Q: We are forming a joint venture involving multiple investors from different Emirates and countries. The shareholders’ agreement should address capital contributions, profit-sharing, voting procedures for key strategic decisions, rights to board representation, restrictions on transferring shares to third parties, and an arbitration process in case of disputes. Can your legal office draft a bilingual agreement that is fully enforceable under UAE federal and Emirate-specific corporate laws?

Q: I am joining a consortium investing in a real estate development project in the UAE. We need a shareholders’ agreement that details shareholding percentages, voting rights, profit-sharing, exit strategies, and non-compete obligations. Could your legal team draft a clear, enforceable agreement that aligns with UAE commercial and property laws?

Q: Good day! One of our partners on the license has not been in communication since November 2024. He is also in Dubai but is not answering phone calls or replying to messages. What is the procedure to remove his name from the license in this situation without his absence? Please advise!

Q: My wife has a license in Dubai. Later we took one partner for 50% of her license. My wife signed the MOU in Amer Center without reading the changes made by him in terms that were not agreed upon. Later when we checked the copy of the MOU, we found that he had removed her name as a manager and put his name. He mentioned 50% shareholder for each partner in the company but in profit and loss, he mentioned 75% for him and 25% for her and bank account authority also he took solely. We asked him to change the terms as we never discussed or agreed on those terms. But he has now full control of the license and is not ready to change the MOU terms. Is there any legal way to compel him to change MOU terms?

Q: Hi I'm an Irish citizen and a resident of the United Kingdom. I got investment fraud in Dubai. I invested money into a business with a Pakistani national guy in March 2024 via bank transfer into his business account. Now he's giving back the money which I invested in business after 9 months. He's preparing a letter from a local lawyer to kick me out of the business. I do not have any other option than to take out at least my money. But it's unfair to me that he used my money in business and took all the advantage. Some people say to me that if you claim money or take legal action against him, it will take too much time and I need to travel to Dubai to appear in court because it is a civil matter. But I'm not a resident. How can I follow the civil case there? That's why my partner knows that I can not do anything and this case keeps running long time and in the end nothing happens. But I'm thinking that I will submit a complaint through my embassy and I also have a solicitor in the United Kingdom.

An interview-format article covering the topic of the amendments to the company law in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

An interview-format article covering the topic of shareholder disputes in the UAE and pre-emptive measure to be considered. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

For entrepreneurs seeking to set up their business in the mainland jurisdiction of the UAE, this is a useful guide to know your rights and obligations.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2021 on Commercial Companies governs commercial companies in the United Arab Emirates. The New Commercial Companies Code repeals the previous UAE Commercial Companies Code (Federal Law No. (2) of 2015 on Commercial Companies).