Articles
How UAE taxes, property purchases and disputes actually work — from official sources, with a verification date on every figure.
Business setup and support
Shareholders' Agreement in the UAE: What Binds the Registrar and What Doesn'tShareholders' agreements in the UAE: how the SHA sits next to the MOA, drag-along, tag-along, deadlock, exit, valuation, 2025 share classes, governing law and forum.
AML Compliance in the UAE for Companies: DNFBPs, goAML and the 2025 LawThe UAE's 2025 AML law and Cabinet Resolution 134/2025: who is a DNFBP, the AED 55,000 thresholds, goAML registration, CDD, report types and fines up to AED 5m.
Bookkeeping, Financial Reporting and Audit for a UAE CompanyWhich standard, which audit trigger, which deadline: what the FTA and the free zone expect from a UAE company's books, separate ledgers for QFZP status and penalties.
Bank Compliance in the UAE: What Is Checked and How to PrepareOnboarding a UAE company with a bank: the four tests every file goes through, what to put in it, how the review runs, why applications fail and how to keep the account.
DIFC vs ADGM: When a UAE Financial Free Zone Is Worth ItFive questions that decide whether your holding, fund or SPV needs DIFC or ADGM rather than an ordinary free zone, what each centre offers, the tax layers and the cost drivers.
UAE E-Invoicing 2026–2027: Deadlines, ASP Appointment, Scope and PenaltiesUAE e-invoicing under Ministerial Decisions 243 and 244 of 2025: appoint an ASP by 30 Oct 2026 if revenue is AED 50m+, go-live dates in 2027, Peppol model and fines.
UBO, ESR and AML: Mandatory Compliance for a UAE CompanyThe annual compliance cycle of a UAE company beyond tax: beneficial owner records, AML duties, the cancelled ESR reporting, renewals, audit, and the penalties that are known.
UAE Golden Visa: Routes, the AED 2m Property Threshold and ProcessProperty, investment or talent: which Golden Visa route fits what you have, how the AED 2 million property route works, family sponsorship and what the visa does not change.
How to Set Up a Company in the UAE: Step-by-Step Order and Common DelaysThe step-by-step order for registering a UAE company — licence, visas, bank account, tax registration — and why the bank's requirements come before the zone.
How to Verify a Company in Dubai: Trade Licence Check and Red FlagsCheck a company licence in Dubai before you pay: DET licence search, the National Economic Register, free zone registers, red flags and checking a law firm.
UAE Corporate Tax: the 9% Rate, the AED 375,000 Threshold and Who PaysHow UAE corporate tax works: the 9% rate and AED 375,000 threshold, penalties for missing registration, Small Business Relief to 2029 and the free zone trap.
UAE Licence Types: Why the Activity Code Matters More Than PriceThe activity code on a UAE licence follows you to the bank, the visa quota, the VAT classification and the free zone 0%. Licence types, a worked case, and how to fix a wrong code.
Opening a Personal Bank Account in the UAE: Sequence and DocumentsFor a new UAE resident: the order of visa, Emirates ID and account, what banks ask for, salaried versus self-employed profiles, non-resident options and why applications stall.
Mainland vs Free Zone in the UAE: Which to Choose for Your CompanyWhen a UAE mainland licence beats a free zone and when it does not: clients, visas, office, banking, and why the 0% free zone rate is not automatic.
UAE Tax Residency: The Certificate, the Test and the Exit From HomeBecoming a UAE tax resident is separate from getting a visa: the FTA certificate, the criteria, treaty tie-breakers, evidence of days and closing residence in your home country.
UAE VAT at 5%: Registration Thresholds, Exports and ReturnsUAE VAT for a business that knows EU VAT: the single 5% rate, AED 375,000 and AED 187,500 thresholds, zero-rated exports, reverse charge, designated zones and returns.
Office, Flexi-Desk and Substance in the UAE: What Your Lease DecidesA UAE lease sets your visa quota, shapes the bank's view and underpins the substance test for free zone 0%. How to size premises and when a flexi-desk is enough.
Moving an Operating Business to the UAE: What Actually TransfersRelocating a company to the UAE is mostly building a new one: redomiciliation or new entity, contract novation, IP, staff, data, substance, home-country exit and timeline.
