Federal Decree Law No. 25 of 2025 (the “New Civil Code”) will come into effect on 1 June 2026, repealing and replacing Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 (as amended) (the “Old Civil Code”), which has formed the backbone of civil and...more
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has recently issued new guidance on the voluntary alternative end-of-service benefits (EOSB) scheme for private sector employers (the Scheme). This article...more
On 1 October 2025, Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2025 (the Amending Law), amending Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2021 on Commercial Companies (the CCL 2021) was issued....more
In February 2024, we shared an update on the UAE’s competition landscape in which we summarised the changes brought by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023 on the Regulation of Competition (the New Law). Notably, in the update...more
On 29 December, 2023, Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023 on the Regulation of Competition (the New Law) was issued, replacing Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2012 (the Old Law) and introducing a new merger control regime,...more
Significant changes to consumer protection legislation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take effect on 14 October, 2023. Businesses should be aware of how such legislation may impact their current operations and in turn...more
In line with Dubai’s Autonomous Transportation Strategy (the Strategy), on 14 April, 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (the UAE) and Ruler of Dubai,...more
The longstanding UAE Commercial Agency Law (Federal Law No. 18 of 1981 Regulating Commercial Agencies, as amended) (the “Current Law”) is set to be replaced by the newly issued UAE Commercial Agency Law (Federal Law No. 3 of...more
2 February 2022 saw the introduction of a new UAE Labour Law in the form of UAE Federal Law No. 33 of 2021, Regulating Labour Relations (“New Law”), repealing the existing UAE Labour Law, UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 as...more
The United Arab Emirates joins Saudi Arabia by passing Federal Decree-Law No (45) of 2021 Regarding the Protection of Personal Data (“PPD Law”) to bring comprehensive data protection legislation to another country in the MENA...more
Whilst European and North American businesses are well accustomed to dealing with complex data protection legislation, businesses in the MENA region have by and large not had to consider the same in their local markets. ...more
Described as aggressive yet progressive, on 14 September 2021, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No. 34 of 2021 (the “Decree”), accompanied by the Statute of Dubai International Arbitration...more
The Saudi Ministries of Commerce and Justice, and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (collectively the “Saudi Authorities”) have recently and significantly beefed up their approach to parties breaching anti-concealment...more
On 10 November 2020, President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued Federal Law No. (15) of 2020 on Consumer Protection (the “Consumer Protection Law”), which repealed Federal Law No....more
On 23 November 2020, the UAE government announced that His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE had issued a decree (the “Decree”), amending existing foreign ownership rules for onshore UAE...more
As part of a series of legislative change aimed to improve corporate transparency, the UAE Cabinet issued Cabinet Resolution no (58) of 2020 concerning regulation of the real beneficiary procedures (“UBO Regulations”). The...more
In response to a review of the UAE’s tax framework by the European Union and the UAE’s commitment to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) anti-Base Erosion and Profit shifting (BEPS) Action Plan,...more
The substantive political and social upheaval that follows crises and disasters is a well-documented phenomenon. The worldwide coronavirus outbreak is likely to be no different, particularly when combined with an ensuing...more
The first half of 2020 has presented governments, business and individuals with an unprecedented set of circumstances to grapple with. As thoughts start to turn towards emerging from the crisis, people around the world have...more
7/8/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Buyers ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Mergers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
OPEC ,
Recessions ,
Russia ,
Saudi Arabia ,
Sellers ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
On 30 April 2019, the UAE Cabinet, in response to the European Union’s review of the UAE’s tax framework and the UAE’s commitment to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) anti-Base Erosion and...more
Hot on the heels of recent updates to the DIFC employment law, DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019, the DIFC has announced proposals to bring about the end of the current End of Service Gratuity (“EoSG”) regime and replace the...more
On 30 April 2019, the UAE Cabinet issued the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 31 of 2019 concerning Economic Substance Regulations in the UAE (“Regulations”).
...more
On 13 June 2019, the much anticipated DIFC Insolvency Law No. 1 of 2019 and associated DIFC Insolvency Regulations 2019 (collectively the “2019 DIFC Insolvency Law”), came into full force and effect, replacing the DIFC...more
The much anticipated and awaited DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019 (“2019 Employment Law”) will come into full force and effect on 28 August 2019 (“Effective Date”). ...more
6/19/2019
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
DIFC ,
Dubai ,
Employment Policies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labour Code ,
New Legislation ,
Part-Time Employees ,
Paternity Leave ,
Pensions ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Settlement Agreements ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE) ,
Wage and Hour
The United Arab Emirates ("UAE") has recently released a draft of its highly anticipated product safety law (the "Law"), set to come into force in July 2019. This is the first time the UAE has enacted bespoke legislation...more