Companies are urged to comply in order to avoid penalties of up to Dh10 million.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has emphasised that private joint-stock companies must hold their annual general meetings within the legally mandated timeframe, and no later than June 30, 2026 for firms whose financial year ended on December 31, 2025.
It said compliance with the deadline is necessary to ensure adherence to applicable laws, reinforce corporate governance and transparency standards, and avoid administrative penalties. The ministry also noted that meeting the requirement on time will improve companies’ preparedness for potential stock market listings.
The ministry said that holding annual general meetings within the prescribed timeframe is a core legal requirement. It added that companies must use these meetings to approve audited financial statements, review governance reports, and take key strategic decisions in line with Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies, while also supporting the law’s broader objectives of regulating corporate activity and safeguarding shareholders’ rights.
As part of the government’s Zero Bureaucracy initiative, the ministry said that services for renewing company registration and obtaining approval to hold annual general meetings are now fully instant through its official website, as long as no special resolutions require further review. It said the move reflects its ongoing digital transformation efforts, allowing companies to complete procedures quickly and without delays.
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said the UAE, guided by its leadership’s vision, has developed a modern legislative and regulatory framework and advanced economic services powered by technology, digital transformation, and innovation. He added that these measures enable businesses to operate in line with global best practices and support the country’s knowledge-based economic model under the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
He said that compliance with legal deadlines for annual general meetings, along with the online submission of governance reports and financial statements, reflects the maturity and competitiveness of the UAE’s business environment and its alignment with advanced governance standards. He added that the shift to instant digital services improves efficiency, transparency, investor protection, and companies’ readiness for listing and growth.
The ministry warned that failure to meet the deadlines would be treated as a violation subject to progressively stricter administrative penalties, starting with a warning and a grace period for correction, and potentially extending to fines of up to Dh10 million, along with additional measures in cases of repeated non-compliance, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law and Cabinet Resolution No. 102 of 2022.
It added that holding annual general meetings is a prerequisite for maintaining a company’s legal registration under Ministerial Resolution No. 137 of 2024, which also links registration renewal to the submission of AGM minutes and audited financial statements.
The ministry further stressed the importance of increasing female representation on corporate boards as a key element of strong governance and institutional diversity, in line with Ministerial Resolution No. 137 of 2024, aimed at improving balance, decision-making quality, and overall corporate performance.
It said that recent amendments to the Commercial Companies Law have expanded opportunities for private joint-stock companies to convert into listed entities and offer shares through private placements, supporting the growth of the country’s financial markets and creating new investment opportunities.
The ministry described annual general meetings as the highest legal forum for key corporate decisions, adding that shareholder and board meetings should provide an open and transparent environment for discussion and the exchange of views, while respecting differing investment and legal perspectives within the framework of the law and in the company’s best interests.
It added that compliance is monitored through advanced supervisory systems, with particular focus on the quality of governance reports, regulatory compliance, and financial disclosures. The ministry said procedures have been streamlined as much as possible, while maintaining strict penalties for non-compliance to protect shareholders’ rights and ensure institutional discipline.
It also urged companies to use its instant digital services and ensure that annual general meetings are held within the legally prescribed timeframe. Through its electronic platform, companies can submit requests, reports, and required documents via a unified system, while virtual attendance and electronic voting have also been introduced in line with high governance standards.