Buying a Business in Dubai: Share Deal vs Asset Deal, Due Diligence, TransferHow to buy an existing company or a stake in the UAE: share vs asset deal, the due diligence checklist, share transfer in a mainland LLC, free zones and DIFC/ADGM.
QFZP Status in the UAE: How to Qualify for 0% and Keep ItWhat a Qualifying Free Zone Person must meet: qualifying income, the AED 5m or 5% de minimis cap, audited accounts, and why the rest is taxed at 9% from the first dirham.
Employment Visa UAE: How to Hire a Foreign Employee (Mainland, Free Zone, DIFC)The employer's process for a UAE employment visa: MOHRE job offer and work permit, entry, medical, Emirates ID, residence visa, WPS payroll and Emiratisation quotas.
UAE Residence Visa Through Your Own Company: Steps, Quota, FamilySponsoring yourself and staff through a UAE company: the immigration file, visa quota, medical and Emirates ID, family sponsorship, renewals, cancellation and what the visa is not.
Opening a Corporate Bank Account in the UAE: What Banks Check and Why They RefuseWhat UAE banks actually check before opening a corporate account, the most common reasons for refusal, and how to prepare the file so you do not lose months.
UAE Small Business Relief: AED 3m Threshold, Extended to 2029Under AED 3 million in revenue? What Small Business Relief actually does, who is excluded, what you give up, how to elect it, and what the extension to 31 December 2029 means.
Trademark Registration in the UAE: Cost per Class, Timeline, RenewalUAE trademark registration under Federal Decree-Law 36/2021: AED 6,500 per class, 30-day opposition, 10-year protection, licences, assignments, Madrid.
How to Choose a UAE Free Zone: Eight Criteria That Actually DecideA scoring method for choosing a UAE free zone: activity list, visa quota, renewal cost, audit rules, bank appetite, designated zone status, substance for QFZP and location.
Closing a UAE Company Properly: Liquidation Steps and the TrapsDeregistering a UAE company: the sequence of visas, FTA deregistration, bank closure, liquidator and creditor notice; why letting the licence lapse is not closure.
Real estate
Al Furjan Apartment Prices: 2 and 3-Bed Price History Since 2012Al Furjan apartment prices from DLD sales: 2 and 3-bed medians since 2012, price per sq ft, a shallow 28% dip, Ejari rents and the Golden Visa line.
Arabian Ranches Villa Price History: 3-Bed DLD Sales 2012–2026Arabian Ranches villa prices from DLD registered sales: the 3-bedroom median every year since 2012, the result of buying in each year, Ejari rent and what to check.
Rental Yield in Dubai: How to Calculate the Net Return HonestlyGross yields in Dubai listings versus what reaches your account: service charges, vacancy, management, the housing fee, and home-country tax on the rent.
Dubai Rent Disputes: RERA Rent Increase Rules, Eviction Notice and the RDCDubai tenancy law: Ejari, the Decree 43/2013 rent increase scale, 90-day notice, 12-month eviction notice, RDC fees and appeal deadlines.
Arjan Dubai Apartment Prices: Studio Price History Since 2014Arjan Dubai apartment prices from DLD sales: studio medians since 2014, the 2015 spike and 2019 low, price per sq ft, Ejari rent and the off-plan share by year.
Business Bay Apartment Prices: Price History and Price per Sq FtBusiness Bay apartment prices from DLD deals since 2012: median price and AED per sq ft by bedroom, the result of buying in each year, and Ejari rents today.
Dubai Property Prices Falling in 2026? DLD Sales Data by MonthAre Dubai property prices falling in 2026? Monthly Dubai Land Department sales of ready apartments: deal counts and median AED/m², 2026 vs 2025. Data to Sept 2026.
Dubai Property Prices Over the Last 10 Years: DLD Sales Since 2008Dubai property price history from DLD registered sales: median prices by area and bedroom count 2008–2026, appreciation per year, and what drove each cycle.
Discovery Gardens Apartment Prices: Price History 2008–2026Discovery Gardens apartment prices from DLD sales: studio and 1-bed medians since 2012, 2008–2011 estimates, price per sq ft, rent and the one losing year.
Property Registration in Dubai: DLD, Trustee and Title DeedThe day-of-transfer procedure at a Dubai registration trustee, the government fees on a worked AED 2 million example, and how to close remotely with a power of attorney.
