Names
Every UAE company trades under a name approved by its registrar: the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for a Dubai mainland company, the economic department of the other emirates, or the free zone authority (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ, Meydan and others). The rules below are close everywhere, and the generator above checks names against them.
What a UAE trade name must do
- Match the activity. On the mainland the name should reflect what the licence covers, for example Atlas Technical Consultancy for a consultancy. A name that suggests banking, insurance or investment needs the matching licence.
- Carry the legal form. The registrar adds the suffix that matches the company type, such as LLC, Sole Establishment (Est.), FZCO, FZE or FZ-LLC. Don't type it into the name yourself.
- Be new. A name already registered for the same or a similar activity is refused, and the check is by pronunciation, in English and in Arabic.
- Work in Arabic. Mainland names are registered in English and in Arabic. The Arabic version is a transliteration of how the name sounds, not a translation of its meaning.
Words that are refused or need approval
| Words | Status |
|---|---|
| Allah, God, holy, Mecca and other religious terms | Refused |
| Sheikh, royal, king, prince, ministry, government, federal | Refused |
| International, Global or Middle East at the start of the name | Refused, or needs DET approval |
| Dubai, Emirates, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other place names or airport codes | Restricted, usually only for government-linked entities |
| Bank, insurance, exchange, fund, securities | Needs the financial regulator's licence |
| Finance, investment, capital, media, advertising, payments | Only if the licence covers that activity |
| Holding, Group | Only for holding or group companies |
| Partners | Only for partnerships, joint ventures or subsidiaries |
| LLC, Ltd, FZE and other legal forms | Left out: the registrar adds the right one |
A person's name is allowed, usually only as a full first name and surname and normally only if that person is an owner. Offensive words, names of political or religious organisations, foreign governments' names and other companies' trademarks are refused.
Trade name reservation in Dubai: cost and timing
A standard trade name reservation costs AED 620 through the Invest in Dubai portal. Abbreviations, foreign-language words and Arabised or trademark-style names can fall into premium categories that cost more. The certificate usually arrives within minutes to a day and the reservation lasts 180 days: if no licence is issued in that time, the name goes back to the register. Free zones handle the name inside their own setup package and fees.
Why names get rejected
- The name is the same as, or sounds like, an existing company in a similar activity.
- It uses a restricted word without the licence behind it, such as Capital or Investments.
- It starts with International or Global, or includes Dubai or Emirates.
- The Arabic transliteration reads badly or means something unintended.
- It is a generic description of the activity only, such as "General Trading", with no distinctive word.
Ready to book? Follow trade name reservation step by step. See also how to check if a name is available, name ideas by industry and Arabic business names with meanings.
Questions
Can I use 'Dubai' or 'Emirates' in my company name?
Generally no. Place names such as Dubai, Emirates, UAE, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and airport codes like DXB, are restricted and usually only approved for government-linked entities.
How much does trade name reservation cost in Dubai?
A standard reservation costs AED 620 through the Invest in Dubai portal and is valid for 180 days. Names with abbreviations, foreign words or trademark-style elements can cost more.
Does my UAE company name need to be in Arabic?
Mainland trade names are registered in English and Arabic. The Arabic name is a transliteration of the English pronunciation, so check that it reads well in Arabic.
Can I use my own name as a trade name?
Usually yes, if you are an owner and you use your full first name and surname. A surname alone is normally refused.
Jurisdictions at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Legal suffix | Domain | Headline corporate tax | Typical setup cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Mainland | LLC, Sole Establishment | .ae | 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 | About AED 11,500–14,000 |
| UAE Free Zone (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ…) | FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | From about AED 6,000 |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Limited, Ltd | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About AED 100,000 year one |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Ltd, Limited | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About US$6,300 |
| Saudi Arabia | LLC | .sa | 20% on foreign-owned profit, 2.5% zakat on Saudi and GCC shares | About SAR 15,000 in fees |
| Qatar (QFC) | LLC | .qa | 10% on locally sourced profit | US$500 application |
| Bahrain | W.L.L., S.P.C. | .bh | No general corporate tax (oil and gas and large multinationals aside) | About BHD 250–450 in fees |
| United Kingdom | Ltd, Limited | .co.uk | 19% to 25% corporation tax | £100 |
| Ireland | Limited, DAC | .ie | 12.5% on trading income | €50 |
| Estonia (e-Residency) | OÜ | .ee | 0% on retained profit, 22% on distributed profit | €265 + e-Residency |
| Netherlands | B.V. | .nl | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | €500–1,500 notary |
| Germany | GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | .de | About 30% combined corporate and trade tax | About €600 + capital |
| Cyprus | Ltd, Limited | .com.cy | 15% corporate tax (from 2026) | Low registrar fees |
| USA: Delaware | Inc., LLC, Corp. | .us | 21% federal, no Delaware income tax if you don't operate there | $109–110 |
| USA: Wyoming | LLC | .us | 21% federal, no state income tax | $100 |
| Singapore | Pte. Ltd. | .com.sg | 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies | S$315 |
| Hong Kong | Limited | .com.hk | 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, then 16.5% | About HK$3,900 |
| British Virgin Islands | Ltd, Limited, Inc. | .vg | 0% | $550 + agent |
| Cayman Islands | Ltd | .ky | 0% | About $5,000 with a provider |
How to choose a company name that gets approved
- Check the register first: names identical or very close to an existing company are refused.
- Avoid regulated words such as Bank, Insurance, Capital or Trust unless you hold the licence.
- In the Gulf, avoid religious, royal or government terms and place names such as Dubai or Emirates.
- In the UK, sensitive words such as British, Royal, Charity or Institute need prior approval.
- Secure the .com and the country domain on the same day you reserve the name.
The rule checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Information only. CorpNameCheck does not give tax, legal or company-registration advice. Costs, rules and tax rates are simplified estimates that change over time. Many activities need a licence or regulatory approval, and only the relevant registry or regulator can confirm what applies to you. Check name availability and trademarks with the official bodies before you register or buy a domain. Full disclaimer