Good news: for most free zones, the document list is short. Getting it right first time is what keeps your setup fast.
For each individual shareholder and manager
- Passport copy — a clear, colour scan of the photo page. It must be valid for at least six months.
- Passport-size photo — sharp, recent, with a plain white background, face fully visible, no glasses or hats.
- UAE visa or entry stamp — if you are currently in the UAE.
- Emirates ID — if you are a UAE resident.
Some zones also ask for:
- Proof of address — a recent utility bill or bank statement
- CV or short business profile — for certain professional activities
- No-objection certificate (NOC) — if you are employed by another UAE company
If a shareholder is a company
Expect to provide the parent company's certificate of incorporation, articles of association, board resolution and shareholder register — usually attested in the home country and by the UAE embassy, then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Photo tips that save days
- Stand against a plain white wall in daylight.
- Look straight at the camera; keep a neutral expression.
- Don't crop the top of your head or your chin.
- Upload the original photo file, not a screenshot.
Our upload page checks photos automatically and warns you if the background doesn't look white or the image is blurry.
Uploading securely
After you pay, you upload everything on a private page. Files are encrypted and only our licensing team can open them.
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About the author
Freezone King Advisory Team is the business-setup advisory team at Freezone King, a Sky Palace Tourism company. We help founders compare UAE free zones and handle licences, visas, banking and tax end to end.