Offering shares of a public joint-stock company

This service enables local companies to offer their shares in a public subscription within the country

Service Process


Conditions & Requirements

Obtaining the approval of the competent authority to establish or (transform into) a public joint stock company.

Capital after incorporation or conversion to a PJSC must be at least AED 30 million. Founders may offer in-kind contributions for their shares.

Appointing a financial advisor / subscription manager licensed by the CMA and a legal advisor

The application must be submitted via an CMA-licensed subscription manager, with an acknowledgment of compliance with Article (23) of the Share Offering System.

Special conditions newly established Companies 1. The number of founders shall not be less than five natural or legal persons

The number of the founders committee members shall not be less than 3 persons.

Subscription is limited to qualified investors as defined in CMA Board Resolution No. 11 of 2016, excluding offering banks, finance, and insurance companies.

Availability of sufficient operating capital for a period of (12) months following the date of the CMA’s approval of the prospectus based on a feasibility study

In the case of contributing in-kind contributions, it is stipulated that the in-kind contribution shall not be a company.

Special Conditions for Private joint stock Companies or Limited Liability Institutions 1. The lapse of a period of no less than two fiscal years for the company wishing to convert.

The company must have achieved distributable net operating profits averaging at least 10% of capital during the two fiscal years preceding the conversion application.

Issuance of a special decision by the assembly converting the company into a public joint stock company.

Special conditions for SPACs: Obtain CMA approval to classify the company as a founding entity for merger and acquisition purposes.

Meet the offering requirements in CMA Chairman’s Decision No. (1/R.M) of 2022 on the regulations for special purpose acquisition companies.

Special conditions for free zone companies 1. The company shall subject to the Free Zone Companies Registrar - accepted by the CMA - who will supervise and control the affairs of free zone companies.

The existence of a cooperation agreement between the CMA and the Companies Registrar in the Free Zone

The shares offered for public subscription shall be listed in the market

Satisfying all listing requirements applicable to the CMA and the Market.

Its paid-up capital shall not be less than (20) million dirhams.

The shareholders' net equity shall not be less than (100%) of its paid-up capital

Shares offered publicly must be 25%–70% of capital. Exceptionally, 100% may be offered if limited to qualified investors.

It must have practiced an independent activity as its main activity or through one or more of its subsidiaries during at least the two fiscal years preceding the offering application.

Audited financials for the main activity or subsidiaries must be disclosed for the 2 years before the offering. If over 3 months old, updated reviewed statements must be submitted.

It must have achieved net profits through its main activity or through the activities of its subsidiaries, during at least the two fiscal years preceding the offering application.

Appointing the parties to the offering process and the evaluator of the in-kind contributions - if there are in-kind contributions - before the start of the offering process

Providing sufficient operating capital for a period of (12) months following the date of the CMA's approval of the prospectus.

Special conditions for the price-building offering: contracting with a financial advisor to execute and supervise the offering, in compliance with CMA Board Resolution No. 11 of 2016.

Offering a percentage of no less than (20%) to individual investors, and a percentage of no less than (60%) to qualified investors of the shares offered for subscription.

General Conditions: Publication of a summary of the assessment report together with the notice of the general meeting, outlining the methodologies applied, the key assumptions underlying the assessment, and the factors influencing the financial results


Service completion duration

Application (Processing) Time
1 Hours

Service Completion Duration
10 Days


Service channels
  1. SCA WEBSITE

Target audience
  • Joint stock companies
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Free Zone Companies
  • Special purpose acquisition companies

Service Code

370-001-055-000


Required Documents

  1. First Step: Initial Approvals General documents 1. Initial Approval Application (A-1) (B-1).

  2. Initial approval of the competent authority.

  3. Draft Memorandum of Association Form (A2).

  4. Draft Articles of Association Form (A3)

  5. Draft public offering prospectus form. (A5)

  6. Draft prospectus announcement (A7)

  7. Subscription Application Form (A8)

  8. A statement of the issuance expenses approved by the auditor and the incorporation committee, Form (A6).

  9. The approvals of the competent authorities in licensing the activity, for example, the Central Bank for banks, finance companies and financial investments, and insurance companies.

