FinTech Legal Compliance and Licensing in the UAE
The financial technology sector in the United Arab Emirates has transitioned from a disruptive emerging market into a cornerstone of…
- +971506275196
- file@dubaiadvocates.ae
- Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
We advise individuals, families and businesses on corporate matters, criminal defence, property, employment, family law, commercial disputes, arbitration, debt recovery and insolvency. Matters are handled before the onshore courts and, where the facts call for it, through DIFC or ADGM procedures, arbitration, mediation or a negotiated settlement.
About the firm
Dubai Advocates is a licensed law firm at Mid Floor, Aspin Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. We act for UAE nationals, residents and clients based overseas, on everything from a personal or family question to a cross-border commercial dispute.
Our advocates and legal consultants set out where you stand, what the law allows, what your documents need to say, and whether a matter is better settled or fought. We explain UAE procedure in plain terms, give a realistic view of what is likely to happen, and keep the file moving.
Licensed Across UAE Jurisdictions
Advocates and legal consultants licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. We appear before the onshore courts and advise on DIFC and ADGM matters, with rights of audience depending on the forum and the practitioner handling the file. All work follows UAE professional conduct rules.
Multilingual Legal Team
We work in Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu, French and Russian. Other languages can usually be arranged for a meeting or a document, so tell us what you need when you first make contact.
Transparent Engagement Process
You receive an engagement letter before any work begins, setting out the scope and the fees. You hear from us as the matter moves, not only when a deadline arrives.
Business law
Personal injury law
Accident law
Insurance law
Divorce law
Criminal law
Tax law
Industrial law
Legal Representation With Experience
Our work runs from commercial contracts and employment questions through to cross-border disputes, criminal investigations, regulatory proceedings, debt recovery and corporate restructuring.
Business law
Setting up a company, drafting the contracts behind it, and dealing with partners, suppliers or regulators when something goes wrong. Mainland, free zone and offshore.
Family law
Divorce, custody, maintenance and inheritance, under UAE personal status law or under the law of your home country where that applies.
Criminal Law
Defence from the police station through the public prosecution to trial and appeal, including bounced cheque cases, fraud allegations and travel bans.
Why preparation decides most matters
The UAE has more than one legal system running alongside the others, each with its own governing law, language and procedure. A missed deadline, a submission that is not properly prepared, or a document that says the wrong thing can decide a matter before anyone looks at its merits. That is the part we take off your hands.
How Your Matter Is Handled
Every matter is handled by an advocate or legal consultant with experience in that area of UAE law. You are told at the outset who is responsible for your file, what the next step is, and what it will cost. Where a matter needs a licence or a right of audience we do not hold, we say so and help you find someone who does.
The matters we are asked about most often
Corporate & Commercial Law
Incorporation, shareholder and joint venture agreements, supply and distribution contracts, restructuring, and day to day governance questions.
Construction Law
FIDIC and bespoke contracts, variation and delay claims, payment disputes, and adjudication or arbitration when a project stops moving.
Arbitration and ADR
Arbitration before UAE and international institutions, mediation and conciliation, and enforcing or challenging an award in the local courts.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Civil, commercial and labour claims from the first filing through appeal and cassation, with urgent applications and execution where they are needed.
Family Law UAE
Personal status matters for residents and expatriates: separation, custody arrangements, financial claims, and recognition of orders made abroad.
Real Estate Law
Off plan and ready sales, title and escrow problems, landlord and tenant claims before the rental committee, and disputes with developers.
Employment Law
Contracts and end of service entitlements, dismissal and non compete disputes, and claims before the Ministry and the labour courts.
Criminal Law
Representation at every stage of a criminal case: investigation, prosecution, trial and appeal, including bail and applications to lift a travel ban.
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When You Need Legal Help, We Are Here For You
Whether it is a business dispute, a criminal investigation, a family matter, an unpaid debt, a property problem or a transaction you need completed, you can speak to us in confidence.
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Our Clients' Experience
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Request a consultation
Have a legal question? Fill in the form or reach us directly. Submit your enquiry using the form below. For urgent matters — police summons, travel bans, imminent court deadlines — please call directly.
Address
Mid Floor, Aspin Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Email address
file@dubaiadvocates.ae
Phone number
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
01. What is the fundamental structure of the UAE legal system?
The United Arab Emirates operates under a dual legal system that combines civil law principles with Sharia (Islamic) law. The system is federal, meaning there are federal laws applicable across all seven emirates, alongside local laws and regulations specific to individual emirates (such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi). The Constitution of the UAE is the supreme law of the land, establishing the framework for the federation, while Sharia law serves as a principal source of legislation, particularly influencing personal status and family matters.
