Q: Hi, I am planning to start a business consultancy company in the UAE which will manage and run the complete business. We have our own projects in the paper for which we require partners. At the same time, we are inviting individuals to show their interest to be part of any project as they will inform us their financial capability and once we will have sufficient number of people then we will form a separate LLC company in which all the investors will be the partners and our company will be the consultant to them. If I want to do this by sending one video to my contacts on social media... is it fine and legal? Should I form the company first before sending the video presentation of the concept... as we are not taking any money from anyone... just to analyze the response of the people? Thanks.

Q: Hello, How can I support myself with a freelance license during COVID-19 pandemic situation?

Q: Hello, I am planning to launch a service marketplace for freelancers. Most freelancers don't have a freelance license. Can I make a contract between our company and the freelancers to make them legal to operate? And should this contract be physical or digital?

Q: Good day, I recently took a freelance visa (2 years) from a Business Center in Dubai approximately 2 months back. Now I got a job offer letter in Dubai Production City (Freezone). The company is saying me to cancel the freelance visa as they will provide a company visa for me. Will I get a labor ban if I cancel now because I took the visa 2 months ago?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I paid money to a documents clearing company in Dubai to process a freelance visa for me. After receiving payment, they kept delaying and didn't even start the process. Doubting their intentions, I have demanded a refund of my payment, which they are now delaying as well. They keep promising they will do it in a day or two but are not keeping their word. I have payment proof in the form of an invoice issued by them and proof of the refund request in a WhatsApp conversation, where they repeatedly say they will do it but have not followed through. What action can I take against them to recover my money?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I paid 6300 dirhams for a freelance visa. The medical process is complete, and the ID application has been submitted, but the company has not stamped it yet. I have already overstayed for 40 days, incurring a fine of 2200 dirhams. The company keeps saying they will stamp it next week; I believe they are playing with me. What should I do now?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I enlisted the services of a company to help facilitate a Dubai freelance visa almost 6 months ago. My attempts to seek clarification/updates from the company have been met with inconsistent responses, each inquiry yielding a different excuse for the delay. I have now requested a full refund via email, but have been met with another excuse to delay the refund and likely not receive it in full. I need legal advice.

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.

The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.

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 Decision establishes a new employment system in the UAE allowing employers to recruit employees classified as skilled workers level 1 and 2 for a part-time job. Under this decision, skilled employees who are already employed elsewhere, can work with more than one employer under a part-time contract without the permission of any employer.