What are Corporate Secretary Duties in UAE Businesses?

Written By Akshaya Ashok, Reviewed By Reyees K P

Published on 19/04/2025

In the UAE, corporate secretarial duties are critical in ensuring that businesses comply with legal and regulatory frameworks. A Company Secretary acts as the backbone of corporate governance, managing administrative, legal, and compliance-related tasks.

This blog explores the duties and responsibilities of corporate secretaries in UAE businesses, the legal framework governing their role, and why their expertise is indispensable for companies of all sizes.

What Regulations Govern Corporate Secretarial Duties in the UAE?

Corporate secretarial duties in the UAE are governed by several key regulations:

• UAE Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021): Outlines the legal requirements for company formation, governance, and compliance.
• Ministry of Economy & Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA): Regulates public joint stock companies and listed entities.
• Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) & Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM): Provides specific regulations for companies operating within these free zones.

Understanding these frameworks is essential for corporate secretaries to ensure compliance and avoid legal pitfalls.

What are the Key Corporate Secretarial Duties & Responsibilities?

Corporate secretaries in the UAE are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including:

Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Ensuring the company adheres to UAE laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Maintaining statutory registers and records, such as the register of shareholders and directors.

Company Formation & Structuring

• Assisting with the incorporation of new companies and structuring them to meet legal requirements.
• Handling licensing and registration with the relevant authorities.

Regulatory Filings & Reporting

• Preparing and submitting annual reports, financial statements, and other regulatory filings.
• Ensuring timely submission of documents to authorities like the Ministry of Economy, SCA, or free zone authorities.

Shareholder & Board Management

• Organizing and documenting board meetings, general assemblies, and committee meetings.
• Managing communication between the board, shareholders, and regulatory bodies.

Risk Management & Legal Compliance

• Identifying and mitigating legal and compliance risks.
• Keeping the organization informed about changes in laws and regulations.

Why Every UAE Business Needs a Corporate Secretary?

A corporate secretary's duties are vital for ensuring smooth business operations and maintaining compliance with UAE laws. Their responsibilities include:

• Enhancing Corporate Governance: By ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making.
• Avoiding Legal Penalties: By keeping the company compliant with regulatory requirements.
• Streamlining Operations: By managing administrative tasks and freeing up management to focus on core business activities.

For businesses operating in the UAE’s dynamic regulatory environment, a corporate secretary is not just a legal requirement but a strategic asset. For getting more detailed information about the Company Secretarial duties, like common company secretarial services provided in the UAE, legal requirements, and who needs Company Secretarial Services? Click here

Conclusion

Corporate secretarial work is super important for UAE businesses to do well and stay legal. Secretaries keep companies in line with the rules, handle how they're run, and deal with risks. This helps keep things honest and working smoothly. Because the rules change all the time, companies need to keep up and maybe get help from pros to stay out of trouble. If you need advice and support, think about working with Reyson Badger. We are a reliable company in the UAE for this kind of stuff. Our experienced team can guide you through the tricky parts of UAE corporate law, so your business stays legal, runs well, and succeeds.

Written By

Akshaya Ashok

Akshaya Ashok is a content writer specializing in creating content focused on accounting and auditing. With over two years of experience, she has developed expertise in crafting professional content for the financial sector.