Category: Legal Research

UAE Civil Code: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses, SMEs and Legal Practitioners Estimated reading time: 12 minutes Key Takeaways The UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985) is the foundational civil law for contracts, obligations, tort, and property rights. Recent reforms, including the 2022 Civil Procedure Law and 2021 Commercial Companies Law, interact […]

Employment Contract Requirements in Dubai: A Comprehensive Legal and Compliance Guide for UAE Employers (2025) Estimated reading time: 18 minutes Key Takeaways Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (as amended) is the cornerstone of private-sector labour relations in Dubai. All contracts must be fixed-term, in writing, and registered with MOHRE. Mandatory contract particulars include employer […]

Partnership Agreement under Dubai Law: Comprehensive Legal Guide to Shareholder Rights, Buy-Sell Mechanisms and Dispute Resolution in the United Arab Emirates Estimated reading time: 15 minutes Key Takeaways Multi-layered framework: Understand how the Civil Transactions Law, Commercial Companies Law, free-zone regimes and local decrees interrelate. Vehicle selection matters: From general partnerships to LLCs and public […]

M&A Legal Services Dubai: A Comprehensive Guide to the Company Acquisition Process in the United Arab Emirates Estimated reading time: 22 minutes Key Takeaways Full transaction life cycle: From strategic structuring and due diligence to closing and post-completion integration. Jurisdictional nuances: Distinct regimes for onshore, free-zone, and financial free-zone entities. Regulatory approvals: Mandatory merger control […]

UAE Family Law Reforms and Dubai Divorce Law Updates: What High-Net-Worth Families Need to Know Now Estimated reading time: 15 minutes Key Takeaways *Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024* introduces a modernised Muslim personal status regime effective 15 April 2025. The *best interests of the child* test is now paramount, with custody ages equalised to […]

Commercial Contract Drafting Dubai: Comprehensive Guidance on Drafting, Reviewing and Negotiating B2B Agreements under UAE Law Estimated reading time: 25 minutes Key Takeaways Understand the legislative framework under Federal Decree-Law No. 50/2022, Civil Transactions Law and UAE free-zone statutes. Apply fundamental principles of offer and acceptance, lawful cause, subject matter and capacity to ensure valid […]

Annual leave is one of the most misunderstood employment rights in the United Arab Emirates. Employees are often unsure how many days they are entitled to, how leave salary is calculated, whether they can encash unused days, and what happens during probation or in free zones. Employers and human resources teams, on the other hand, […]

The United Arab Emirates has entered a new phase of financial crime enforcement. With the entry into force of Federal Decree‑Law No. 10 of 2025 Regarding Anti‑Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (the “2025 Anti‑Money Laundering Law”), the State has modernised and tightened its criminal framework for money laundering at […]

Divorce for expatriate residents in the United Arab Emirates can feel complex and intimidating. Many foreign residents arrive with assumptions based on their home country systems, only to discover that the United Arab Emirates applies a combination of federal personal status laws and special regimes for non Muslim residents, with important differences between emirates such […]

Business Setup in Dubai: Legal Structures, Formation Process and Compliance Framework in 2025 Estimated reading time: 25 minutes Key Takeaways The UAE’s legal framework is governed by federal decrees on companies, tax, VAT, economic substance and AML. Mainland, free zone and financial free zone structures each offer distinct ownership, licensing and compliance regimes. 100% foreign […]