I am a company owner In Shams free zone of 50 per cent share and have a partner visa. My partner was a Russian who went to Russia and died. When I went to the free zone to cancel my visa and close the company, they have asked me to get his attested death certificate and NOC from his heirs. The problem I am facing is his family doesn’t want to give the death certificate nor they want to give NOC. Now my resident visa validity is over and I am on fine every day. Neither the free zone is cooperating nor the partner's family. What is the other way I can cancel my visa and close the company? Can someone guide me, please?

I have been notified by DLD that I am in breach of an off-plan sales agreement, and the developer wishes to terminate the agreement. The date on the notice is March 9, 2021, and I received it from the developer on March 11, 2021. The notice says I have 30 days "from the date of being notified" to make the outstanding payment. On the termination notice from DLD, a list of objections is present. One of the objections states that the developer must hand over the final SPA to me. In this case, I have not received the final SPA from the developer. I made an objection in writing to the DLD pointing this fact out and sent it via email, and received a confirmation of the same from DLD by return e-mail on April 6, 2021. 30 days from March 9th is April 8th, or from March 11th is April 10th. Does the developer have to respond to my objection before the DLD will allow them to terminate the agreement? In this case, will the time I have to make the payment be extended by any period?

I would like to open a trustee with my wife and sign a postnuptial agreement.

Hi, We have a professional services license (2 partners) + 1 local service agent registered with DED, Dubai. The partners wish to close the business because of unavoidable circumstances. We wish to proceed with all the necessary paperwork for cancellation. Unfortunately, the local service agent is not available. We have been trying to connect to him multiple times but have not been able to reach him. The due date for the renewal of the company is coming up and we want to proceed with all the paperwork for cancellation prior to that. Kindly advise us about the options if the local service agent is unavailable.

Hi, I want some information regarding my uncle. He was arrested in November 2015 and was in prison until 13 June 2016 when he was deported to Pakistan. The reason for the arrest was that my uncle had his own business in Sharjah and he was involved in a case where his employee accused him of attacking him and other allegations. He was arrested and convicted. He needs to reenter the country as he has his business in Sharjah but I believe he is blacklisted/banned. How can I find out if he is blacklisted/banned and how can it be removed to allow my uncle to reenter the country and take over his business? Is there any way of helping to resolve this issue? I know that if he enters on a visa, he could be arrested at the airport, and don’t want that to happen. Thank you!

Hi Hayyan, In 2014 I had been to Qatar on a "Work-Business" visa valid for 30 days. Before my visa expiration, I fled from Qatar back to India without informing the sponsor or office management. After I returned to India, I received an email from HR stating that the Qatari sponsor has filed an absconding case, a civil case, and a criminal case against me with the Ministry of Interior in Qatar. Now my question is, can I travel to Dubai on a work visa? Will there be any issue entering Dubai assuming that the Qatari sponsor has filed the said cases against me? Awaiting your response, H. Currently staying in India.

We are a tech startup creating the first auto/car service and repair marketplace. As a marketplace, we only facilitate listing and booking the services while the service providers (the workshops) are the service providers and are responsible to deliver and carry the selected /booked job. We need to draft a marketplace supplier/service provider agreement between us and the workshops outlining the responsibilities and liabilities of both sides. I would like to work with a law firm that has previous experience in drafting such marketplace-related agreements.

Hi Mohammed, We are a tech startup creating an auto service and repair marketplace. As a marketplace, we only facilitate listing and booking the services while the service providers (the workshops) are the service providers and are responsible to deliver and carry the selected/booked job. We need to draft a marketplace supplier/service provider agreement between us and the workshops outlining the responsibilities and liabilities of both sides. I would like to work with a law firm that has previous experience in drafting such marketplace-related agreements. Is this something you can work on and have previous experience in?

Hi, I am starting a website that connects freelancers to media professionals and individuals. It will be a marketplace sort of platform. Where can I find a legal advisor to help with the terms and conditions and privacy policy for startups? Thank you for your reply in advance. N.

Legal requirements for starting a business by a minor in the UAE I am currently 16 and I’m an Emirati national. I am willing to start my own e-commerce business. Is it possible to get an e-commerce license even if I am a minor?

Dear Lawyers, My brother was sentenced to 25 years in jail for a minor drug case (1 gram) on October 24, 2024. Can he get bail? What will happen next, and what can I do to help him get released? Kindly advise!

Hello, I have a question. My husband had a loan 15 years ago, he had difficulty paying this loan, and the bank opened a case, which was solved, and he paid the full loan. He is still in Dubai and has a good work position. How is it possible to remove the solved bank case from the database to have the possibility of getting the credit card and loan? Thank you.

Good Day, As someone unfamiliar with local laws and a non-Arabic speaker, the police took my statement but did not provide a translation and told me to sign. I have no idea what they wrote or presented in the case. The case is now with the Public Prosecution. What should I do to ensure the authorities are aware of this?

