United Arab Emirates: M&A/Private Equity

The UAE's competition regime has undergone a significant transformation with Cabinet Resolution No. 59 of 2026, introducing Executive Regulations to Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023. These regulations establish a detailed procedural framework for obtaining individual exemptions and implementing block exemptions, while moving the assessment of dominance beyond purely market share-based approaches to require broader economic analysis of market power.

The UAE has introduced Cabinet Decision No. 105 of 2026, establishing official fees for competition law filings under Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023. The fee structure includes a turnover-based calculation for merger clearance requests (0.02% of annual sales, capped at AED 150,000), flat fees for exemption requests (AED 5,000), and nominal charges for objections and grievances. These fees take effect on 29 July 2026, one day before the implementing regulation becomes operational.

The UAE has introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the valuation of non-cash assets contributed to company capital. Ministerial Decision No. 117/2026 establishes mandatory accreditation requirements...

Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2025 (the Amendment) introduces a series of targeted but meaningful changes to the UAE Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021) (the CCL).

The UAE's 2025 amendments to the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025 amending Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021)...

Insurance in the UAE is a major growth lever: a financial scaffold that bolsters investment, enables trade and underwrites commercial ambition, all within a deeply regulated legal soil.

In December 2023, the UAE legislator enacted a new Competition Law), which introduced—among other changes—the concept of turnover based notification thresholds.

Over the last 18 months, the UAE overhauled its competition regime through a series of legislative changes.

In addition to our previous article, which discussed the procedures for initiating and serving claims within the ADGM, both within the UAE and internationally, this article further outlines the process of answering a claim in the ADGM Courts.