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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

UAE Child Protection Law: Embedding the Principle of the Child’s Best Interests as a Paramount Legal Standard

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 […]

Milen Zachariah John · 30 Mar 2026 · 7 minRead →
Corporate and Commercial

Business Interruption Claims in the UAE: Are You Actually Covered?

Standard business interruption policies have structural limitations that can defeat a claim entirely. This article explains how those limitations work, what the UAE legal framework offers by way of protection, and what policyholders can do to understand their position. The Coverage Gap Business interruption insurance (BII) is designed to help a business survive during an operational shutdown. Standard insurance policies […]

George Mathew · 28 Mar 2026 · 18 minRead →
Intellectual Property

Pledge of Trademarks under UAE Law: A Detailed Legal Analysis

The evolution of intellectual property as a bankable asset class has significantly reshaped financing structures in the UAE. Among such assets, trademarks being commercially exploitable identifiers are increasingly used as collateral in secured transactions.  The UAE legislator, through Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks, expressly recognizes the ability to pledge trademarks, marking a clear shift from earlier […]

Hemakshi Prabhu · 28 Mar 2026 · 7 minRead →
Intellectual Property

NFT Trademark Wars in India: When Digital Assets Meet Traditional IP Law – Blockchain, Metaverse Branding, and the Future of Virtual Property Rights

Ownership Has Gone Digital, But the Law Hasn’t Caught Up  The rise of NFTs (Non-Fungible Token) has transformed how ownership is perceived in the digital world. Art, music, virtual real estate, fashion, and even brand identities are now being tokenized and traded on blockchain networks. What was once intangible and easily replicable is now being packaged as unique, […]

Hemakshi Prabhu · 27 Mar 2026 · 7 minRead →
Tax

UAE R&D Tax Credit Regime – Phase 1: A Legal Overview

The UAE has officially introduced a new Research and Development (R&D) tax credit regime to support innovation and strengthen its position as a global innovation hub.  The regime offers a tiered, non-refundable tax credit on certain eligible R&D expenditure, capped at AED 5 million per tax period or fiscal year, with rates linked to employee headcount. It […]

Milen Zachariah John · 27 Mar 2026 · 12 minRead →
Corporate and Commercial

Cross-Border Real Estate Investment by NRIs: Legal Structuring, FEMA Compliance, and Repatriation Risk  

“Smart property moves for NRIs: Stay compliant, stay secure”  The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) governs what Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) can purchase.   NRIs investing in Indian real estate must carefully structure transactions under FEMA rules to avoid penalties, ensure smooth repatriation of funds, and mitigate risks of blocked […]

Swathi N · 26 Mar 2026 · 4 minRead →
Corporate and Commercial

The CBUAE’s Expanding Role in Regulating the UAE Insurance Sector

In the evolving financial ecosystem of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), regulatory agility has become a cornerstone of sustainable market growth.  Until 2020, control over the UAE’s insurance market was the responsibility of a separate entity, the Insurance Authority (IA). The IA was established under the Federal Law No. 6 of 2007 with a legal personality, and financial and administrative […]

George Mathew · 26 Mar 2026 · 5 minRead →
Labour Law

UAE Clarifies Exceptional Circumstances Where Commute Time May Be Treated as Working Hours

The treatment of employee commute time under UAE employment regulations has been clarified within the framework of the UAE Labour Law and its implementing provisions. The position confirms that ordinary commuting time is not considered part of working hours, except in specific and limited circumstances. Legal Framework Under UAE labour legislation, working hours are defined […]

ATB Research Team · 26 Mar 2026 · 3 minRead →
Intellectual Property

IP in the UAE: Patent Enforcement and Validity Challenges: A Strategic and Procedural Analysis

Introduction: The Evolving Patent Enforcement Landscape in the UAE  Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates has significantly strengthened its intellectual property framework in order to position itself as a regional hub for innovation, technology, and research-driven industries. As part of this transformation, the UAE has modernized its patent regime through Federal Decree Law No. […]

Hemakshi Prabhu · 25 Mar 2026 · 8 minRead →