The Founder Shareholder Agreement serves as a critical document in the establishment and governance of new companies in the UAE. It is typically used when two or more founders come together to establish a business venture, whether in the UAE mainland or in one of its many free zones. The agreement needs to comply with UAE Federal Commercial Companies Law No. 2 of 2015 (as amended) and must address specific local requirements such as foreign ownership restrictions or local partner requirements where applicable. This document covers essential aspects including share ownership, management structure, profit distribution, decision-making processes, transfer restrictions, and exit mechanisms. It's particularly important in the UAE context due to the unique regulatory environment and the need to balance international business practices with local legal requirements.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your docs
1. Parties: Identification of all founding shareholders and the company
2. Background: Context of the agreement, including company formation details and purpose
3. Definitions and Interpretation: Definitions of key terms and interpretation rules
4. Share Capital and Shareholding: Details of initial share capital, shareholding percentages, and share classes
5. Company Management: Board composition, appointment rights, and management structure
6. Shareholder Matters and Reserved Matters: Decision-making processes and matters requiring special approval
7. Business of the Company: Scope of business activities and territory
8. Funding and Capital Requirements: Provisions for additional funding, capital calls, and shareholder loans
9. Transfer of Shares: Share transfer restrictions, right of first refusal, tag-along and drag-along rights
10. Exit Provisions: Mechanisms for exit including IPO, sale, put/call options
11. Confidentiality: Protection of confidential information and trade secrets
12. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation: Restrictions on competitive activities and employee solicitation
13. Deadlock Resolution: Procedures for resolving shareholder deadlocks
14. Term and Termination: Duration of agreement and termination circumstances
15. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution: Applicable law and dispute resolution mechanisms
1. Intellectual Property Rights: Required when significant IP is involved or needs to be transferred to the company
2. Employee Share Option Pool: Include when planning employee share schemes
3. Anti-Dilution Protection: Important for companies planning future investment rounds
4. UAE Local Partner Provisions: Required when involving UAE local partner arrangements
5. Shareholder Services: Include when shareholders will provide specific services to the company
6. Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency: Required for tech companies dealing with digital assets
7. Environmental Compliance: Important for companies in industries with environmental impact
8. Related Party Transactions: Include when shareholders have other business interests that may interact with the company
1. Schedule 1 - Details of the Company: Company registration details, address, and current directors
2. Schedule 2 - Initial Shareholding Structure: Detailed breakdown of share ownership and share classes
3. Schedule 3 - Business Plan: Initial business plan and financial projections
4. Schedule 4 - Reserved Matters: Comprehensive list of matters requiring special approval
5. Schedule 5 - Tag and Drag Along Rights: Detailed procedures for tag and drag along rights
6. Schedule 6 - Deed of Adherence: Template for new shareholders joining the agreement
7. Schedule 7 - Initial Directors: List of initial directors and their details
8. Schedule 8 - Valuation Methodology: Agreed methods for company valuation in various circumstances
Find the exact document you need
Share Allocation Agreement
A UAE-compliant agreement governing the issuance and allocation of company shares to shareholders, structured according to UAE Companies Law.
Download
Limited Company Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed shareholder agreement establishing rights and obligations between shareholders in a limited liability company, compliant with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Unitholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between investment fund unitholders and fund manager, compliant with UAE Federal Law and SCA regulations.
Download
Shareholder Resignation Agreement
A UAE-compliant agreement governing a shareholder's formal exit from a company, including share transfer terms and mutual obligations under UAE law.
Download
Preference Share Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing terms for preference share issuance and shareholder rights under UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Shareholder Control Agreement
A UAE law-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between company shareholders, ensuring compliance with local regulations while protecting shareholder interests.
Download
Shareholders Agreement Contract
A UAE-governed agreement defining shareholders' rights, obligations, and relationships in a UAE-registered company.
Download
Shareholder Indemnification Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing shareholder indemnification terms and obligations under UAE Federal Law No. 32 of 2021.
Download
Share Redemption Agreement
UAE-governed agreement documenting terms and conditions for a company's redemption of shares from existing shareholders, ensuring compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Company Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between company shareholders, compliant with UAE Commercial Companies Law and local regulations.
