
<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.3

 Temporary Certificate - Exchangeable for Definitive Engraved Certificate When
                               Ready for Delivery

                                   [AMB LOGO]

        COMMON STOCK                                     COMMON STOCK

             AMB    

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS                    SEE REVERSE FOR IMPORTANT NOTICE
 OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND                           ON TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
                                                      AND OTHER INFORMATION

                                                          CUSIP  
                                                                --------

THIS CERTIFIES THAT




IS THE RECORD HOLDER OF

  FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK, $0.1 PAR VALUE, OF

                            AMB PROPERTY CORPORATION
(the "Corporation") transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder
hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented
hereby are issued and shall be paid subject to all of the provisions of the 
charter of the Corporation (the "Charter") and the Bylaws of the Corporation 
and any amendments thereto. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned
and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be
executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers.

Date: 

---------------                                                ---------------
   SECRETARY                                                      PRESIDENT 

                                [AMB SEAL]

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
BY:
   -------------------------
   AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
<PAGE>   2
THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK OF MORE THAN ONE CLASS,
CONSISTING OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND
RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY CLASS OF THE PREFERRED STOCK BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF
SHARES OF SUCH CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT
CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR, A COPY OF THE
CORPORATION'S CHARTER AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE
RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS,
LIMITATIONS AS TO DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE CORPORATION
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY
PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS AND SERIES, (i) THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND
(ii) THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO
THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE.

THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ON BENEFICIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION'S MAINTENANCE OF ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE
"CODE"). SUBJECT TO CERTAIN FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER, (i) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN
SHARES OF THE CORPORATION'S COMMON STOCK IN EXCESS OF 7.0% (BY VALUE OR BY
NUMBER OF SHARES, WHICHEVER IS MORE RESTRICTIVE) OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMON
STOCK OF THE CORPORATION; (ii) NO PERSON MAY CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF THE
CORPORATION'S COMMON STOCK IN EXCESS OF 9.8% (BY VALUE OR BY NUMBER OF SHARES,
WHICHEVER IS MORE RESTRICTIVE) OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK OF THE
CORPORATION; (iii) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWNS SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CORPORATION BEING "CLOSELY HELD" UNDER
SECTION 856(h) OF THE CODE OR OTHERWISE CAUSE THE CORPORATION TO FAIL TO QUALIFY
AS A REIT, AND (iv) NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IF SUCH
TRANSFER WOULD RESULT IN THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION BEING OWNED BY
FEWER THAN 100 PERSONS. ANY PERSON WHO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWNS
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WHICH CAUSES OR WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO BENEFICIALLY OR
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN EXCESS OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS
MUST IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE CORPORATION. IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
OR OWNERSHIP ARE VIOLATED, THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL
BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE OF A TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE
OR MORE CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. IN ADDITION, THE CORPORATION MAY REDEEM
SHARES UPON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ITS
SOLE DISCRETION IF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINES THAT OWNERSHIP OR A
TRANSFER OR OTHER EVENT MAY VIOLATE THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
FURTHERMORE, UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN EVENTS, ATTEMPTED TRANSFERS IN
VIOLATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE MAY BE VOID AB INITIO. ALL TERMS
IN THIS LEGEND THAT ARE DEFINED IN THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION SHALL HAVE
THE MEANINGS ASCRIBED TO THEM IN THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, AS THE SAME
MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP, WILL BE FURNISHED TO EACH HOLDER OF SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK ON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE. REQUESTS FOR SUCH A COPY MAY BE DIRECTED
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE.

        The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
TEN COM -- as tenants in common                 UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- Customer

                                                              --------------
                                                                  (Cust)

TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties           under Uniform
                                                  Act to Minors
JT TEN -- as joint tenants with the right of                   --------------
          survivorship and not as tenants                         (Minor)
          in common
</TABLE>



 
<PAGE>   3



        Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _____________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
    IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE     


--------------------------------------

--------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Shares
of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint

------------------------------------------------------------------------Attorney
to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation
with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated
     -------------------------

                                        X
                                          --------------------------------------

                                        X
                                          --------------------------------------
                                   NOTICE THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
                                          MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS
                                          WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE
                                          CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
                                          WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR
                                          ANY CHANGE WHATEVER  

Signature(s) guaranteed


By
  -----------------------------------
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED
BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15




