Q: Hi, I want to get advice on what I should do with a company based in Dubai, which is not adding me as a partner even after payment of 100% my share money. I have even paid double by investing all my salaries of 16 months. I am out of the UAE now. Please advise. Many thanks.

Q: Hi, I invested AED 75,000 with a company that intended a takeover of CCTV installation, and the company is located in DAFZA with 4 partners. They made me sign an internal contract which wasn't signed by all the partners and I never got a copy of the same signed by all 4 partners. I kept chasing them for the same as well as for MOA from DAFZA and name change on Trade Licence but got only excuses. Finally, after 3 months of chasing them, they informed me that they don't intend to take over the company and wanted to divert my funds elsewhere. I refused and asked for a refund. They gave me a fraud cheque that got bounced due to the unauthorized signatory. I filed a police complaint, after which the authorized signatory was summoned by police. Later the signatory contacted me and wanted to settle it in 4 PDCs across 3 months but on a condition that I return him the fraud cheque which is the only proof I have proving his fraud intentions. Kindly advise if his demand for the return of fraud cheque is valid?

Q: My husband was awarded shares in the company he works for. Now he is leaving and wants to sell them and the company refuses to acknowledge the fact that he holds shares even though it clearly states that he does in the 'Articles of Association'. What advice can you give to us? Thanks.

س: السلام عليكم لو سمحت يافندم، نظام رأس المال لو أضفت ٢٠٠ ألف، هل لي حق التصرف فيهم أم لا؟

The UAE Penal Code, like all other laws, addresses the crime of fraud in Article 399 of the UAE Federal Penal Code, which stipulates that whoever seizes, for himself or another, a movable property, or obtains a document or signature thereon, cancellation or destruction thereof or amendment thereto by fraudulent means, or by assuming a false name or capacity, where such an act leads to deception of a victim and leads him to surrender shall be punished by imprisonment or fine.

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.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).