Legal Framework
From The Report: Dubai 2016
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This chapter contains an outline of the legal framework in which local and foreign investors operate, including an overview of the expected future changes to foreign direct investment (FDI) restrictions, a rundown of the recently overhauled workplace regulations and protections, and a look at the implications of the expanded scope and greater emphasis being placed on public-private partnerships (PPPs).

This chapter contains a viewpoint from Michael Kerr, Regional Managing Partner, Dentons.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

By the book: Range of new and proposed laws signify the UAE government’s commitment to modernise the legal framework
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In looking back at both the legal changes introduced in the UAE in 2015 and forward to those expected in 2016, an underlying theme begins to emerge, at least in relation to the changes affecting companies and investors doing business in the UAE. It is apparent that the federal government is focused on liberalising and modernising the legal framework underpinning the way in which investors and companies in the UAE operate. There are four main changes to the legal framework: The new Commercial Companies…

Analysis

Open doors: PPPs may be the path forward for the emirate
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Project finance has for many years been strong across the Middle East, especially in the power, water, and oil and gas sectors in various GCC countries. This trend looks likely to take a bold new direction with the promulgation in Dubai in 2015 of a new law relating to public-private partnerships (PPPs). Traditionally sovereign wealth has been used to procure such major infrastructure as was needed. However, falling oil prices are continuing to have an impact, and there are now significant government…

Viewpoint

Courting reciprocation: Michael Kerr, Regional Managing Partner, Dentons, on the international reach of the DIFC Courts
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Operated and supported by modern administrative and regulatory regimes, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) also benefits from an English-language court modelled on the High Court in London, as well as a modern arbitration framework. For the first few years of its existence, the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction was limited to disputes that had some connection with the DIFC, either through the presence of one of the parties or because the dispute related to business conducted in the DIFC. However,…