DMCC checks every proposed company name against its Company Name Reservation Rules before it will register the company. Most rejections come from a handful of rules: the name must reflect your activity, avoid restricted words such as Dubai or Global, and not copy an existing brand or company.
The core DMCC naming rules
Match your activity. The name must reflect, and not contradict, your licensed activity: “ABC Consultancy” for a consultancy licence, not just “ABC”.
No place names. UAE, Emirates, city and district names, and UAE airport codes are restricted.
No grand openers. A name cannot start with “International”, “Middle East” or “Global”.
No brands or protected names. The name cannot contain all or part of an active local or global brand, a government project, or a name similar to a government body or its abbreviation.
No look-alikes. DMCC refuses names similar to an active local company doing similar work.
Personal names. A family or tribal name can only be used with a first name, and it must belong to one of the shareholders.
No religious or offensive terms. No names of God or His attributes, no religious, sectarian or political organisations, and nothing obscene.
Format. More than three letters or digits, and no punctuation or special characters except “&”.
Countries. A country or government name needs approval from that country’s embassy.
Restricted words that need a matching activity
Word in the name
Allowed when
Investment, Invest, Capital, Venture
You hold an investment activity
Finance, Financial, Exchange, Fund, Credit, Cash
You hold regulated financial activities
Assets, Asset Management
You hold the specific asset-management activities
Tax, VAT
You hold a tax consultancy activity
Media, Advertising
You hold the matching media or advertising activities
General Trading
You hold the general trading activity
Holding, Group
The company is a holding or group company
Partners
The company is a subsidiary, joint venture or partnership
Payment, Pay
You hold the specific payment activities
DMCC also lists words it restricts outright, including UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Emirates, The Palm, JLT, Expo, GCC, Onshore, Offshore, Forex, Corporation, Limited, LLC, PLC, Inc, Charity, Islamic, Government and free zone suffixes such as FZE or FZCO. DMCC adds the correct legal suffix itself.
Branches, subsidiaries and Arabic names
A branch must use exactly its parent company’s name. See DMCC branch office.
Names are translated into Arabic phonetically, not by meaning (branches of Arabic-named parents are exempt).
An operating name (a trading name used alongside the legal name) must not contradict the company name or activity, and follows the same rules.
Reservation, validity and fees
Item
Official
Name certificate validity
6 months
Company name change (existing company)
AED 4,515
Company suffix change
Free of charge
Add or change an operating name
AED 1,515
DMCC checks your proposed names in your order of preference but may pick the most suitable one, and it can cancel or change a name later if a similar name already exists. If your name is a protected brand you own, you will need proof such as a licence, share certificate or franchise agreement.
Tips that get names approved first time
Submit three options, each ending in your activity word (Trading, Consultancy, Technologies).
Use a distinctive coined word rather than a generic one.
Search the UAE for existing companies and trademarks before you print anything.
Prices are DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges (checked October 2026). Your final quote confirms the live fee. Pro24 is based in Platinum Tower, JLT.
Get your DMCC company name approved
Send us three name ideas and your activity. We will check them against DMCC’s rules and tell you which are likely to pass.
Source & review. DMCC Company Name Reservation Rules and Guidelines (version 2) and DMCC’s official Schedule of Charges, checked October 2026. DMCC can update its restricted list without notice, so we check your names against the live rules before filing. Reviewed by the Pro24 Advisory Team.