Dear Lawyers, My husband is under investigation, and I want to get him bailed out from detention. However, I am a visitor. Can I get him bail by providing my passport?

Hi, good morning, I’m an Indian residing in the UAE and want to apply for a divorce. My husband and I have been living separately for more than 3 years, and he has been living in India since our separation. We are both Indians and Christians (non-Muslims). We have a son who is 8 years old now. Can you please let me know the divorce procedure if we want to proceed in the UAE, both with and without mutual consent? Additionally, please advise on how to proceed with custody, as my son currently resides with me. Thank you!

Dear sir/madam, My rental cheque is due tomorrow and unfortunately, I’m not able to honor it. I asked my landlord to wait a couple of days but he doesn’t want to wait and said that he is going to cash the cheque tomorrow. Of course, the cheque will bounce, what would be the procedure then? Do I have a certain amount of days before eviction to pay the rent?

Dear Sir/Madam, Does the existing tenancy contract between the tenant and the previous owner remain in force even after the new landlord has purchased the property in the middle of an ongoing lease? And when should a new tenancy contract be made? Should it be made immediately after the property has been sold, or at the end of the ongoing tenancy contract signed between the previous owner of the property and the tenant? Also, does a new contract have to be in place for the tenant to exchange the cheques, or does the existing tenancy contract with the previous owner remain valid for the purpose of exchanging the cheques?

Dear Sir/Madam, I was wrongfully terminated by my school under Article 44 on March 20th, 2023. I have a case in the labor courts, and the first hearing is on April 4th, 2023. However, my employer is asking me to vacate the school accommodation. I asked the Ministry of Labor and the courts, and they informed me that the school cannot evict me until the case is resolved. Is this information correct? I am currently unemployed and have nowhere else to go until I find another job.

Hi, May you and your family be blessed. I'm extremely tense and need your kind feedback on the following issue. If I have a travel ban in KSA, can I travel to the UAE on a work visa? I have been visiting Dubai on a tourist visa without any problems. The ban was imposed because I had to leave KSA suddenly and could not return after an exit-entry, and I was unable to pay back my car EMI and credit card payment totaling 30k SAR, which I intend to pay off gradually now. When I left KSA, they only had my fingerprints at the time. I also understand that while coming for a visit to Dubai, only a retinal scan is done. On the other hand, when obtaining a work visa, UAE takes and registers fingerprints as well. Could this lead to any issues for me? I have finally obtained a better-paying job after a long time and can finally save up to pay off my debts. The case registered for which the travel ban is imposed is only for SAR 16000. As of now, I cannot afford to hire a lawyer to check in UAE. Thank you for your help!

Dear Sir/Madam, My landlord wants to evict me from the property where I reside. They have not provided a court order for eviction within the past 12 months. Additionally, they are requesting a 40% increase in rent and are insisting on a 6-month fixed-term renewal, despite the RERA index indicating no such increase. Furthermore, they have included an unreasonable clause that prohibits pets, even though I have lived on the property with a pet for over three years.  What options do I have if I do not agree to these demands?

Dear sir/madam, I would like someone to be honest with me. I am in the UK. How long have I got to claim inheritance in Dubai? I was reading in the Gulf News that the laws of the country of the deceased at the time of death can be applied regarding the will. Is this true or false? I am really looking for these two questions to be answered first. Can anyone help me with this, please?

Dear Advocate Sweta Singh, I am from India and in Sep 2018, I purchased an apartment in a hotel. The hotel has not been completed and the delay is more than a year. They have not paid any compensation as per the contract, nor do they talk about it. I have paid more than 80% in installments and paying it regularly. Please help me, guide me on how to cancel the deal and get a full refund, or any other way which helps me recover my investment. Regards

Dear questioner, My father (Muslim) has passed away in South Africa. He leaves behind 4 children, his wife (our mother) and his own mother. He had a will for South Africa in which, I (oldest son) am executor. The will does state that it encompasses all property and assets wherever they may be. He has various properties and assets in the UAE. My questions are: 1. Does his will have power in the UAE or will it be divided by Sharia? 2. What documents are required to wind up his estate? 3. What is the wind-up process within the UAE?

My son tragically died in Dubai and his salary has been paid into a UAE HSBC bank account. My daughter also lives in Dubai and has an HSBC account. How can I access my Son's bank account, please? I live in the UK.

My uncle died 2 weeks ago in one of the private hospitals here in Dubai. We have already completed everything regarding the repatriation of his body with the help of his employer and his remains are already sent back to our home country last week. He used to give me an access of his ATM card before and I tried to access it just few days ago and I found out that there is some amount of money left on his bank account. I am aware that he has some pending bank loan requests before he died, so I am afraid that amount might be the reason of such big amount. Being the only family member of my deceased uncle, what should I do in order to make sure that the amount is from his savings and not from his bank loans? In case the amount is proved to be his own savings, is there any chance for me to get the authorization to claim that amount from the bank to be used by his family? He has a wife with 3 kids back home. Thanks a lot in advance.