Dubai Rental Yield by Area: Ejari Contracts Across 12 DistrictsGross rental yields for 33 unit types in 12 Dubai areas, from 3.8% to 9.0%, built from registered Ejari leases and DLD sale medians rather than listings.
Downtown Dubai Apartment Prices: Price History and Price per Sq FtDowntown Dubai apartment prices from DLD sales: median 1–3 bed prices since 2008, AED per sq ft, deal counts, the result of buying in each year and Ejari rents.
Dubai Lagoon Project Status: 19 Years On, Marked Under CancellationDubai Lagoon (Schon Properties, DIP): timeline from the 2005 launch, two buyers' contract figures, the October 2024 DLD status and what a contract holder can do now.
Dubai Marina Apartment Prices: Price History by Bedroom Since 2008Dubai Marina apartment prices from DLD deals: median price by bedroom since 2008, price per square foot, the result of buying in each year and Ejari rents today.
Dubai Sports City Apartment Prices: What Every Entry Year ShowedDubai Sports City apartment prices from DLD sales since 2012: studio, 1-bed and 2-bed medians, the 2015 peak, a −29% studio, the 2020 trough and Ejari rents.
Escrow and Oqood in Dubai: What Really Protects Off-Plan MoneyHow Dubai's project escrow and Oqood registration protect an international off-plan buyer, what they leave uncovered, and the payment mistakes that void the protection.
Freehold vs Leasehold in Dubai: What a Foreign Buyer Actually OwnsThe difference between freehold and leasehold in Dubai for a foreign buyer: designated areas, what the title deed says, resale value, mortgages and visa eligibility.
Golden Visa Through Property in Dubai: AED 2 Million, 10 Years and What to Check FirstDubai Golden Visa through property: the AED 2 million threshold, 10-year term, mortgaged property with a bank NOC, family, and what to check before buying.
International City Dubai Prices: Apartment Price History Since 2008International City Dubai apartment prices from DLD sales: studio and 1-bed medians since 2008, price per sq ft, losing entry years 2014–2017 and what rent did.
UAE Mortgages for Non-Residents: How Banks Decide, What to PrepareWhat UAE banks look at when a non-resident applies for a mortgage, the sequence from pre-approval to registration, the costs a loan does not cover, and when a deal stalls.
JBR Apartment Prices: Jumeirah Beach Residence Price HistoryJBR apartment prices from DLD deals: Jumeirah Beach Residence median price by bedroom since 2008, AED per sq ft, entry-year results and Ejari rents today.
JLT Apartment Prices: Jumeirah Lake Towers Price History 2008–2026Jumeirah Lake Towers apartment prices from DLD deals: price history by bedroom, price per sq ft, why a 2025 one-bed is in the red, and Ejari rents today.
JVC Apartment Prices: JVC Price History and Price per Sq FtJVC apartment prices from DLD transactions: median price by bedroom since 2012, price per sq ft, what buyers of each year hold today, Ejari rents and off-plan rules.
Dubai Property Crash 2008–2011: What Prices Actually DidThe Dubai property crash of 2008 in numbers: REIDIN index month by month, why the DLD register hides the fall, and what buying at the 2008 peak or in 2011 gives today.
Burj Khalifa Apartment Price: DLD Sales History 2012–2026What a one-bedroom in Burj Khalifa sells for in Dubai Land Department data: AED 3.05m today, AED 3.95m at the 2014 peak, AED 1.75m in 2020, and a 3.8% gross yield.
Motor City Apartment Prices: Price History and the Years That LostMotor City Dubai apartment prices from DLD sales: 1, 2 and 3-bed medians since 2012, 2008–2011 estimates, 13 losing entry years, Ejari rents and USD values.
Your Dubai Property After Death: Wills and Succession for ForeignersHow a foreign owner's Dubai property passes on death under Law 41/2022, why bank accounts freeze, how a DIFC will works remotely, and how it fits your home-country will.
Dubai Property Scams and Rogue Brokers: How to Check Before You PayThe checks that separate a licensed Dubai broker from a scam, the schemes aimed at overseas buyers, and what to do in the first week if money has already gone.
