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Insights

Insights

Legal analysis and practical guidance on cross-border business, disputes, corporate, employment and IP matters across India and the UAE — including the Legal Help Desk, our Q&A column on the problems clients actually meet.

News

MoHRE Introduces Easy Payment Plan for Fees and Fines: A Boost for UAE Businesses

In a significant move aimed at enhancing the UAE’s business environment, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has launched an Easy Payment Plan (EPP) that allows companies and individuals to pay service fees and fines through interest-free installments. The initiative reflects the UAE government’s continued efforts to support business growth, promote compliance, and […]

ATB Research Team · 31 Oct 2025 · 3 minRead →
News

ADGM Strengthens Enforcement Framework; Raises Regulatory Fines to $54 Million

Abu Dhabi, October 2025 — The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has introduced a strengthened enforcement framework that significantly increases the scale of financial penalties for regulatory breaches. The reforms, implemented under the Administrative Regulations 2025, mark a decisive step toward reinforcing governance and accountability standards within the international financial center.   A More Robust […]

ATB Research Team · 30 Oct 2025 · 3 minRead →
Compliance in the UAE

ADGM Courts Real Property Division: What that Means for Property Disputes

On 17 October 2025, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts established a Real Property Division within the Court of First Instance. The move, supported by updates to the Divisions and Jurisdiction Rules and new practice directions and court forms, streamlines how property disputes are handled in ADGM in light of the ADGM’s expansion to […]

Aeron Abraham Thomas · 29 Oct 2025 · 4 minRead →
ADGM

ADGM Courts Real Property Division Launches STRLC for Ultra-Fast Rental Dispute Resolution

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 […]

Jose Joseph · 28 Oct 2025 · 4 minRead →
Compliance in the UAE

Data Protection Laws in India and the UAE: A Comparative Insight

The digital economy has transformed how personal information flows across borders, making data protection legislation a critical component of modern governance. As businesses expand their operations across jurisdictions, understanding the nuances of data protection frameworks becomes essential for compliance and maintaining consumer trust. India and the United Arab Emirates, two significant economic powerhouses with growing […]

Vipul Kulshreshtha · 28 Oct 2025 · 20 minRead →
Arbitration

Foundations of International Arbitration: New York Convention, UNCITRAL Model Law, and Domestic Frameworks

International arbitration has emerged as the preferred mechanism for resolving cross-border commercial disputes, offering a neutral, efficient, and internationally enforceable alternative to national court litigation. In an increasingly globalized economy, parties to international transactions often belong to different legal systems and cultural backgrounds, making litigation in one party’s home jurisdiction unattractive due to concerns of […]

Aeron Abraham Thomas · 25 Oct 2025 · 10 minRead →
Arbitration

International Commercial Arbitration: Advantages in Cross-Border Commerce

When companies do business across countries, disagreements can quickly become complicated. Different laws, languages, and legal systems can make traditional court cases slow, expensive, and hard to enforce. Because of this, there is a growing need for a faster and more practical way to settle international business disputes.  International Commercial Arbitration (ICA) has become the […]

Milen Zachariah John · 24 Oct 2025 · 7 minRead →
India

The IP of Festivals: How Diwali Crackers, Ganesh Idols, and Holi Colors Are Protected in India

India is a land of festivals, and its rich cultural heritage is expressed through countless products, designs, and innovations that accompany these celebrations. From the sparkling lights of Diwali crackers to intricately crafted Ganesh idols during Ganesh Chaturthi, and the vibrant powders of Holi, these festival-related creations are more than just objects they are intellectual […]

Hemakshi Prabhu · 16 Oct 2025 · 4 minRead →
ADGM

When Registration Meets Equity: How the ADGM Court Redefined Property Ownership and Trusts in Abu Dhabi

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 […]

Jose Joseph · 15 Oct 2025 · 9 minRead →
DIFC

Strengthening Employee Protections in the DIFC: Key Features of Practice Direction No.1 of 2025

Effective 9 October 2025, the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (“DIFC Courts”) have implemented Practice Direction (“PD”) No. 1 of 2025, titled Access to Justice in Employment Disputes. This landmark initiative reinforces the DIFC Courts’ commitment to ensuring fair, efficient, and accessible resolution of disputes. By addressing procedural challenges and promoting a balanced framework, PD […]

Aeron Abraham Thomas · 13 Oct 2025 · 4 minRead →