Economic Department (DED) Services
Trade licence issuance, renewal, activity and ownership amendments through the Department of Economy.
Read moreSRV-05 · Overview
Local Sponsor Arrangement in Dubai & the U.A.E.
Most mainland activities no longer require a local partner. A defined group still does — certain professional licences need a Local Service Agent, and a short list of strategic activities requires Emirati participation. When you fall into one of those groups, who you partner with matters more than the fee.
We introduce vetted Emirati individuals and corporate sponsors, and we insist the arrangement is documented: a fixed annual fee, no claim on profits, no interference in management, and a side agreement that spells out what happens if either party wants to exit.
SRV-05 · What's included
Scope of work
- Assessment of whether your activity genuinely requires a sponsor or agent
- Introduction to vetted individual and corporate sponsors
- Local Service Agent agreements for professional licences
- Side agreements protecting your control, profit and assets
- Notarisation of all sponsorship documents at the Dubai courts
- Annual renewal and sponsor replacement where a relationship changes
Process
How we run this file
Four stages, and you are told when each one clears. No chasing us for an update.
Documents you'll need
- Trade licence or draft licence application
- Passport copies of the foreign shareholders
- Proposed memorandum of association
- Business plan or activity description
- Existing sponsorship agreement, if you are replacing a sponsor
Not sure whether you have everything? Send what you do have and we will tell you what is missing.
ASSESSED
Requirement check
We confirm whether your activity actually needs a sponsor — many clients discover they do not.
MATCHED
Sponsor introduced
You are introduced to suitable sponsors with their fee, track record and expectations stated openly.
DRAFTED
Terms in writing
Agreements and side agreements drafted so your control, profits and assets are clearly protected.
NOTARISED
Signed at court
Documents notarised at the Dubai courts and filed with your licence application.
Questions
Local Sponsor Arrangement — what clients ask
Under the arrangements we set up, no. The sponsor receives a fixed annual fee agreed in advance, and the side agreement confirms they have no entitlement to profit, no management role and no claim over company assets.
Yes, though it requires the outgoing sponsor's cooperation to sign the amendment at the notary. This is exactly why the exit terms should be written at the start — we make sure they are.
A corporate sponsor is usually more stable: there is no inheritance risk and no dependence on one person being available to sign. An individual sponsor is often cheaper. We lay out the trade-off for your specific situation.
Related services
Often needed alongside this
Next step
Need local sponsor arrangement? Send us the details.
Tell us where you are in the process and what your deadline looks like. You get the required documents, the government fee and a realistic timeline before you commit.
- Free first consultation
- Fees quoted in writing
- One named contact