Q: I hold a 25% stake in a Free Zone company in Dubai, with my business partner holding a 75% share and therefore being the majority shareholder. In April 2017, there was an agreement between myself and my partner, in which he agreed to transfer all of his shares to me. Upon this agreement, we both signed and stamped a request for transfer of shares document as well as a shareholders resolution. These documents were then submitted to the Free Zone Authority but then were subsequently withdrawn without my knowledge. As far as I was aware the documents were still being processed and I only found out about the withdrawal of the documents when I followed up with the Free Zone Authority. The Free Zone Authority has since acknowledged that they should not have returned the documents and are trying to mediate between myself and my business partner to submit the documents again but he is refusing to do so. I want to know what legal action I can take against my partner for his actions.

Q: Hi, I want to get advice on what I should do with a company based in Dubai, which is not adding me as a partner even after payment of 100% my share money. I have even paid double by investing all my salaries of 16 months. I am out of the UAE now. Please advise. Many thanks.

Q: My company is located in Dubai as an LLC. We have two shareholders, 1. UAE national shareholder with 95% 2. A foreign shareholder with 5% The UAE national shareholder transferred this 5% shares to the foreign shareholder through a share sales agreement, which was notarized at the notary public in Dubai and submitted it to the DED to amend the trade license etc. This happened in 2014. But till this date, the foreign shareholder did not pay the value of 5% shares to the UAE national shareholder or to the company. Also, the foreign shareholder was not actively involved with the company's operation and as per Article 17 of the Commercial Companies Law: "2. The partner may not contribute in work rendered unless he is a joint partner. The contribution of the partner may not consist of his having reputation or influence." Under these circumstances, is it possible for the UAE national shareholder to request from the court to cancel the 5% shares of the foreign shareholder and transfer back to him?

Q: How to remove the name of Director/General Manager in the Board Resolution notarised in 2018 in Abu Dhabi with the company pending court case? The manager is not on board since 2020 from the old company and the visa was canceled already. What is the procedure? Thank you for the advice.

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?

Over the years the UAE has become a centre of trade and commerce for the Middle East, thanks to its strategic location, excellent connectivity and extensive services to assist with all aspects of business. According to the World Bank's 2016 report, the UAE has ranked 31st in the global index of ease of doing business. This encourages more entrepreneurs to set up different kinds of business entities in the country.

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

The UAE Penal Code, like all other laws, addresses the crime of fraud in Article 399 of the UAE Federal Penal Code, which stipulates that whoever seizes, for himself or another, a movable property, or obtains a document or signature thereon, cancellation or destruction thereof or amendment thereto by fraudulent means, or by assuming a false name or capacity, where such an act leads to deception of a victim and leads him to surrender shall be punished by imprisonment or fine.

The provisions of this Law apply to the commercial companies established in the UAE and the foreign companies that have established in the UAE a base to conduct any activity therein or established a branch or representative office. The Law abrogates Federal Law No. (8) of 1984 Concerning Commercial Companies.

The provisions of this law On Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions (Law of Evidence) govern evidence in civil and commercial disputes in the UAE.