Q: I am starting a new Italian Apparel brand which will be sold through eCommerce. I will be dealing with designers as freelancers and manufacturing companies based in Italy. I would need advice on the below: Where can I register the trademark of the company logo? I also want to be the sole owner of the bought designs, shall I register these as trademarks also? For the above, I need help drafting agreements with the designers, out of the UAE, that also states a non-disclosure clause. Also, I will sign agreements with manufacturers located in Italy. Which court will govern these agreements? Will the registered trademarks have a territory limitation? Since the business is online, design can easily be copied. I am building my online platform and will need legal advice regarding the privacy of the data which will be collected from customers, terms and conditions of the online platform and other risks that should be avoided.

Q: Hi, We are a building contractor from South East Asia, looking to set up a 100% self-owned branch office in Dubai. Our activities will require us to have a contracting licence and import building materials into the UAE. What are the business structures that allow us to apply for a contracting licence and import building materials?

Q: We are a branch of Chartered Accountant firm from India and we provide tax services to NRIs in the UAE. We are currently holding Businessmen Services License, but legally, the activities we are doing are not under the purview of this license. Hence, we would need advice on which license we should hold in order to provide tax consultancy in the UAE.

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.

With the introduction of the new procedures for obtaining a power of attorney (POA) remotely in the UAE, after it was mandatory to appear in person in front of the notary public as a global rule to ensure the identity and intention of the person requesting a POA, we put between your hands this brief guide for how you get it done.

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.