Key takeaways
- The resolution usually approves opening the account, names the bank, and defines who can operate it and within what limits.
- Signatory names must match passports and the licence exactly, including middle names and spelling.
- Single, joint and category-based (A/B) mandates all work — say clearly which one applies.
- Each bank publishes its own account-opening pack; ask for their template or checklist before drafting.
Why the bank asks for a resolution at all
A trade licence proves the company exists. It does not say which individual may move money. The resolution closes that gap: it is the owners' or the board's written authority for a named person to bind the company in dealings with a specific bank. Compliance teams also use it to cross-check control of the company against the ownership file they build during onboarding.
That is why banks resist generic wording. A resolution saying "the manager is authorised to deal with banks" leaves the mandate undefined; one naming the bank, the account type and the operating rules can be filed and acted on.
The clauses a bank-facing resolution normally carries
Most account-opening resolutions are short. Four or five clauses cover it.
Approval to open the account
Name the bank and, where known, the branch, the account type (current, call, escrow) and the currencies requested. If the company is opening several accounts, list them.
Appointment of authorised signatories
Full legal names as they appear in passports, positions held, and passport or Emirates ID numbers where the bank asks for them. Nicknames and shortened names cause rework at the counter.
The operating mandate
State whether signatories act singly or jointly, and set any thresholds — for example single signature up to a stated amount, two signatures above it. Category mandates (any Category A with any Category B) are common where a group appoints a finance lead alongside an owner.
Scope of the powers granted
Typical items include operating the account, issuing and endorsing cheques, initiating transfers, applying for online banking tokens, requesting statements and corresponding with the bank. Keep credit facilities, guarantees and security out of a routine account-opening resolution unless they are genuinely being approved.
Authority to sign the bank's documentation
A closing clause authorising a named person to sign the account-opening forms, KYC declarations and the bank's standard terms avoids a second trip for signatures.
Mandate structures compared
| Mandate | How it works | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|
| Single signatory | One named person can operate the account alone | Sole shareholder companies and small owner-run businesses |
| Joint (any two) | Any two named signatories must sign together | Partnerships and companies with separated ownership and finance roles |
| Category A + B | One signatory from each category must sign | Group companies where an owner pairs with a finance manager |
| Threshold-based | Single signature below a stated amount, joint above it | Businesses with high transaction volume and occasional large payments |
Documents usually requested alongside the resolution
- Valid trade licence and, where applicable, the establishment card
- Memorandum and articles of association, including any amendments
- Certificate of incorporation or incumbency for offshore and holding structures
- Passport copies, visa pages and Emirates ID for shareholders, managers and signatories
- Proof of registered address and, often, a tenancy contract or Ejari-equivalent
- A company profile and evidence of trading activity — contracts, invoices or a business plan for a new entity
The company profile is worth preparing properly. Onboarding teams use it to understand the business model, expected turnover and counterparties, and a vague profile tends to extend the review rather than shorten it.
Practical drafting points that prevent rework
- Ask the bank for its own resolution template first; where one exists, use it and adapt only the details.
- Match every name character-for-character with the passport copy in the same file.
- Date the resolution before the account application, not after it.
- Sign in ink and stamp, then scan at 300 DPI — pale scans of signatures get rejected.
- Keep the mandate simple at opening; changing it later is a short amendment resolution.
This guide is general information about document drafting, not legal advice. Requirements differ between mainland registries, free zones and offshore regimes, and they change. Confirm the current wording, attestation and filing rules with the relevant authority, your registered agent or a qualified adviser before you rely on a resolution. Account opening requirements are set by each bank's own compliance policy and are not uniform across the market.
Create the document
DocMak's Shareholder Resolution Generator produces a clean, signature-ready resolution with the company, signatory and mandate details in place. If the bank has also asked for supporting corporate documents, the Company Profile Maker covers the business-overview part of the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Should the resolution be from the shareholders or the board?
It depends on the company's constitutional documents. Many UAE free zone entities without a separate board pass a shareholders' or sole shareholder resolution; companies with an appointed board often use a board resolution. Follow your memorandum and articles, and ask the bank which it expects.
Do signatory limits have to be in the resolution?
Not always, but stating them is useful. If limits sit only in an internal policy, the bank will treat any named signatory as fully authorised.
How do we change signatories later?
Pass a short amendment resolution that revokes the earlier mandate to the extent it is replaced, names the new signatories and states the effective date, then submit it to the bank with the usual identity documents.