Off-Plan or Ready Property in Dubai: How to Choose and What to Read in the ContractOff-plan versus ready property in Dubai: payment plans and delay risk against income from month one, how escrow and Oqood protect money, and the key clauses.
Cancelled Projects in Dubai: What Off-Plan Buyers Actually Got BackDocumented cancelled Dubai projects with figures: what buyers paid, what came back and when. What escrow law changed, off-plan share by year and what to check.
Palm Jebel Ali History: Paid In 2008, Refunded In 2022, No InterestPalm Jebel Ali history: works stopped in 2009, Nakheel cancelled and relaunched in 2022 with a refund or 150% credit. One AED 1.7m case compared with Palm Jumeirah.
Palm Jumeirah Apartment Prices: Price History and Price per Sq FtPalm Jumeirah apartment prices from DLD transactions: median by bedroom since 2008, AED per sq ft, the result of buying in each year and Ejari rental yields.
Buying Property in Dubai as a Foreigner: the Process and the Real CostsHow a foreigner buys property in Dubai: the steps of the deal, the 4% DLD fee with a worked example, what to check before paying a deposit, and remote purchase.
Selling a Dubai Property as an Overseas Owner: Exit Without DelaysHow a non-resident owner sells in Dubai: the NOC, mortgage release, getting paid at the trustee, selling with a tenant, assigning off-plan, and tax at home.
Due Diligence on a Dubai Developer: A Buyer's ChecklistA practical due diligence checklist for a Dubai off-plan purchase: what the DLD register shows, how to read a developer's track record, and which SPA clauses matter.
All the Costs of Buying Property in Dubai: the Complete Fee ListThe complete list of buyer costs in Dubai: 4% DLD fee, trustee, title deed, NOC, agent commission — with a worked example for a property at AED 2 million.
Dubai Areas Compared: Prices and Rents in 17 Communities, 2012–2026Dubai areas compared on DLD registered sales in 17 communities: prices by area in AED and USD, which fell most in 2014–2020, rents, volumes, Golden Visa line.
Complaining to RERA in Dubai: When the Regulator Helps and When NotA practical guide to filing a complaint with RERA against a developer, broker or building manager in Dubai: what it can achieve, what belongs in court, and how to write it.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Apartment Prices: DLD Price History Since 2012Dubai Silicon Oasis apartment prices from DLD sales: studio, 1-bed and 2-bed medians since 2012, price per sq ft, each entry year's result in USD and rent.
Service Charges in Dubai: What Owners Pay and How to Check FirstHow service charges are set and approved in Dubai, why two towers differ so much, what happens to arrears on resale, and how to dispute a budget you think is wrong.
Buying Dubai Property Jointly: Co-Owners, Spouses or a CompanyHow joint ownership of Dubai property works for spouses, partners and investor groups, what happens on death, divorce or exit, and when a company structure pays off.
Late Handover in Dubai: Your Options When the Developer Is LateWhat an off-plan buyer can actually claim when a Dubai developer is late, why stopping payments costs up to 40% of the price, and how to exit or negotiate.
The Greens Dubai Apartment Prices: Price History Next to JLTThe Greens Dubai apartment prices from DLD deals by year, compared with neighbouring JLT: entry years, price per sq ft, the 2022 record and Ejari rents.
Refund from a Dubai Developer: When You Can Get Your Money BackThe three routes to a refund on a Dubai off-plan purchase, how much a developer may legally retain if you default, and how to enforce once you win.
Is Dubai Property a Good Investment? What 18 Years of Sales ShowEvery entry year from 2008 to 2025 tested against today's DLD sales: 539 property-year pairs, 64 in the red, the 2008 bubble, the 2014 peak and the 2025 fee trap.
Legal support
DIAC Arbitration: What Changed After Decree No. 34 and What to Do With Old ClausesDubai Decree No. 34 of 2021 abolished the DIFC-LCIA and EMAC: where old arbitration clauses now lead, what the DIAC Rules 2022 mean and what to check.
Arbitration Clauses in UAE Contracts: DIAC, LCIA, ICC, EnforcementWhich arbitration clause to put in a UAE contract, whether a London or Paris award is enforced in Dubai, what happened to DIFC-LCIA, and how to draft a clause that survives.
Frozen Bank Account in the UAE: Why, and How to Get It ReleasedThe three kinds of account freeze in the UAE, what the bank's letter actually asks for, how to reply, and what to do when the bank exits the relationship.
