Impossible, Delayed or Simply More Expensive? Force Majeure and Hardship under the New UAE Civil Code

Commercial disruptions can affect contractual performance in different ways. A government restriction may prevent delivery, a critical asset may be destroyed, or performance may remain possible but become substantially more expensive. These situations are often…

Before the Signature: Why Good Faith Now Matters at the UAE Negotiating Table

What if the biggest legal risk in your next deal has nothing to do with the contract itself? Most businesses assume that legal obligations only kick in once a contract is signed. Under the new…

Force Majeure or Force Mirage? Middle East Conflict, Maritime Disruption and the New Contract Reality

The current Middle East crisis, particularly the most recent announcement of Yemen’s Houthis declaring a naval blockade and maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia has brought force majeure out of contractual boilerplate clauses and firmly into…

Avoiding Tax Fines in the UAE: Why Compliance Starts Before Filing

Tax compliance in the UAE is no longer just a filing exercise. It is a business discipline that affects cash flow, audit readiness, financing, and the ability to respond when the Federal Tax Authority asks…

Ship Arrest: The One Legal Tool That Can Stop a Vessel Overnight

In shipping, most disputes take time. Ship arrest doesn’t. It is one of the very few tools in maritime practice that can immediately disrupt operations, create pressure, and force action sometimes within hours. And that’s…

Doing Business in Uncertain Times: Key Dos and Don’ts For UAE Employers and Employees

Periods of regional uncertainty raise immediate, practical questions for businesses. The starting point, however, remains unchanged: UAE Labour Law continues to apply in full, regardless of external circumstances For employers, the real issue is not…

U.S. Sanctions and Shipping: Guidance for Port & Customs Authorities

In recent years, the US has focused increasingly on “intermediaries” or “facilitators” of sanctions evasion, such as shipping companies, logistics service providers, freight forwarders and transport intermediaries, as well as insurance companies. Over the past…

Impact of a Strait of Hormuz Closure on Shipping & Insurance

Strategic significance and the current disruption As of 28 February–3 March 2026, reporting indicates a sharp escalation in Gulf hostilities and a de facto interruption of safe commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz, driven…

U.S. Sanctions and Shipping: Guidance for Maritime Insurance Companies

In recent years, the U.S. has focused increasingly on “intermediaries” or “facilitators” of sanctions evasion, such as shipping companies, logistics service providers, freight forwarders and transport intermediaries, as well as insurance companies. Over the past…