Q: Hi, We have created a business under LLC with a local partner. It's been two months into preparations and approximately one month ago, the partner backed out of the agreement and requested her money back of investment. Since the date of this request, she has gone on to ignore us and prior to this request it led to every action of ours has been ignored. She accepted the terms of backing out and her payment via a post-dated cheque yet the partner has continued to ignore us yet again. Now my wife and children's visa and health insurance rely on this and the current visa is due to run out. How do I confront this?

Q: Hello I am looking for someone to review a shareholder agreement and advise on how to exit. The shareholder agreement is done in the UAE. Please advise if this is something you do and your fees. Many thanks Maria

Q: I was a manager on a company trade license. My name was removed from the trade license in January 2017 and a new manager was named on the trade license. The land department RDC has issued a travel ban against my name. The ban should be in the name of the new manager. I have copies of the old and new trade licenses. How can I clear my name and ensure that this does not happen again with any future cases?

Q: I am a partner in a restaurant with a 20% stake and the remaining divided equally between 2 other partners. I have been made the managing partner to run the place. I would like to resign from the position as all responsibility has been put on me. I am not being paid for my time and efforts as a managing partner. I don't have any signing authority with banks and because of my position, all legal onus has been put on me. They are refusing to put money into the business and as it's a new business, the initial financial support is missing which is dragging down the business. In this situation, I am feeling overwhelmed and distressed because I know without the influx required for marketing, the business will not grow to become sustainable. And without any compensation coming from the company, I cannot survive. So I would like to remove myself from the managing partner position. How can I do that?

Q: I had registered a company in Shams Sharjah free zone since almost one year and 3 months. I own 95% of company shares and another partner has 5%. The company until now has no activities. I already got my visa & UAE ID and the situation now is my partner wants to step out and I would like to know the process & fees to do so. Can you advise me, please?

Q: I currently have a company in the UAE with my partner. My partner hasn't been working or contributing to the company for the past year and is very difficult to deal with. I'm no longer able to work with him - my option is to start another similar company on the side, as dissolving the existing company or selling/buying each other's shares doesn't seem viable. Am I able to start another company in the same line of business on the side, without any risk of a civil case? Please note that We don't have any NDA or NOC agreement signed between us, and the MOU has no clause about non-competition.

Q: Dear Lawyers, I was a manager at a company, and my name was listed as the manager. However, my name was removed by a court order a year ago. The company didn’t pay the rent so the free zone sent a legal notice mentioning both my name and the company’s name. How do I address this issue, as I am not linked to the company anymore?

Sometimes this seems very simple to incorporate a company in the UAE, however, investors must seek professional advice before taking this important business decision to avoid any future legal implications.

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 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.