News

A dispute over three shared words is testing the limits of prior rights, reverse confusion, and celebrity brand dominance — with lessons for the UAE and India    Introduction  The intersection of entertainment and intellectual property law has once again taken center stage with the recent trademark dispute involving Taylor Swift’s 2025 album The Life of...

Dubai’s Executive Council has approved a series of strategic economic, trade, and workforce measures aimed at strengthening the emirate’s regulatory resilience, supporting commercial continuity, and enhancing compliance standards across key sectors. The measures reflect Dubai’s policy-driven approach to economic governance, labour welfare, and institutional resilience.  The approved initiatives carry significant legal and regulatory implications for businesses operating in...

In a significant regulatory development aimed at facilitating trade and mitigating ongoing logistical challenges, Dubai Customs has issued Customs Notice No. 05 of 2026, temporarily extending the permissible transit period for goods from 30 days to 90 days. This measure reflects a responsive and adaptive approach by the authority to address evolving global supply chain...

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has issued a package of regulatory decisions aimed at strengthening governance, transparency, and investor protection in the emirate’s real estate sector. The measures have been introduced to implement Law No. (3) of 2015, as amended by Law No. (2) of 2025, and are intended to reinforce the legal framework governing property development and...

The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has issued a suite of four administrative decisions implementing Law No. (3) of 2015 (as amended by Law No. (2) of 2025) on the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector. These measures, Decision Nos. (24), (25), (26), and (165) of 2025 represent a targeted and pragmatic evolution of Abu Dhabi’s real...

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has ordered the closure of five healthcare facilities after inspections uncovered serious breaches of healthcare licensing and regulatory requirements.  According to the authority, the facilities have also had their staff suspended, with the matter referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action. The closures and licence suspensions...

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) has issued Administrative Decision No. 2 of 2026, which introduces flexibility in the submission of certified documents required for trademark applications. This development aims to support businesses and applicants facing challenges in obtaining notarised and legalised documents within the standard deadline.  This change reflects MOET’s commitment to...

Looking back to the significant affirmation of commitment to child rights, in the United Arab Emirates continues to position the best interests of the child as the foundational principle underpinning all national decisions, policies, and programmes. This legal imperative, rooted in Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 Concerning the Rights of the Child (commonly known as Wadeema Law), has been operationalised through targeted emirate-level initiatives.   Two...

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued Law No. (3) of 2026 on the Quality and Safety of Buildings, introducing a comprehensive legal framework to enhance structural integrity, safety standards, and regulatory oversight across Dubai.  The law applies to all buildings within the emirate, including those located in free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, as well...

Dubai has introduced a new regulatory framework requiring tenancy contracts for shared accommodation to be officially registered in a government registry, a move aimed at strengthening legal protection for residents and improving oversight of shared housing arrangements across the emirate.  The requirement forms part of Dubai Law No. (4) of 2026 on Shared Accommodation, issued...