Concord Tower, Dubai Media City: Location, Metro and How to Get HereConcord Tower in Dubai Media City: our office address, the nearest tram stops, which metro station to use after the renamings, taxis, parking and booking a visit.
Which Court Hears Your Case in Dubai: Onshore Courts or DIFC CourtsHow Dubai's courts look to a foreigner, when you can opt into the English-language DIFC Courts, what it costs, and how judgments are enforced outside the DIFC.
Signing a Contract with a UAE Company: What Your Template Gets WrongWhere an English or American contract template fails under UAE law: penalties, termination, notices, bilingual texts, signatory authority and the clause that decides where you sue.
Gratuity Calculation UAE: End-of-Service Benefits Explained with ExamplesHow UAE end-of-service gratuity is calculated under Decree-Law 33/2021: 21 and 30 days of basic salary, the one-year rule, the cap, leave pay, deductions, 14-day deadline.
Shareholder Disputes in UAE Companies: Deadlock, Exit, ControlWhat decides a partner dispute in a UAE LLC or free zone company: the licence, the bank mandate and the shareholders' agreement. Where to go and when to settle.
Crypto in the UAE: Licensing, Banking and Source of FundsWho regulates virtual assets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, what a UAE bank needs before it accepts crypto proceeds, how corporate tax applies, and when the money will not get in.
Settling a Dispute in the UAE: Making the Agreement EnforceableWhich settlement forms can actually be enforced in the UAE, how to price a settlement against litigation, what to do in the first days, and when negotiating is a waste of time.
Inheritance and Wills in the UAE for Non-Muslims: What Happens Without a WillWhat happens to a non-Muslim's UAE assets without a will after Decree-Law 41/2022, why a DIFC will still matters, and how to align it with your will at home.
Visit Our Dubai Office Online: LaWEra Legal Services 3D Law Firm Office TourWalk through LaWEra Legal Services' law firm office in Concord Tower, Dubai Media City, in 3D: what the tour shows, how it was built, and how to book a meeting.
Free Legal Consultation in Dubai: How the First Lawyer Meeting WorksWhat happens at a first meeting with a lawyer in Dubai, what to bring, how consultation fees and lawyer fees work, questions to ask, and how to find a good lawyer.
Order for Payment in the UAE: Fast-Track Recovery of an Undisputed DebtHow a UAE order for payment works under the Civil Procedure Law: 5-day demand, decision in 3 working days, 15- or 30-day challenge, enforcement, cheques.
Enforcing a Foreign Judgment or Award in the UAE: What WorksHow a London award and an English or US judgment are treated differently in the UAE, the New York Convention route, the documents required, and when enforcement is pointless.
Terminating a Contract in the UAE Without Being the Party in BreachThe notice-cure-termination sequence under UAE law, why stopping performance first is the costliest mistake, and what to do if the other side terminates.
Sanctions Screening in UAE Banks: Why Payments Get ReturnedHow UAE banks apply US, UK and EU sanctions rules through their correspondents, why a payment is returned, what to fix in your structure, and where the legal line is.
UAE Travel Ban: Causes, How to Check and How to Lift ItWhy a travel ban is imposed in the UAE, how to check it free online through Dubai Police before you book a flight, and what it takes to have the ban lifted.
Employment Disputes in the UAE: Salary, Dismissal, VisaThe employee's route in a UAE labour dispute: MOHRE, free zone authority or DIFC, what to preserve from day one, what never to sign, and when a claim is already lost.
Termination of Employment in the UAE: Notice, Probation, Final Pay, MOHREHow employment ends under UAE Decree-Law 33/2021: 30–90 days' notice, probation exits, summary dismissal grounds, arbitrary dismissal pay, 14-day settlement, claim deadlines.
Debt Recovery in the UAE: Routes, Timelines and Why Assets Come FirstHow to recover a debt in the UAE: demand letter, court, arbitration, cheques and attachment orders. Why tracing the debtor's assets comes before the claim.
DIFC Will Registration: Cost, Will Types and Step-by-Step Process for ExpatsHow a non-Muslim expat registers a will in the UAE: DIFC Courts Wills fees (Full Will AED 10,000), witnesses, executors, Dubai Courts and ADJD options.