Download
Venture Capital Shareholders Agreement
A UAE law-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between venture capital investors, founders, and shareholders, including investment terms, governance, and exit provisions.
Download
Shareholder Separation Agreement
UAE-governed agreement outlining terms and conditions for a shareholder's exit from a company, including share transfer and post-separation obligations.
Download
50 50 Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between two equal (50-50) shareholders, including governance and deadlock resolution mechanisms.
Download
Shareholder Operating Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing shareholder rights, obligations, and company operational framework under UAE Commercial Companies Law and Sharia principles.
Download
New Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed Shareholders Agreement establishing rights and obligations between company shareholders, compliant with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Shareholder Withdrawal Agreement
UAE-governed agreement documenting a shareholder's withdrawal from a company, including share transfer terms and post-withdrawal obligations.
Download
Shareholder Management Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing shareholder rights, obligations, and management framework in compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Silent Shareholder Agreement
UAE-compliant agreement establishing terms and conditions for a silent partnership arrangement, including investment terms and profit-sharing mechanisms.
Download
Shareholder Termination Agreement
UAE-compliant agreement governing the exit of a shareholder from a company, including share transfer terms and mutual releases.
Download
Share Purchase Agreement And Shareholders Agreement
UAE-governed agreement combining share sale provisions with ongoing shareholder arrangements, ensuring compliant transfer of ownership and future corporate governance.
Download
Private Equity Shareholders Agreement
UAE-governed shareholders agreement establishing rights and obligations between private equity investors and other shareholders, aligned with UAE commercial law and market practice.
Download
Minority Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing minority shareholder rights and protections, including voting, representation, and exit provisions.
Download
Family Business Shareholders Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing ownership, governance, and succession framework for family businesses, aligned with UAE Family Business Law.
Download
Small Business Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed shareholder agreement defining rights and obligations between small business shareholders, compliant with local commercial law.
Download
Shareholders Agreement Transfer Of Shares
UAE-governed agreement documenting share transfer between shareholders, including terms, conditions, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Download
Stakeholders Agreement
UAE-governed agreement defining rights, obligations, and relationships between company stakeholders, compliant with UAE Companies Law.
Download
Director Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement defining the relationship between directors and shareholders, including rights, obligations and governance structure under UAE law.
Download
Proxy Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing nominee shareholder arrangements and beneficial ownership rights, compliant with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
LLC Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between LLC shareholders, compliant with Federal Law No. 32 of 2021.
Download
Shareholders Agreement For Private Limited Company
UAE-governed agreement defining rights and obligations between shareholders in a private limited company, ensuring compliance with local commercial law.
Download
Shareholder Support Agreement
UAE-governed agreement defining shareholders' commitments to provide financial or operational support to a company, aligned with UAE Commercial Companies Law.
Download
Founder Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between founding shareholders of a company, aligned with UAE commercial law requirements.
Download
Entrusted Shareholding Agreement
A UAE-governed agreement establishing a trust arrangement where one party holds shares on behalf of another, compliant with UAE Federal laws and regulations.
Download
Partnership Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing rights and obligations between business partners and shareholders, aligned with UAE Federal Law No. 32 of 2021.
Download
Share Contribution Agreement
UAE-governed agreement documenting the contribution of shares from contributor(s) to a receiving entity, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting parties' interests.
Download
Employee Shareholder Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing terms for employee share ownership, including vesting conditions, rights, and exit provisions.
Download
Shareholder Subscription Agreement
UAE-governed agreement documenting terms for share subscription in a company, including price, quantity, and compliance with local regulations.
Download
Shareholder Investment Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing investment terms, shareholder rights, and corporate governance structure for company investments.
Download
Shareholder Transfer Agreement
UAE-governed agreement documenting the transfer of shares between shareholders, ensuring compliance with local commercial law and regulations.
Download
Joint Venture And Shareholders Agreement
UAE-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for joint venture partnership and shareholder relationships in a UAE company.
Download
Genie’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security:
You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it