Charles S Laubach

UAE amends the Labour Law

The promulgation of Federal-Decree Law 6 of 2020 has introduced two amendments to the Labour Law of the United Arab Emirates, Federal Law 8 of 1980, as amended. The amendments introduce equal treatment for male and female employees in respect of compensation and parental leave.

New Law on Registering Security over Movable Assets

Federal Law No. 4 of 2020 on Guaranteeing Rights Related to Movables (the New Mortgage Law), which came into effect on 1 June 2020, has updated the regime for registering security interests over movable assets in the UAE.

UAE Foreign Direct Investment Law vs GCC Customs Exemption

This article discusses the consequences of majority foreign ownership in the UAE (based on the FDI Law) and the GCC customs exemption.

New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19

This supplements our article dated 3 April 2020, which reported on measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19 up to 9:00 a.m. that day. Many new measures have been introduced since then. We now report on new measures taken up to 9:00 a.m. on Monday 6 April 2020.

Further measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19

The UAE continues to implement new measures on a daily basis to curb the spread of COVID-19. Those measures are being adopted, announced and implemented at a very rapid pace. Below is a summary of the key measures that have been implemented by various UAE authorities between 18 March and 3 April.

Relief for employers during Covid-19 epidemic

1 April '20- Many employers are facing diminishing revenues during the current Covid-19 epidemic. Many of those employers also face the need to reduce overhead. To provide some relief for employers, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation promulgated Ministerial Resolution No. 279 of 2020.

Compliance with official measures to combat COVID-19 made mandatory

29 March 2020 - The below article discusses the recently issued UAE resolutions which make compliance with official measures to combat COVID-19 mandatory.

Further measures announced today by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19

This serves as an update to the section “Restriction on Travel / Transportation” in our inBrief (Recent measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19) dated 18 March 2020.

Recent measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19

18 March 2020 - The UAE authorities have been dynamic in implementing measures to control the spread of COVID-19 within the UAE. Please find below a non-exhaustive list of noteworthy measures that have been implemented by various UAE authorities to date.

SCA Issues Guidelines for Financial Institutions on Anti-Money Laundering

This article discusses the recently issued Anti-Money Laundering Guidelines by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority for financial institutions.

FDI - A "Positive" Development

Legal Alert discussing the recently issued positive list of economic activities eligible for up to 100% foreign ownership in the UAE.

New Regulations offer welcome guidance to Anti-Money Laundering Law

The Implementing Regulations to UAE Federal Decree-Law 20 of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations (AML Law) were issued on 28 January 2019 pursuant to Cabinet Resolution 10 of 2019 (AML Regulations) and will be discussed in this article.

Health Data Confidentiality on a Rise in the UAE!

A new sectoral data protection law, Federal Law 2 of 2019 Concerning the Use of the Information and Communication Technology in the Areas of Health (the New Law), has been published and is set to come into force in May 2019.

New Tawazun Economic Program Policy Guidelines Issued

New guidelines have been issued for the UAE offset program.

Federal Penal Code Amendments

In the latest development in an eventful year, Federal Decree-Law 24 of 2018 introduces amendments to the Federal Penal Code, originally enacted as Federal Law 3 of 1987. The amendments are designed to make the Penal Code consistent with other recent federal legislation and enforcement policies.

Confidentiality Under Renewed Focus

The recently issued new banking law and new AML law have together enhanced the protection afforded to confidential information under UAE law, in particular where financial and legal service providers and their customers and clients are concerned.

New Anti-Money Laundering Law

The new anti-money laundering (AML) law of the UAE took effect at the end of October 2018. Containing features recommended by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the new law introduces subtle but important changes to the AML landscape in the UAE.

Netting arrangements in Qualified Financial Contracts made enforceable

The new UAE Netting Law, which will come into effect on 30 October 2018, allows parties to enter into netting agreements for the purposes of netting off their payment and delivery obligations under Qualified Financial Contracts.

Legal Reforms in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has introduced new rules governing the functioning of the Emirate’s judiciary. The new rules appear in Abu Dhabi Law 13 of 2018, which amends Abu Dhabi Law 23 of 2006 on the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

Part-time Work

Ministerial Resolution 31 of 2018 has been issued, addressing part-time employment in the UAE.

The New UAE Pledge Law - Security Registration

UAE Federal Law 20 of 2016 (Regarding the pledge of moveables as a security for debts) (the Pledge Law) introduced a new regime for registering a pledge over moveable assets which are pledged as security for the repayment of a debt. The security register has recently been established.

The New UAE Pledge Law - Promulgation of Regulations That Make Registration Available

Both Cabinet Resolution 5 of 2018 and Ministerial Resolution 42 of 2018 have been issued, providing implementing regulations and instructions regarding the UAE Pledge Law.

Companies Law Compliance

The new Commercial Companies Law was enacted as Federal Law No. 2 of 2015. It gave existing companies until 1 July 2016 to achieve compliance with its terms. Article 374 provides that a further one-year extension could be granted by Resolution of the Cabinet, and such an extension was in fact...