Corporate · Defined Term
MOA — Memorandum of Association.
The founding constitutional document of a UAE company — defines shareholders, capital structure, business activity, share transfer rules and governance.
What's in it
- Company name and registered office.
- Share capital and shareholding split.
- Business activities (mapped to regulator's activity catalogue).
- Director powers and appointment process.
- General assembly procedures.
- Profit distribution rules.
- Dissolution and liquidation provisions.
MOA vs Articles of Association
In ADGM and DIFC (English common-law jurisdictions) the equivalent document is the Articles of Association. UAE mainland and most free zones use the MOA terminology. Functionally equivalent.
Filing & amendment
The MOA is filed with the regulator at incorporation and updated on any change to shareholding, activity or governance. Amendments typically require shareholder resolution + regulator approval + DED notarisation (for mainland).