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.

Q: I hold a 25% stake in a Free Zone company in Dubai, with my business partner holding a 75% share and therefore being the majority shareholder. In April 2017, there was an agreement between myself and my partner, in which he agreed to transfer all of his shares to me. Upon this agreement, we both signed and stamped a request for transfer of shares document as well as a shareholders resolution. These documents were then submitted to the Free Zone Authority but then were subsequently withdrawn without my knowledge. As far as I was aware the documents were still being processed and I only found out about the withdrawal of the documents when I followed up with the Free Zone Authority. The Free Zone Authority has since acknowledged that they should not have returned the documents and are trying to mediate between myself and my business partner to submit the documents again but he is refusing to do so. I want to know what legal action I can take against my partner for his actions.

Q: We started a company in 2011 in JLT Dubai with X and Y as shareholders registered in the Memorandum of Association "MoA". The MoA and trade license confirm me as a manager and authorised signatory. In 2015, shareholder X gave me a letter signed by him on company letterhead, granting me 15% of the company shares. Q 1. Is this adequate to protect my interests? Q 2. I would like to get this letter notarized. Will this help my case further? What documents are required for this?

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.

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.

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.