  10. Evaluation of in-kind contributions, if any

  11. An acknowledgment from the founders committee or the company representative to abide by the controls and procedures set by the CMA in relation to the evaluation of in-kind contributions

  12. Documents for special purpose acquisition companies: 1.The company's trade license

  13. Documents for newly established companies: 1. The economic feasibility study and the implementation time plan are prepared by an approved expert house according to the minimum set out in Form (A4).

  14. A report from a financial advisor licensed by the CMA to complete verification procedures and take enhanced due diligence measures for the founders.

  15. Acknowledge appointing a listing advisor for two years from the company’s market listing date to perform tasks per the Authority’s Board Decision No. 11 of 2016.

  16. Documents for private joint stock companies or limited liability institutions: 1. The approval of the Ministry of Economy on the transformation

  17. The business plan of the company after the transformation (Business plan Form (B16).

  18. A decision from the Board of Directors approving the 2015 transformation, according to Form (B18).

  19. Minutes of the general assembly approving the transformation into a public joint stock company and the transformation mechanism.

  20. The company’s balance sheet must be dated within six months before the conversion application and accompanied by an unqualified auditor’s report on that balance sheet.

  21. A declaration by the auditors confirming the company’s net assets at the balance sheet date are at least equal to required capital and undistributed reserves per Form (B17).

  22. Creditors and Shareholders Draft Declaration in accordance with Form (B 9)

  23. A statement of the company's assets, rights and obligations, and the estimated value of these assets, rights and obligations, prepared by the company.

  24. A statement of the settlement of the objection or the expiry of its period in the event of an objection by the creditors in accordance with Form (B19).

  25. For free zone companies, a no-objection letter from the Free Zone Companies Registrar is required for offering shares publicly and listing within the country.

  26. A decision by the company’s general assembly approving the offering of its shares for public subscription and listing in the country

  27. For book-building offerings, a statement detailing the steps, stages, and timeline to complete the share offering per the price building mechanism is required.

  28. Second Step: Request for approval to start Subscription General Documents 1. A copy of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, notarized by a notary.

  29. The prospectus of the public offering approved by the committee of the founders, advisors, the parties involved in the incorporation or transformation procedures, and their representatives

  30. A certificate from a licensed bank confirming founders have paid cash share value and issuance expenses for all their shares as per Form (A9).

  31. Filling Form (C2) prepared by CMA on anti-money laundering, combating terrorism financing, illegal organizations, and real beneficiary details is required.

  32. Documents for price-building offering: A plan to provide promotional presentations and educational campaigns to investors to explain the price-building subscription system for the offered securities.

  33. A list of qualified investors who were invited to the stage of educational meetings about the company's evaluation.

  34. Notify the Authority of the study results, qualified investors’ opinions, and the company’s decision with the Management and Supervision Company on the offered securities' price range.

  35. Step 3: Public offering Proof all documents are delivered, except the company’s incorporation certificate issued by CMA, needed for the trade license issuance to the authority.

  36. A daily coverage statement from the subscription bank showing subscribers, value and number of shares subscribed, and total issuance expenses by segment.

  37. For book-building offering: A statement of the final security price and detailed calculation method based on subscription orders from qualified investors, as specified in the prospectus.

  38. The final offering prospectus specifying the security price, approved by the company, management and supervision party, and the subscription accounts auditor.

  39. Articles of Association for Public joint stock companies. (A3)

For assistance, get in touch through

Call: 800 SCAUAE (722823)

Working Hours

  • Monday-Thursday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Friday: 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Do you think this content is helpful?

CMA-LOGO-NEW

Have you used our services at our service center or digitally recently?