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In the UAE, a power of attorney (POA) generally ends automatically when the principal (the person who granted it) dies. The authority you held as an agent does not survive the principal's death, so you can no longer use the POA to deal with the deceased's bank accounts, property, or other assets. After death, the deceased's assets fall to be dealt with through inheritance and succession processes instead, which for Muslims follow the personal status (Sharia) rules and for non-Muslims may follow a registered will or other applicable rules, and a legal heir or succession certificate from the court is usually needed before assets can be released or transferred. Continuing to act on a POA after the principal has died can expose the agent to legal consequences, so once you are aware of the death you should stop using it and inform any institutions that relied on it. The same general principle applies if the principal loses legal capacity. If you are unsure how to deal with the deceased's assets, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI experienced in succession and estate matters.

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. In Dubai it is a mainland company licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and governed by the UAE Commercial Companies Law. The 'limited liability' part means the company is a separate legal person from its owners, so a shareholder's financial responsibility is generally limited to the value of their shares in the company's capital rather than their personal assets. The LLC holds the trade licence in its own name, and it can sign contracts, own assets, open a corporate bank account, hire staff, and sponsor residence visas for owners and employees. It can trade across the UAE mainland. Depending on the licence issued, an LLC can carry out commercial, professional, or industrial activities. To set one up you typically reserve a trade name, choose your business activity, secure any special approvals the activity requires, sign a Memorandum of Association, provide a tenancy contract (Ejari) for office space, and obtain the trade licence. Ownership rules have changed in recent years, and many activities are now open to full foreign ownership. Outside Dubai the same structure is licensed by the economic department of the relevant emirate. Because the exact steps, approvals, permitted activities, and fees depend on your chosen activity and emirate, confirm the current requirements with the licensing authority — DET in Dubai — before committing. For structuring questions, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

Dubai Decree No. 34 of 2021 restructured arbitration in Dubai by consolidating the emirate's arbitration institutions into the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). As part of that reform, the bodies that previously administered arbitration in Dubai, including the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre, were dissolved and their functions transferred to DIAC. This created uncertainty for parties whose existing contracts still referred to the DIFC-LCIA. The general approach following the decree has been that DIAC took over the administration of such cases, applying its own framework, while parties remain free to agree otherwise. If your contract names the DIFC-LCIA, the practical question is how that clause now operates and which rules and seat apply, which can affect appointment of arbitrators and procedure. Because the transition can raise jurisdictional arguments, it is worth getting a clear read on your specific clause before a dispute escalates. You can compare verified UAE arbitration professionals on LEXAI who can advise on contracts affected by Decree 34 of 2021.

For many mainland business activities, foreigners can now own 100% of a UAE LLC. This followed reforms to the UAE Commercial Companies Law that removed the long-standing requirement for a UAE national to hold the majority of the shares for a wide range of commercial and industrial activities. However, full foreign ownership is not automatic for every activity: certain strategic-impact sectors and some professional activities can still carry specific conditions, and the list of eligible activities is set and updated by each emirate's economic department, such as Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. Free zones, separately, have always permitted full foreign ownership within their jurisdictions. Because eligibility depends on the exact activity code and emirate, you should confirm whether your chosen activity qualifies for full ownership before registering, rather than assuming. The official UAE government portal explains the ownership framework. For tailored confirmation or shareholder agreements, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

For most commercial and industrial mainland activities, a UAE national sponsor or majority local partner is no longer required, following reforms to the UAE Commercial Companies Law that allowed full foreign ownership for many activities. This changed the older model in which an Emirati partner typically held a majority shareholding. That said, the change is activity-specific: some professional activities and certain regulated or strategic sectors may still involve a local service agent or particular conditions, and each emirate's economic department maintains the list of activities eligible for full foreign ownership. A local service agent, where required, generally provides administrative liaison and does not hold equity or share in profits. Because the rule depends entirely on your activity and emirate, verify your specific situation with the licensing authority such as Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism before assuming no partner is needed. For agreements with any agent or partner, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

Your business activity determines your licence type, any special approvals you need, and sometimes your ownership options, so choosing accurately matters. UAE economic departments and free zone authorities maintain official lists of approved activities, each with a code, grouped under commercial, professional, industrial, and other categories. To choose well, define exactly what your business will do, then match it to the closest approved activity or activities; many businesses register more than one related activity under a single licence where the rules allow. Some activities are 'regulated' and require approval from an external authority (for example certain financial, health, education, or legal services) before the licence is issued. Picking an activity that does not match your real operations can cause compliance issues later, so it is worth confirming the correct codes with the licensing authority. Because the lists and conditions are updated periodically, verify the current options directly. For help interpreting regulated-activity requirements, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

Reserving a trade name is one of the first steps in setting up a company in Dubai and is handled through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). You submit your proposed name for approval, and if available and compliant, it is reserved for your company. UAE trade-name rules generally require the name to be relevant to the activity, not violate public morals or order, not be identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered name, and not include the names of religions, governing authorities, or certain restricted words without permission. If you use a personal name, it usually must be the full name rather than initials. Once approved, the reserved name is typically held for a limited period while you complete the rest of the registration. Fees and validity periods are set by the authority and should be confirmed at the time of application. Because naming rules are applied strictly, check the current requirements with DET. For trademark protection of your chosen name, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

While exact requirements vary by emirate, activity, and whether shareholders are individuals or companies, an LLC registration in the UAE typically calls for a common set of documents. These usually include passport copies (and often Emirates ID or visa pages) of the shareholders and managers, the approved trade name and initial approval, a completed application, the Memorandum of Association signed by the shareholders, and a tenancy contract registered through Ejari proving you have premises. Some activities require additional external or special approvals before the licence is issued, and corporate shareholders generally need attested constitutional documents and board resolutions. Free zones have their own document checklists managed by each authority. Because the precise list depends on your structure and activity, confirm the current requirements with the relevant economic department or free zone before submitting. The official UAE government portal outlines the general process. For drafting or attesting the MOA and corporate documents, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.

The time to set up a company in Dubai depends heavily on your activity, legal structure, jurisdiction, and whether your activity needs external approvals. Straightforward activities with no special approvals can often be licensed relatively quickly once the trade name is reserved, initial approval is granted, the Memorandum of Association is signed, and premises are secured. Activities that are 'regulated' and require sign-off from an external authority, or that involve corporate shareholders needing attested documents from abroad, typically take longer because of the additional approval and document-legalisation steps. Free zones run their own timelines through each authority. Because timeframes are not fixed and can change with the volume of approvals required, it is best to confirm an estimate with the Department of Economy and Tourism or your chosen free zone for your specific activity rather than relying on a generic figure. To avoid delays from incorrect documents or activity selection, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI for guidance.

For a mainland Dubai company, a registered business address is generally part of the licensing requirements, and a tenancy contract registered through Ejari (the official tenancy registration system) is typically needed to obtain or renew the trade licence. The premises must usually be suitable for the licensed activity. There are flexible options in some cases, such as shared or serviced workspace arrangements and business-centre packages that can meet the address requirement for certain activities, but the acceptability of these depends on the activity and the authority's rules. Free zones often offer their own flexible packages, including smaller or flexi-desk options, governed by each free zone authority. Because requirements vary by activity and can change, confirm exactly what premises and tenancy proof your business needs with the Department of Economy and Tourism or your free zone before signing a lease. For reviewing a commercial tenancy or Ejari contract, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.