Q: Hi, I am about to invest with a shipping company in Dubai. I will be loaning them USD 300K, at 1.25% per month, payable monthly with the loan due back in six months (with the ability to extend to a year). I would like to securitize this with a promissory note / Post-dated cheque / Lawyer recommended legal instrument. I am a US citizen with no company or residency in Dubai.

Q: Hi, I invested a sum of money and entered into a partnership in an LLC in Ajman for cafeteria activity. The managing partner didn't keep accounting properly through my reminders by emails and phone calls. After some time, the business was losing but I was not able to take the decision to sell my share due to lack of data. The business has stopped. The value of selling the business is less than the liabilities accumulated from rental, water, electricity, mobile. Recently, the landlord filed a legal notice for bounced cheques and I understood it has criminal and civil cases. PDC is issued by the managing partner. I can see the below 3 options, please advise which one is best and if there are other options as well. 1- Sell the business and, on top of that, pay my share in the liabilities? This means a complete loss of investment. 2 - Sue the managing partners for negligence and hiding information which led to a loss of investment. Had they reported properly before, I could have sold my shares. 3- Do nothing and wait for court.

Q: I am a partner in an LLC company with 50% shares each. Since I am not staying in UAE I had given partner all the Power of Attorney to run the business. I need to know if my partner defaults in any payments for license renewal or non-payment of salary. Will I still be held responsible for his actions or since he's having all the rights he is responsible? Kindly advise.

Q: I am a partner in an LLC company that has faced many labor cases and judgments by the court. In the current situation, the company is not able to pay, will there be any travel ban on the partners? Thanks!

Q: I’m a 50% shareholder and director in an FZ-LLC company in Dubai Development Authority. One of our employees made an unpaid salary case against us and won it in court. We have appealed the decision. My partner, the owner of the remaining 50% and a local has his name as the general manager of the company on the license. Since our company is not in a financial position to pay these dues, I want to understand what my maximum liability will be. A quick reading online shows that the court can place travel bans on the general manager and hold him personally liable. Does the liability extend to me as well? Are there any other liabilities?

Q: Hello sir/madam, I established a company in a Dubai free zone. I am not a UAE citizen and want to be a developer or invest money in Dubai real estate. Are there any restrictions, such as terms, areas, or types of deals?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a partner of an LLC company with a 33 percent stake in mainland Dubai, along with two other partners who have equal shares. I just want to know if I will be responsible for any payment liabilities of suppliers, or if it will be the responsibility of the company manager, as I am not actively involved in the business.

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.

An interview-format article covering the topic of shareholder disputes in the UAE and pre-emptive measure to be considered. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

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.