Behind every compliant company is a properly maintained set of statutory records, timely filings, and correctly drafted resolutions. One Desk provides ongoing company secretarial support — maintaining your registers, administering board and shareholder decisions, and keeping your UBO and ESR obligations current — so your company stays in good standing with its authority and the FTA.
Company secretarial services cover the legal and administrative duties that keep a company in good standing. A company secretary maintains official records, prepares board and shareholder documents, supports filings with the authorities, and tracks important renewal and compliance dates.
Many UAE business owners outsource these tasks. It saves time, reduces the risk of missed deadlines, and gives you one reliable team to contact when something changes in your company.
One Desk CSP provides company secretarial services, which means support for your company's records, filings and compliance.
| Company Secretarial Services | General Secretarial Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Legal and compliance duties of a company | Office and administrative tasks |
| Examples | Registers, resolutions, filings, licence changes | Scheduling, calls, typing, reception |
| Who provides it | Corporate service providers | Admin and virtual assistant firms |
Requirements depend on where your company is licensed. Mainland companies, free zone companies and offshore companies each follow the rules of their own authority. Before we start, we check what applies to your licence so you only pay for the support you need.
| Company Type | Typical Secretarial Needs |
|---|---|
| Mainland company | Records, resolutions, licence renewals and amendments |
| Free zone company | Zone-specific filings, renewals and changes |
| Offshore company | Registers, annual filings and resident agent or secretary support |
| In-House | Outsourced with One Desk CSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Salary and overheads | Pay for the support you need |
| Expertise | Depends on one person | A team that handles company secretarial work |
| Coverage | Gaps during leave or staff changes | Continuous support |
| Flexibility | Fixed | Easy to scale up or down |
The fee depends on your licence authority, the number of shareholders and directors, how often your company makes changes, and whether you need a one-off service or ongoing support. After a short review, we give you a clear written quote so you know what you are paying for before we begin.
Request a Quote|
Service |
Estimated Pricing |
Notes |
|
Company secretary (annual retainer) |
AED 6,000 – 18,000/yr |
Entity and complexity dependent |
|
Registered office / agent (annual) |
AED 3,000 – 8,000/yr |
Free zone dependent |
|
Statutory register set-up & maintenance |
AED 1,500 – 4,000 |
Initial set-up plus annual upkeep |
|
Board / shareholder resolution drafting |
AED 500 – 1,500 |
Per resolution |
|
Minutes & meeting administration |
AED 750 – 2,500 |
Per meeting |
|
Annual return / confirmation filing |
AED 1,000 – 3,000 |
Plus authority fees |
|
Share transfer processing |
AED 1,500 – 4,000 |
Plus registry fees |
|
UBO register filing / update |
AED 1,000 – 2,500 |
Per filing |
|
ESR notification |
AED 1,500 – 3,500 |
Where a relevant activity applies |
A company secretary keeps statutory records, prepares resolutions and minutes, supports filings and licence changes, and helps the company meet its compliance dates.
It depends on the structure. Certain jurisdictions — notably DIFC and ADGM — have specific company-secretary requirements, and some free zones expect a maintained set of statutory records. Even where it is not strictly mandatory, appointing a company secretary is sound governance and keeps you ahead of filing deadlines.
The official records a company must keep — typically the register of shareholders, register of directors, register of UBOs, and a register of charges. They must be accurate and kept up to date as the company changes. We set them up and maintain them on your behalf.
The Ultimate Beneficial Owner register records the individuals who ultimately own or control the company. Maintaining it is a legal requirement, and any change in shareholders or directors must be filed within 30 days. Non-compliance is an AML violation with serious consequences, so we keep this current as part of the retainer.
A registered agent is the licensed intermediary through which certain entities — particularly offshore companies — file with the registry and maintain their registered address. UAE offshore companies must act through a registered agent. We provide this service and act as your point of contact with the authority.
Several free zones require an annual return or confirmation filing alongside the licence renewal. The exact requirement depends on your jurisdiction. We track the deadline and prepare the filing so nothing lapses.
The Economic Substance Regulations apply to companies carrying on certain “relevant activities” — for example holding, IP, finance, headquarters and distribution activities. Affected companies must file an annual ESR notification and, where applicable, an ESR report. We assess whether your activities fall within scope and handle the filings.