These guides explain UAE law in plain English, area by area, for individuals and businesses in the UAE and abroad. Each one is written by Advocate UAE, the website of Amal Khamis Advocates & Legal Consultants in Dubai, and checked against the official text of the law on the UAE and Dubai legislation portals. Every guide lists its sources and the date it was last updated. They give general information, not legal advice on a specific case.
Guides by area
- Family, divorce and wills (3 guides)
- Criminal law and INTERPOL (4 guides)
- Civil claims, compensation and employment (3 guides)
- Property and tenancy (2 guides)
- Business (1 guide)
Family, divorce and wills
- Divorce in the UAE: Process, Alimony and Child Maintenance: which law applies to your divorce, the routes for Muslims and non-Muslims, and what happens to maintenance and money.
- Child Custody and Guardianship in the UAE: What Parents Need to Know: the difference between custody and guardianship, how long custody lasts, and the rules on travel, passports and visits.
- Making a Will in the UAE: A Guide for Expats: what happens without a will, which law governs your will, and where to register it.
For advice on your situation, see our family lawyers in Dubai.
Criminal law and INTERPOL
- Criminal Cases in Dubai: What to Expect and Your Rights: each stage from police complaint to appeal, with your rights at arrest, during questioning and at trial.
- Bounced Cheques in the UAE: When Is It Still a Crime?: where the criminal line sits since 2022, the penalties, and how payment or settlement ends a case.
- Defamation & Cybercrime in the UAE: What You Can and Cannot Post: online insult, privacy and false news offences, the penalties, and whether truth is a defence.
- How to Remove an INTERPOL Red Notice: A UAE Guide: how to check for a notice, the grounds for deletion, the CCF process, and what removal does and does not do.
For advice on your situation, see our criminal lawyers in Dubai and our INTERPOL lawyer in Dubai page.
Civil claims, compensation and employment
- Civil Disputes in the UAE: Contract Claims, Debt Recovery and Court Cases: breach of contract, payment orders, bounced cheque enforcement, time limits and enforcement of judgments.
- Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Compensation in the UAE: diya, arsh and civil compensation, and the Medical Liability Committee process.
- UAE Employment Law: Your Rights as an Employee: notice, leave, end-of-service gratuity, unlawful dismissal and MOHRE claims.
For advice on your situation, see our civil lawyers in Dubai.
Property and tenancy
- Property & Real Estate Disputes in Dubai: A Practical Guide: which forum hears each dispute, rent caps, off-plan escrow and service charges.
- Eviction in Dubai: Notice Periods, Legal Grounds & Your Rights: the grounds a landlord can use, the 12-month notice rule, and how to challenge an eviction.
For advice on your situation, see our real estate lawyers in Dubai.
Business
- Setting Up a Business in Dubai: Mainland, Free Zone or Offshore: choosing a structure and company form, foreign ownership, and corporate tax.
For advice on your situation, see our business lawyers in Dubai.
How these guides are written
- Every legal statement is checked against the official legislation, and the specific articles are cited in the text.
- Each guide ends with a list of sources linking to the official legislation portals, and shows the date it was last updated.
Need advice on your own case?
A guide can tell you how the law works, but not how it applies to your facts. For a confidential consultation in Arabic or English, call +971 54 388 0722 or message us on WhatsApp. You can also contact our office in Business Bay, Dubai.
These guides give general information about UAE law. They are not legal advice on a specific case. Last updated: 17 October 2026.