Liquidating a Representative Office (Rep Office) in the UAE Mainland is a straightforward but legally structured process requiring coordination with multiple authorities including DED, MOHRE, Immigration, banks, FTA (if VAT-registered), and sometimes the Ministry of Economy.

A Representative Office is a non commercial entity established by a foreign parent company to conduct marketing, research, and promotional activities in the UAE. Since it cannot earn revenue or engage in commercial activities, the liquidation process focuses on ensuring:

• Regulatory compliance
• Employee visa cancellation
• Clearing the establishment card
• Closing the bank account
• Resolving any public or private liabilities

A Representative Office is not a standalone company. It is an extension of the foreign parent company, created to promote the parent’s business in the UAE without commercial trading.

During liquidation, the UAE government must confirm that the Rep Office:

• Has ceased all operations
• Has no employees remaining
• Has no legal or financial liabilities
• Has completed all clearances
• Is officially deregistered from UAE authorities

Unlike LLCs, a Rep Office does not require liquidation reports and newspaper announcements, making the process simpler.

For information about Branch Office liquidation (commercial activities), visit our Branch Liquidation Service page

If a Rep Office remains active on UAE government systems without fully closing, the foreign parent company may face:

• licence renewal penalties
• immigration fines
• labour violations
• VAT deregistration penalties
• inability to open new UAE entities
• compliance issues with banks
• delays in entering UAE markets again

Proper liquidation ensures the parent company exits the UAE legally and without future liability.

Step 1: Parent Company Resolution

The foreign parent must pass a Board Resolution approving the cancellation of the UAE Representative Office.
The resolution must be:

• notarized
• attested by MOFA (home country)
• attested by UAE Embassy (abroad)
• attested by MOFA UAE

We prepare the correct format to prevent rejection by DED.

Step 2: Initial DED Application

Submit the closure request and parent documents to DED.
DED reviews:

• activity
• compliance history
• establishment card
• employee records
• regulatory requirements

Step 3: Employee Visa Cancellation (If Employees Exist)

If the Rep Office has employees, you must:

• cancel visas
• cancel work permits
• pay end of service benefits
• deactivate labour establishment card
• clear MOHRE violations

If no employees exist, this step is skipped.

Step 4: VAT Deregistration (If Registered)

Even though Rep Offices cannot trade, some register for VAT due to parent company policies.
The FTA requires:

• deregistration application
• final VAT return
• penalty clearance
• proof of business closure

Step 5: Bank Account Closure

Rep Offices must close the corporate bank account and obtain a Bank Closure Letter, which is mandatory for final cancellation.

Banks may request:

• board resolution
• KYC deactivation forms
• final account settlement

We coordinate with your bank’s compliance team on your behalf.

Step 6: Tenancy, Utilities & Telecom Closure

Obtain NOCs from:

• DEWA / ADDC / SEWA
• Etisalat / Du
• Ejari cancellation or tenancy NOC
• Municipality (if relevant)

These confirm no outstanding dues remain.

Step 7: Final DED Cancellation

Submit:
• Parent company resolution
• Employee cancellation records
• Establishment card cancellation
• VAT deregistration (if applicable)
• Bank closure letter
• Tenancy & utility NOCs

DED will then issue the Representative Office Cancellation Certificate.

Your Rep Office is now officially closed in UAE.

• Parent company Board Resolution
• Parent company trade license (local or foreign)
• Parent company Certificate of Incorporation
• Attested parent company documents
• Passport & Emirates ID of authorized signatory
• Power of Attorney (if applicable)
• Establishment card
• Employee visa cancellation records
• Bank account closure letter
• Tenancy & utility clearance
• VAT deregistration confirmation

The timeline is typically shorter than LLC or Branch liquidation.

• DED initial approval: 2 to 5 days
• Employee visa cancellation: 1 to 5 days
• Bank account closure: 3 to 10 days
• VAT deregistration (if applicable): 20 to 45 days
• Tenancy & utilities: 2 to 5 days
• Final DED cancellation: 2 to 5 days

Overall:
10 to 20 days (non VAT cases)
30 to 60 days (with VAT deregistration)

Costs depend on:

• DED cancellation fees
• Labour & immigration clearances
• VAT deregistration
• Bank procedures
• PRO services
• Parent company document attestations

Clients must contact us for accurate pricing based on their Rep Office structure.

Nines Consultancy manages Representative Office liquidation from start to finish with full compliance and minimal disruptions for the parent company.

You Get:

• Board resolution drafting
• MOFA + embassy attestation assistance
• Full DED liquidation handling
• Labour & immigration clearance
• VAT deregistration support
• Bank account closure assistance
• Tenancy & utility clearance
• Weekly WhatsApp updates

We ensure a smooth exit with no legal or financial liabilities left behind.

Close your Representative Office quickly and professionally with Nines Consultancy.
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