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Share Pledge Agreement Template for the United Arab Emirates

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What is a Share Pledge Agreement?

A Share Pledge Agreement is a crucial security document used in UAE financing transactions where shares in a UAE company serve as collateral. This document is typically employed in acquisition financing, corporate lending, or restructuring scenarios where a lender requires security over company shares. The agreement must comply with UAE Federal Law No. 32 of 2021 (Commercial Companies Law) and other relevant regulations, particularly regarding perfection requirements and enforcement mechanisms. The document includes specific provisions for pledge creation, perfection steps such as registration with relevant authorities, voting rights arrangements, dividend treatments, and enforcement procedures. Special considerations apply depending on whether the shares are in mainland UAE companies or free zone entities, with additional requirements for public company shares.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A lawyer, legal researcher and legal tech founder, Swetha has built AI products deployed inside Tier 1 firms and enterprises. She ensures GenieAI's alignment with the latest regulation and executes testing on the legal robustness of Genie output.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Imad advised on cross-border transactions and contractual risk before moving into legal AI. He reviews GenieAI's output for compliance and enforceability across our 150+ supported jurisdictions, as well as facilitating external benchmarking.

Reviewed by

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Publisher

GenieAI

Sector

Business

Cost

Free to use

Last updated

About the Share Pledge Agreement

A Share Pledge Agreement is a critical security document that allows you to use shares in a UAE company as collateral for loans, guarantees, or other financial obligations. Under UAE law, this agreement creates a legally enforceable charge over the pledged shares, giving the lender specific rights over the shares until the underlying debt is satisfied.

When do you need this document?

You need a Share Pledge Agreement when securing commercial loans with company shares, particularly in acquisition financing where the target company's shares serve as security. This document is essential in corporate restructuring scenarios where existing shareholders pledge their shares to secure new financing. Banks and financial institutions typically require share pledges for significant lending facilities, especially when the borrower's primary assets are shareholdings in operating companies. The agreement is also crucial in syndicated lending arrangements where multiple lenders require coordinated security over the same shares.

Key legal considerations

The agreement must clearly identify all pledged shares, including share certificates numbers and classes, to ensure enforceability under UAE law. Voting rights provisions are critical, as you must specify whether the pledgor retains voting control or transfers these rights to the pledgee during the pledge period. Dividend and distribution clauses require careful drafting to determine whether income from pledged shares flows to the pledgor or pledgee. Default and enforcement mechanisms must comply with UAE commercial law, including specific notice periods and procedures for share sale or transfer. The document should address restrictions on further encumbrance of the pledged shares and requirements for pledgor consent to corporate actions affecting share value.

Legal requirements in United Arab Emirates

Under UAE Federal Law No. 32 of 2021 (Commercial Companies Law), share pledges must be properly perfected through registration with the relevant company registry and notation in the company's share register. For public joint stock companies, additional compliance with SCA Board Resolution No. 11 of 2015 is required, including disclosure obligations and market notification procedures. The pledge agreement must be executed in Arabic or include certified Arabic translations for registration purposes. Notarization requirements vary depending on the company type and jurisdiction, with mainland UAE companies subject to different procedures than free zone entities. For shares in financial institutions, additional Central Bank approval may be required. The agreement must specify the governing UAE law and include dispute resolution clauses that comply with UAE arbitration or court procedures.

GOVERNING LAW

Applicable law

This Share Pledge Agreement is drafted to comply with United Arab Emirates law. Key legislation includes:








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