies (PJSCs) listed on DFM or ADX must appoint a Company Secretary under SCA Corporate Governance Guidelines. Free zone companies in non-ADGM/DIFC zones generally do not have a mandatory Company Secretary requirement, though some zones (JAFZA, DMCC) encourage it for larger entities.
What is an ADGM Corporate Service Provider licence and how do you obtain one?
An ADGM Corporate Service Provider (CSP) licence is issued by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and permits the holder to provide company secretarial services, registered office services, and related corporate services to ADGM-incorporated entities. To obtain a CSP licence, you must: submit an application to FSRA with business plan, proposed ownership structure, and compliance framework; demonstrate minimum AED 50,000 paid-up share capital; have at least one approved compliance officer; and maintain a registered office address within ADGM. Annual licence fee is AED 15,000. Approval typically takes 4–8 weeks.
What company secretarial services are most in demand in the UAE?
The highest-demand company secretarial services in UAE are: annual return filing coordination (for ADGM and DIFC entities), board meeting organisation and minute-taking, share transfer management, change of director or officer notifications, nominee shareholder arrangements, registered office provision, and UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) register maintenance. For mainland entities, Emiratisation compliance advisory is a fast-growing additional service driven by escalating government mandates and significant penalties for non-compliance.
Can a UAE company secretarial firm provide nominee directors or shareholders?
Yes, subject to jurisdictional rules. In ADGM and DIFC, nominee director and shareholder arrangements are permitted with appropriate disclosure in the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register maintained with the registration authority. In UAE mainland, Federal Decree-Law 32/2021 permits nominee arrangements under certain conditions with full disclosure of the beneficial owner. In all UAE jurisdictions, the nominee arrangement must be documented with a declaration of trust or similar instrument, and the UBO must be disclosed to the relevant registration authority. Company secretarial firms that offer nominee services carry fiduciary risk and typically require significant professional indemnity insurance coverage.
How much does a company secretary cost in ADGM compared to DIFC?
Annual company secretarial service packages in ADGM typically cost AED 8,000–20,000 per company, reflecting higher compliance demands and the generally larger, more complex entity types domiciled in ADGM (fund managers, family offices, SPVs). DIFC annual packages cost AED 5,000–15,000 per company, with variation based on entity complexity and the frequency of corporate changes requiring filings. Both jurisdictions’ packages cover registered office, annual return filing, statutory register maintenance, and basic director/shareholder change notifications. AGM organisation, board meeting minutes, and complex restructuring services are typically charged separately at AED 3,000–10,000 per engagement.