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5 Things to Check Before You Sign a Commercial Lease in Dubai

Rent escalation, fit-out costs, exit terms — the clauses that get the least attention when signing a Dubai commercial lease are usually the ones that cause disputes later. Here's what to check first.

Free Zone or Mainland? Choosing the Right Structure for Your Dubai Business

Free zone or mainland shapes where you can trade, how you're licensed, and whether you can bid on government contracts. Here's how to weigh the decision before you set up in Dubai.

What Happens If a Dubai Developer Delays Your Off-Plan Handover

A delayed off-plan handover in Dubai isn't necessarily a lost cause — but knowing whether you're still inside the grace period, and what RERA's escrow system actually protects, changes what you should do next.

Divorce as a Non-Muslim Expat in the UAE: How Personal Status Law Works

The UAE's Civil Personal Status Law gave non-Muslim expatriates a dedicated legal framework for divorce, custody, and financial settlements — separate from Sharia-based proceedings. Here's how it actually works.

UAE Employment Contracts After the 2022 Labour Law Reform

Fixed-term contracts, capped notice periods, portable probation — the 2022 overhaul of UAE labour law changed the basics, and many contracts still in use haven't caught up. Here's what to check.

Arbitration or Litigation? Choosing the Right Forum for a UAE Commercial Dispute

Arbitration isn't automatically faster, and litigation isn't automatically weaker — the right forum for a UAE commercial dispute depends on your contract, your counterparty's assets, and what confidentiality is worth to you.

Protecting Your Brand in the UAE: A Practical Guide to Trademark Registration

A trademark registered abroad gives you no protection in the UAE. Because the system runs on a first-to-file basis, the right time to register here is before you launch — not after a competitor beats you to it.

Bounced Cheques in the UAE: What's Still a Crime After the 2022 Reform

The 2022 reform moved most bounced cheques from criminal to civil territory in the UAE — but not all of them. Here's where the line actually sits, for both payees and issuers.

Sharia-Compliant vs Conventional Financing: What UAE Borrowers Should Know

Sharia-compliant financing doesn't just avoid interest — it works through a fundamentally different structure, from Murabaha to Ijara. Here's what that means for cost, risk, and what happens if you default.