How do I protect the software and source code my UAE startup is building?

Copyright in your code arises automatically in the UAE the moment it is written — no registration is needed — but automatic copyright belongs to the author, and that is exactly your problem with freelancers. A developer you merely commission does not automatically hand you ownership of what they write; without a written assignment, you may only have a licence to use the code, while the freelancer remains free to argue rights over it. So the protection you need is contractual. Every freelancer and employee agreement should contain an express assignment of all intellectual property in the work to your company, effective on creation, covering code, designs, documentation and improvements, together with confidentiality obligations and a commitment to sign any further documents needed to perfect ownership. For developers outside the UAE, make sure the assignment language also works under their local law. Beyond contracts, run basic hygiene: keep the repository under company accounts, restrict access by role, remove leavers immediately, and treat the codebase as a trade secret. Fix the paperwork for past contributions now with retroactive assignments while relationships are still good. A lawyer who handles technology contracts can draft assignment terms that hold up across the borders you are hiring in.