Country-specific guidance
UAE authorities and terminology
Authority names, local terms, and process notes that apply to UAE services.
Audience
Anyone preparing a UAE application
The UAE authorities, free zones, and terms that appear in Sonsoto service guides, checklists, and case updates — in plain language, so a document request or a status note reads clearly the first time.
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Authorities
MOFA — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Issues the final attestation on foreign documents for use in the UAE.
MoF — Ministry of Finance. Issues the Tax Residency Certificate.
ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. Handles visas and Emirates ID outside Dubai.
GDRFA — General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. The Dubai immigration authority for residency visas, entry permits, and status changes.
DED — Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai. Issues mainland business licences in Dubai.
DLD — Dubai Land Department. Property registration, title deed issuance, and transfer of ownership.
MOJ — Ministry of Justice. Approves translation offices for certified Arabic translation.
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Free zones you will see named
DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ — free zones with their own licensing authority and visa quotas.
DIFC, ADGM — financial free zones operating under English common law frameworks, commonly used for holding companies and will registration.
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What varies, and what Sonsoto confirms
Requirements differ by authority, business activity, jurisdiction, nationality, and the origin and condition of your documents. A checklist in this knowledge base describes the general shape of a case — it is not a determination for yours.
Sonsoto confirms the documents and steps that apply to your case at intake, and tells you what is outstanding before anything is submitted. Where an outcome rests with an authority, a bank, or a third-party reviewer, that decision remains theirs.
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Language
UAE service guidance is available in English and Arabic. The Arabic version is a translation of the same guidance — requirements do not change with the language you read them in.
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*Definitions reflect current UAE regulatory usage and are provided for operational orientation only. They do not constitute legal advice.*