Q: Dear sir/madam, I am a general manager of an insurance company. However, I don't have any equity and I am not a shareholder. I am not authorized to sign a cheque and I am not a signatory in any of the bank accounts. Partners issue the cheques. If the company has debts, will I be responsible or will it be the partner's/owners' responsibility? I resigned from my company and have taken resignation acceptance from all the 3 partners on the company letterhead. I have completed my notice period. However, they need one more month to change my name on the trade license. In case of any legal cases, would I be responsible?

Q: In 2020, I was the manager of a company that had an office in a free zone in Dubai. At the time, the partners did not have bank accounts/cheques in Dubai, and to make payments, 4 cheques from a third person were provided, who in addition to the 4 cheques, also provided an undertaking letter attached to the lease agreement. We carefully pay this person the amount related to the lease, as well as the value of all cheques. However, this person did not honor the payment of the last cheque. Now the free zone has opened a case against the company for the non-payment of rent. My question is, will the company be held responsible? If the company is held liable, am I as a manager liable in some way? And will I be responsible for paying this personally? The company no longer exists and I am the only partner who still lives here, in addition to having been the general manager.

Q: Dear Sir, I had a General Manager visa from an FZE company in Hamriyah Free Zone. In 2011, the owner of the company fled the UAE due to financial issues. I was not in the UAE at that time as I used to travel once every 6 months only. When I got the news that the owner fled the country, I did not travel on that visa and let the visa expire. I have not been to the UAE after that. I want to come back to the UAE to start a business but I do not know if have an immigration ban or blacklist since my employer fled the country. Can you please advise if the General Manager has any issues if the owner of an FZE company fled the country due to debts? Thanks in advance.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, If the manager and owner are the same on the trade license, then who is the authorized person for legal cases?

Q: Dear colleagues, According to Article 15 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (“Executive Regulations”), employees occupying supervisory roles are exempt from the provisions of the Labour Law and the Executive Regulations in relation to maximum working hours only if they possess powers equivalent to those of the employer. Could you please clarify what is meant by "if they possess powers equivalent to those of the employer"? Currently, we have heads of departments who report to the directors. Will they be eligible for overtime? Also, those who have a POA to sign contracts will they be eligible? Or, those who temporarily replace the CEO while he is out, will they be eligible?

It is the first article in a series of articles written by the author to give a better insight to the readers about the corporate governance practices under the best practice principles and the UAE legal system through innovative suggestions of its implementation for your organisation. Next series will be on the UAE regulatory framework on corporate governance.

It is the second article in a series of articles written by the author to give a better insight to the readers about the corporate governance practices under the best practice principles and UAE legal system through innovative suggestions of its implementation for your organisation. Next series will be on Corporate Governance for Non-listed companies.

This is the last article in series of articles written by the author to give better insight to the readers about the corporate governance practices under the best practice principles and the UAE legal system through innovative suggestions of its implementation for your organisation.

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 law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.