How to Complete Companies House Verification From the UAE

Directors, PSCs and LLP members based in the UAE who are connected to UK companies must complete Companies House identity verification. The process is fully remote — you can verify from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere in the Emirates without travelling to the UK.

Why UAE-based individuals must verify

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, all directors and persons with significant control of UK companies must verify their identity, regardless of where they reside. The UAE has a significant number of entrepreneurs and business professionals connected to UK companies, all of whom fall within this requirement. The deadline for existing officeholders is November 2026.

Accepted documents for UAE residents

UAE-based applicants should use the ACSP verification route, which accepts a wider range of documents than GOV.UK One Login:

• UAE passport (for Emirati nationals) — must be current and machine-readable
• Other national passport — if you are a non-Emirati UAE resident, use your home country’s passport (Indian, Pakistani, British, etc.)

The Emirates ID card alone is not typically accepted as the primary identity document, but a valid passport issued by any country is accepted through the ACSP route. If you hold a British passport as a dual national, you may also use GOV.UK One Login directly.

Step-by-step process from the UAE

1. Confirm your details on the Companies House register match your passport
2. Select an ACSP that supports applicants in the UAE
3. Register and enter your personal and company details
4. Upload your passport and complete the liveness verification
5. Receive your 11-character personal code
6. Provide the code to Companies House for each relevant company role

Payment considerations from the UAE

Most verification services accept international card payments (Visa, Mastercard). The fee is typically charged in GBP and your bank will convert it at the prevailing exchange rate. Some services also accept bank transfers. Check the available payment methods before starting.

Common considerations for UAE applicants

• Dual nationality — if you hold passports from multiple countries, use the one whose name matches your Companies House record
• Arabic name transliteration — names transliterated from Arabic to English may vary between documents. Ensure the English spelling on your passport matches Companies House exactly.
• Time zone — the UAE is 4 hours ahead of the UK (GST, UTC+4). You can submit documents at any time.

Verify from the UAE with Companies House ID Verification

Companies House ID Verification supports applicants across the UAE with a fixed £19 per person fee. The service guides you through every step of the process. Check the requirements and start your verification.