02. What is the difference between Onshore and Offshore (Free Zone) jurisdictions in the UAE?
Onshore” refers to the primary jurisdiction of the UAE, governed by federal and local emirate laws (e.g., the UAE Civil Code, Commercial Transactions Law). “Offshore” or “Free Zone” jurisdictions are designated areas (like the DIFC in Dubai or ADGM in Abu Dhabi) that have their own distinct civil and commercial laws, often based on English Common Law, and operate their own independent court systems. However, UAE Federal Criminal Law applies universally across both onshore and free zone jurisdictions.
03. What is the hierarchy of the onshore court system in Dubai?
The onshore court system in Dubai operates independently from the federal judicial system and follows a three-tier hierarchy:
1. **The Court of First Instance:** The initial court where lawsuits are filed and heard.
2. **The Court of Appeal:** Where judgments from the Court of First Instance can be challenged.
3. **The Court of Cassation:** The highest judicial body in Dubai, which reviews decisions from the Court of Appeal strictly on matters of law, not facts.
04. What is the role of the Public Prosecution in the UAE criminal justice system?
The Public Prosecution is the exclusive judicial authority responsible for initiating and conducting criminal proceedings on behalf of the society. They oversee police investigations, determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge a suspect, frame the formal criminal charges, and represent the state in prosecuting the accused before the criminal courts.
05. How are travel bans issued and lifted in the UAE?
A travel ban is a legal restriction preventing an individual from leaving the UAE. It can be issued for various reasons, including pending criminal investigations, unpaid debts, civil court judgments, or immigration violations. To lift a travel ban, the underlying issue must be resolved—such as clearing the debt, concluding the criminal case, or obtaining a specific court order lifting the restriction upon submitting financial guarantees.
06. What is the role of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regarding financial crimes?
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulates financial institutions and enforces strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) frameworks. It mandates that banks implement robust compliance programs, conduct customer due diligence (KYC), and report suspicious transactions to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The CBUAE has the authority to impose severe administrative and financial penalties on institutions failing to comply.
07. What constitutes a cybercrime under UAE law?
Cybercrimes in the UAE encompass a wide range of illegal activities committed via computer networks, the internet, or electronic devices. This includes unauthorized access to data (hacking), electronic fraud, online extortion, spreading rumors or fake news, breach of privacy (such as taking or sharing photos without consent), and insulting or defaming others online. The penalties for cybercrimes are severe, including substantial fines, imprisonment, and deportation for expatriates.
08. What are the legal requirements for a valid contract under UAE Civil Law?
Under the UAE Civil Transactions Law, a valid contract requires three essential elements:
1. Mutual consent (offer and acceptance) between parties possessing the legal capacity to contract.
2. A specified, lawful, and possible subject matter.
3. A lawful cause or purpose for the obligation.
If any of these elements are missing, the contract may be deemed void or voidable.
09. What are the legal consequences of issuing a bounced cheque in the UAE?
Recent legislative changes have decriminalized the issuance of bounced cheques in most standard commercial scenarios. Instead of facing immediate criminal charges, the beneficiary can now use the bounced cheque as an “executive instrument” to directly enforce payment through the civil execution courts. However, criminal penalties still apply to acts of fraud related to cheques, such as deliberately forging a cheque, ordering the bank not to pay without legal justification, or signing the cheque in a way that prevents encashment.
10. What are the rules regarding probation periods and termination under the new UAE Labour Law?
Under the current UAE Labour Law, the probation period cannot exceed six months. If an employer wishes to terminate the employee during probation, they must provide a minimum of 14 days’ written notice. If the employee wishes to resign during probation to leave the UAE, they must give 14 days’ notice. If the employee resigns to join another employer within the UAE, they must provide 30 days’ notice, and the new employer may be required to compensate the previous employer for recruitment costs.
Send us an email
file@dubaiadvocates.ae
Contact us
A licensed UAE law firm advising individuals and businesses on corporate matters, criminal defence, real estate, employment, family law, commercial disputes, arbitration, debt recovery and insolvency, before the onshore courts and, where the forum allows, in DIFC and ADGM proceedings. Mid Floor, Aspin Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
Working hours
- Monday - Friday
- 09:00 am - 07:00 pm