Companies House Verification for UAE Residents
How directors living in the UAE verify for Companies House: any passport or Emirates ID, UAE addresses without street numbers and Arabic names.
Many directors and PSCs of UK companies live in the UAE, holding passports from dozens of countries. Wherever your passport is from, if you hold a role in a UK company you must verify your identity with Companies House. You can do it online from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere else in the Emirates.
This overview is also available in العربية.
Your Passport, Not Your Residence, Sets the Document
You can verify with the passport you already hold, from any of 190+ countries, or with another valid government-issued photo ID such as your Emirates ID. A passport is usually the simplest choice because it is recognised everywhere and its name tends to match the Companies House register.
Addresses in the UAE
UAE addresses often have no street number or postcode, and many people use a PO box for post. For identity verification you need your residential address, so give the building, area and city where you live rather than a PO box.
For proof of address, a UAE bank statement or a utility bill such as a DEWA bill, dated within the last 3 months and showing your name and residential address, works well.
Why UAE-Based Directors Choose CorpAssist
Identity verification is a legal requirement, so getting it right the first time matters. Here is what CorpAssist handles for you:
- Passports from 190+ countries and Emirates ID accepted
- UAE addresses without street numbers handled correctly
- Arabic name transliterations reviewed by a compliance officer
- No UK bank account, UK credit history or UK phone number needed
- No app: complete the form on any computer in about 10 minutes
- From £29.99 + VAT, with Fast Track in 1 business day
Arabic Names and Transliteration
Arabic names can be written in Latin letters in several ways, so the spelling on your passport may not match the register exactly. On the ACSP route, a compliance officer reviews the difference and records alternative spellings, instead of an automated system rejecting the application.
What You Need
- Any valid, government-issued photo ID, such as your passport, driving licence or national identity card
- One proof of address dated within the last 3 months, such as a bank statement or utility bill
- Your residential addresses for the last three years, with no gaps (overseas addresses are fine)
- Your full name, date of birth and any previous names
The full list is in our verification checklist. For everything else about verifying from abroad, read the overseas director verification guide, and check your date with the deadline calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in the UAE. Can I verify for Companies House from here?
Yes. The whole process is online. You do not need to travel to the UK or have a UK address or bank account.
Can I use my Emirates ID?
Yes, CorpAssist accepts any valid government-issued photo ID. Most people use their passport because its name usually matches the Companies House register.
Can I use a PO box as my address?
No. You need to give the residential address where you live. Use a recent bank statement or utility bill that shows that address as your proof of address.
Is there an Arabic version of this information?
Yes. Our Arabic-language overview page explains the requirements before you start. The application form itself is in English.
CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK. We facilitate identity verification through a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Source: GOV.UK identity verification guidance.
Last verified: October 2026
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