Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)

Last reviewed: 2026-06-27

What is an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) in the UAE?

A UBO is the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a company — generally one holding 25% or more of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise exercises control. UAE Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 requires companies to maintain and disclose a register of their real beneficiaries.

Identifying the UBO is central to KYC and AML: it reveals who actually stands behind a company and connects an entity to people and other businesses that may carry their own risk.

Ownership layers and nominee structures are exactly where risk hides, so resolving the real beneficiary — not just the registered manager — is the difference between a name check and genuine due diligence.