س: السلام عليكم، نحن شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة ولدينا كفيل إماراتي صوري، ولكن بالرخصة التجارية هو شريك. هذا الكفيل صاحب أخلاق عالية ولا خوف منه ويعرف نفسه بأنه ليس بشريك فعلي. السؤال: إذا، لا سمح الله، توفي فقد نخوض مشاكل قانونية مع عائلته، فما الحل القانوني الذي يمكن أن ننجزه معه الآن ضمانًا لحقوقنا مستقبلاً؟

Q: Hi. I have technical and cleaning services company and I had a local sponsor and had renewed my licence for 3 continuous years. I have a new partner and he wants to local sponsorthe local sponsor because from the time we took from them they kept on taking money but not taking any approvals we had to wait so long to do every procedure. We decided to change the sponsor, and at first, he agreed, but now he doesn’t want to let go of the company. I’m totally stuck with such hard work and I’m clueless how to change him. I need some advice what would be the best solution for us.

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته أنا لست مواطن ونويت على إنشاء مشروع تجاري بإمارة دبي، و أفكر في إنشاء شركه ذات مسئولية محدودة للتجارة العامة نظراً لوجود شركاء. ما هو الفرق بين وكيل الخدمات والكفيل؟ وهل قانوناً لو تعاقدت مع وكيل خدمات يحق لي إنشاء شركة تجارة عامة؟ ولو كان لا يجوز إنشاء شركة تجارة عامة باستخدام عقد وكيل الخدمات، لابد من وجود كفيل بنسبة 51%، فهل هناك طريقة ما لضمان الحقوق في العقد ما بين الكفيل والشركاء، نظرا لعدم مشاركة الكفيل في الاستثمار؟ ولكم جزيل الشكر والاحترام

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.

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.

The UAE government has announced important changes to the federal Commercial Companies Law, the most significant is related to the foreign ownership of mainland companies. This will grant foreign investors the full ownership of share capital in companies carrying out certain activities specified to that effect by the competent authorities. This means that foreign investors’ shares will not be limited anymore to a maximum of 49% like before, but can be up to 100% instead.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.

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.