A step-by-step guide to preparing and presenting a freezing injunction1 application in the ADGM Courts, including procedural requirements, evidence, timelines, and urgent applications. Worldwide Freezing Orders (WFOs) issued by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts have become an increasingly important tool for claimants seeking to preserve assets at risk of dissipation in complex commercial and arbitration-related disputes. Unlike final...
Introduction: Why Share Classes Matter in the ADGM The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is one of the UAE’s most sophisticated corporate jurisdictions. Established under Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013, ADGM is distinctive in that it directly applies English common law, rather than a civil law code. This foundational choice has a significant...
A detailed examination of how ADGM Courts evaluate the “real risk of dissipation” test, the types of evidence that carry weight at the interim stage, and the common pitfalls applicants must avoid when seeking Worldwide Freezing Orders. In applications for Worldwide Freezing Orders (“WFOs”) before the ADGM Courts, the requirement to demonstrate a real risk of asset...
Explore how the ADGM Courts’ Fast Track Procedure enables efficient, fair, and expedited resolution of commercial disputes—often within six months—under Part 40 of the Court Procedure Rules. Delay is one of the most common concerns raised by parties considering litigation. Even where the legal position is strong, prolonged proceedings can dilute commercial value, increase costs,...
A comprehensive overview of worldwide freezing orders in ADGM, covering their legal basis, scope, enforcement, and strategic use in cross-border disputes. Worldwide freezing orders (WFOs) represent one of the most potent interim remedies available to claimants in cross-border disputes. They enable parties to prevent respondents from dissipating assets located anywhere on the globe, creating an essential preservation...
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts recently launched a dedicated Real Property Division, introducing a streamlined mechanism for handling Short-Term Residential Lease Claims (STRLC). This move could reshape how landlords, tenants, and property managers resolve rental disputes on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands. Why This Matters The new ADGM Real Estate Division offers...
What Happens When Equity and Registration Collide? In a recent joint judgment (Judgment) of the ADGM Court of First Instance, delivered by Justice Paul Heath KC in July 2025, the Court addressed this question directly in a dispute over the ownership of several residential units on Al Reem Island. Though the facts arose from transactions long...
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has issued the Employment Regulations 2024,(2024 Regulations) a comprehensive refresh of its employment law framework came into force on 1 April 2025, these Regulations repeal the ADGM Employment Regulations 2019 and provide a modernised set of rules designed to reflect today’s workplace realities. The 2024 update retains...
If you own a property on Al Reem Island that is subject to a mortgage, it is likely that your property now falls within the jurisdiction of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The ADGM Real Property Regulations 2024 (Regulations) provide a clear legal structure for mortgage arrangements, enforcement, and borrower protections. Understanding your rights...
In our earlier article, we discussed the different types of real property interests recognised under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Real Estate Regulations 2024 (Regulations). In this follow-up, we will analyse how these interests can be transferred, altered, or impacted, legally termed as “conveyances” and which actions must be registered to be valid and...
