The most efficient pathway for a foreign buyer is to purchase the existing Sole Establishment through a sale agreement, then apply to the relevant DED or free zone authority to convert it into a Limited Liability Company. This involves updating the trade licence, obtaining approvals, and registering the new LLC structure while complying with ownership and capital requirements.

The most efficient pathway for a foreign buyer in the UAE is to first acquire the Sole Establishment (which is usually owned by a UAE national) through a local sponsor or assignment agreement, and then convert it into an LLC by partnering with a local shareholder or leveraging the new 100 % foreign ownership reforms in certain Free Zones or Mainland sectors. Emotionally, it can feel like navigating a maze there’s paperwork, approvals, and approvals from the Department of Economic Development but doing it step by step gives the buyer full operational control and legal clarity, turning a locally bound business into one you can truly grow and scale.