Update: Significant Procedural Change Brought by DET for Incorporating New Companies in the Dubai Mainland

The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai, has recently introduced an update to the procedural requirements relating to the incorporation of new companies or subsidiaries in the Dubai mainland jurisdiction. The update affects foreign…

A New Era for the Commercial Companies Law: What the 2025 Amendments Mean in Practice

With Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025, the UAE has implemented one of the most far-reaching updates to its Commercial Companies Law in recent years. Rather than constituting incremental adjustments, the amendments implement structural reforms.…

UAE Corporate Tax Law Amendment: Tax Credit Offsets and Payments for Unutilized Credits

On 15 December 2025, the UAE issued a new Federal Decree-Law amending Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses (“Corporate Tax Law”). The amendments further refine the UAE’s corporate…

RAK ICC Foundations: New Amendments Enhance Asset Protection and Succession Planning

Foundations have become an essential structuring tool in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly for succession planning, asset protection, and international wealth management. The Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC) introduced its Foundations…

The “Dark Fleet” Phenomenon: Risks for Charterers and Owners

In recent years, the so-called “dark fleet” has transformed the maritime landscape. This shadow network consists largely of old tankers in sanctioned trades, particularly involving Russian, Iranian, or Venezuelan oil. These vessels often use deceptive…

The UAE Aviation Finance Market and the Country’s Role as a Global Aviation Hub

The United Arab Emirates has established itself as a significant player in the global aviation sector, demonstrating excellence as both a pivotal air transport hub and a leader in the domains of aviation finance and…

New Amendments To UAE Federal Decree Law No. 33/2021 on Labour Relations

On 29 July 2024, the new Federal Decree Law No. 9/2024 was enacted and introduced significant amendments to certain provisions of Federal Decree Law No. 33/2021, which governs labor relations. These changes, effective from 31…

An insight into the revamped Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Regulations in the UAE as of 2024

A recent overhaul of the regulations concerning the determination of an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) has brought about considerable changes in the UBO determination and filing for entities in the UAE. The most significant is…

Introducing Sanadak: UAE’s first Ombudsman Unit for Financial and Insurance Consumer Disputes

The UAE has taken a significant step towards enhancing consumer trust and protecting consumer rights with the introduction of the new ombudsman unit, "Sanadak". This move follows the merger of the UAE Insurance Authority with…