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Corporate and Commercial

April 30, 2026
Legal Guide to Doing Business in India

Background  This guide provides a detailed overview of India’s legal framework for setting up and operating businesses, focusing on corporate forms, foreign investment rules, and compliance. We have compared common business structures – private/public companies, LLPs, partnerships, one-person companies (OPCs), and foreign offices (branch/liaison/project) in terms of formation steps, capital, ownership rules, taxation, and compliance requirements. We have explained India’s FDI regime (automatic vs....

April 30, 2026
Penalties, Enforcement Powers, and Promoter Liability Under the RERA Statutory Framework

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) was enacted to bring transparency, accountability, and fairness to India’s real estate sector. One of its most significant contributions is the establishment of a robust enforcement mechanism that holds promoters, agents, and other stakeholders accountable. Chapter VIII of the Act, which deals with Offences, Penalties and Adjudication,...

April 16, 2026
Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Leasing, and Co-Working Operations within the RERA Regime 

Most people associate RERA with residential projects, but many are still unsure about its application to commercial projects. Does RERA really cover commercial spaces such as shops, offices, and malls? The answer is yes, but with specific conditions.  Commercial real estate in India has transformed with the rise of corporate leasing and co-working models, while traditionally, it was governed by contract...

Force Majeure in an Age of Conflict: What UAE Contracts Actually Say vs. What Parties Expect

The world has changed dramatically since 2020. First the COVID-19 pandemic, then the Russia-Ukraine war, and now the cascading effects of conflicts across the Middle East — including Red Sea shipping disruptions triggered by Houthi attacks — have pushed force majeure clauses from boilerplate obscurity to the centre of commercial disputes. Parties across the UAE and the broader region are...

Abu Dhabi Tightens Governance for Jointly Owned Property

Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector has taken a significant step toward greater maturity with the issuance of Administrative Decision No. 25/2025 on 28 February 2026. Titled “Regulation of Ownership and Controls of Use and Management of Real Estate, Parts and Common Facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,” this landmark measure provides much-needed operational detail to the existing...

Renegotiating a Contract Under Pressure: A Practical Framework for UAE Businesses

Most contracts that run into difficulty do not end in court. They end in a renegotiation — or they should. The businesses that preserve value in a downturn are not those with the strongest legal position on paper, but those that engage their counterparties early, frame the conversation well, and document the process properly. This...

Pulling Out of a Resale Property SPA in the UAE: What Happens to Your Deposit and Your Deal

Secondary market property transactions in Dubai follow a different legal path from off-plan purchases. The MOU/Form F, the 10% deposit, the NOC, and the DLD transfer appointment each create obligations — and each can become a point of dispute if a party wants to exit. This article explains the mechanics, the consequences, and the options. ...

Your Company Is in Financial Difficulty — When and How to Engage Your Creditors

Businesses under financial pressure often delay creditor engagement until the position has deteriorated beyond easy resolution. Under UAE law, the timing, tone, and structure of that engagement can determine whether a company retains the ability to restructure — or loses it. This article complements our foundational article on UAE bankruptcy law and examines the legal and practical...

Pulling Back from an Off-Plan SPA in the UAE: What the Law Actually Says

Both buyers and developers sometimes seek to exit an off-plan sale and purchase agreement before completion. The legal consequences depend entirely on who is walking away, at what stage, and for what reason. This article explains the framework that governs those decisions under Dubai law and the UAE Civil Code.  Part 1 of 3 |...

Exiting a Commercial or DIFC/ADGM Property SPA: A Different Set of Rules

Commercial, DIFC, and ADGM property sale and purchase agreements operate under legal frameworks that differ fundamentally from each other and from the off-plan residential regime. The remedies available on exit, and the conditions that must be met to exercise them, depend entirely on which framework applies to the transaction. Part 2 of 3 | UAE SPA Exit...

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