ATB Legal

Understanding Real Property in ADGM: Legal Framework, Ownership Structures, and Regulatory Insights

Deadline Extended: First Corporate Tax Returns for Newly Incorporated UAE Entities

Businesses incorporated in the UAE after June 1, 2023, with a six-month initial financial year ending before February 29, 2024, now have until December 31, 2024, to file their first Corporate Tax returns. Summary The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has extended the deadline for filing the first Corporate Tax returns for entities incorporated on or […]

Litigation vs. Arbitration: Understanding the key differences for dispute resolution

Introduction In the realm of contract disputes, parties often have the choice between litigation and arbitration as methods of resolving legal conflicts. The decision to include an arbitration provision in a contract can have far-reaching implications for the parties involved. By examining the specific language of a “dispute resolution” clause, the parties can agree in […]

Arbitration: An Introduction with Special Reference to the United Arab Emirates

Introduction Disputes are a common occurrence in the business world, and in today’s fast-paced commercial environment, time is as valuable as money. Lengthy and complex court battles can result in losses for both parties involved in a dispute. To address this issue, Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) mechanisms have emerged as a means of simplifying and […]

UAE decides to do away with the 3-year cap on employment contracts

In the latest amendment to the Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations vide Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2022, it has been decided that the employment contracts in the private sector will from now on be created for any definite period subject to the consent of both the […]

The Principle of Reciprocity shall be observed while enforcing English Court judgments in the UAE.

On 13 September 2022, the UAE Ministry of Justice (MoJ) issued a directive that is seen as a significant stride toward the enforcement of English Court Judgements in the UAE. Principle of Reciprocity The directive states that judgments rendered by English Courts may be enforced in the UAE in accordance with the Principle of reciprocity […]

Export Control Provisions for UAE Patent Applications with Security and Military Applications Introduced Under UAE Patent Regulations

The latest development in the UAE Patent Law has opened up new avenues to businesses in the UAE. Patents pertaining to national security were not protected under the previous UAE Patent Law. The Implementing Regulations for the revised UAE Patent Law, which went into effect in June 2022, features the changes to the above position. […]

SCI Judgement widens the Jurisdiction of Courts in determining the Arbitrability of Disputes.

The Honourable Supreme Court of India in its recent judgment held that in circumstances where the arbitration agreement specifically excludes certain conflicts from the scope of the arbitration clause and if there is “accord and satisfaction,” the courts may/can decide the question of jurisdiction and arbitrability under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,1996. […]

New law in the UAE now provides Protection of Personal Data.

Introduction Personal Data means any data relating to an identified natural person or a natural person who can be identified, through the linking of data by reference to an identifiable information/data. The identifiers could be his or her name, voice, picture, physical or physiological information, cultural or social characteristics, electronic identifier, geographical location, and also […]

Amendment to allow digitalization of Notary Public Services in Dubai

‘Notary Public’ services are expected to go digital as a result of the recent amendments to Law No. (4) of 2013 which deals with the Notary Public Activities in the Emirate of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in his capacity as ruler of Dubai, issued Law No. (26) of 2021, amending […]

UAE amends laws on Cheque Bounces

The UAE Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Justice announced a new Federal Decree No. 14/2020 (“Decree”) on September 27th, 2020[1], which in effect amends the Commercial Transaction Law No. 18 of 1993 (“C T Law”) by partially decriminalizing on cheque bounce due to insufficient funds. The majority of the amendments […]

Good news for expats living in the UAE – Landmark changes in personal status law.

Introduction President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, issued Law on Personal Status for Non-Muslims in Emirate of Abu Dhabi (“Law”) to regulate and provide a flexible and advanced judicial mechanism for the determination of personal status disputes for non-Muslims. According to […]