Insight Category: News
A Legal Reading of the Amendments to the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the United Arab Emirates First: The General Framework of the Legislative Amendments The UAE legislator issued a Federal Decree-Law amending certain provisions of the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, within the framework of the State’s… Continue reading A Legal Reading of the Amendments to the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the United Arab Emirates...
Introduction As 2025 draws to a close, it is fair to say this year has been a turning point for the legal and regulatory framework that governs doing business in the United Arab Emirates. The changes have not been cosmetic. They cut across several pillars that matter deeply to companies: This article offers an end-of-year… Continue reading UAE Legal Year in Review 2025: Corporate, Governance and Immigration Changes in Focus...
Federal Decree Law no 20 of 2025 (“CCL Amendment Law”) has recently been promulgated which makes several significant changes to the Federal Decree Law no 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies (the “CCL”). This short article outlines the practical applications that one such amendment to the CCL may bring to a mainland limited liability… Continue reading Different Share Classes for UAE Mainland LLCs and What This Means for Owners...
The UAE’s commercial agency regime has gone through significant reform, including the Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 Regulating Commercial Agencies, effective 15 June 2023. While the new law introduces more flexible grounds for expiry and termination of registered agencies, many long-standing arrangements remain protected by a framework that preserves the agent‑protective rules of… Continue reading UAE Commercial Agency: Terminating Legacy Arrangements...
Introduction Post-dated cheques (PDCs) have long served as a key repayment and security instrument in Oman’s lending market. However, the introduction of the National Payment Systems Law issued by Royal Decree No. 8 of 2018 (“NPSL”) and its Implementing Regulations (Central Bank of Oman Decision No. 1/2019) has created a modern legal framework that enables… Continue reading Direct Debit Mandates as a Substitute for Post-Dated Cheques in Oman...
The United Arab Emirates has passed a comprehensive federal civil family law specifically for non-Muslim residents, marking a major step toward modernizing the nation’s legal system. Federal Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status for Non-Muslims (“Civil PSL”), which went into effect on February 1, 2023, the Civil PSL, creates a unified and… Continue reading Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims in the United Arab Emirates...
Overview Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025 dated 1 October 2025 amending the United Arab Emirates Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021) (the “Law”) introduces a focused suite of reforms that streamline company operations, reinforce investor protections, and improve corporate mobility. Headline changes include express recognition of drag-along and tag-along rights within constitutive… Continue reading UAE Companies Law Amendments: A Modernization Package Aligning Onshore Practice With Market Standards...
The regulatory environment governing business activities in Dubai continues to evolve to reflect commercial realities and support an increasingly integrated economic landscape. The issuance of Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025 represents a notable shift, as it formally sets out the legal mechanisms through which companies established in Dubai’s Free Zones may conduct business in the mainland,… Continue reading Operating Onshore: Pathways for Free Zone Companies to Conduct Business in the Mainland, United Arab Emirates...
The real estate sector in the Sultanate of Oman has witnessed rapid development over the past two decades, driven by the country’s urban and investment growth, particularly in light of the strategic directions of Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to achieve economic diversification and balanced sustainable urban development. Within this developmental context, the need emerged… Continue reading Real Estate Regulation Law in the Sultanate of Oman (79/2025): Towards Sustainable Real Estate Governance...
Federal Decree‑Law No. 33 of 2021 modernised the UAE’s private‑sector employment framework and brought clarity to post‑termination restrictions, while acknowledging that certain free zones with their own regimes (notably DIFC and ADGM) may apply different standards. In broad terms, the onshore regime encourages mobility while safeguarding legitimate business interests. Article 10 permits non‑compete clauses… Continue reading Enforceability and Limits of Non-Compete Clauses Under the New UAE Labour Law...