United Arab Emirates: International Law

INTERPOL Red Notices can severely restrict international travel, freeze banking accounts, and damage professional reputation across 196 member countries. Understanding constitutional violations under Articles 2 and 3 provides crucial defense grounds for challenging these international alerts through the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files, with specialized legal representation essential for navigating this complex process.

Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced in the UAE under the New York Convention framework, but success depends on strategic asset mapping and choosing the correct enforcement route. This guide examines the legal framework governing recognition, the limited grounds on which UAE courts may refuse enforcement, and the critical practical steps required to convert an award into recovered assets.

Foreign divorce judgments obtained abroad do not automatically produce legal consequences within the United Arab Emirates. Whether the objective is to update official records, remarry...

The distinction between a commercial agent and a distributor is particularly important in the United Arab Emirates. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in commercial practice, the legal consequences can be materially different, especially where the relationship qualifies and is registered as a commercial agency under Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 Regulating Commercial Agencies (the Commercial Agencies Law).

Johannes Jonas, managing partner of Cohen & Gresser's Dubai office, explains why familiarity can create a false sense of confidence and why long-term success in the Gulf depends on understanding the region's business culture as much as its legal framework. The article examines common cultural and business mistakes made by first-time entrants and provides a practical five-point readiness checklist for companies considering expansion into the Gulf.

Recent developments across the MENA region have fundamentally altered the operating environment for foreign direct investment, particularly in Iraq and the UAE. While significant opportunities remain in energy, infrastructure, and logistics, investors now face greater variability in how projects are structured, executed, and enforced.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has reclassified the United Arab Emirates under export control regulations, moving it from a restricted category to a trusted partner designation. This significant policy shift affects how American companies can export advanced computing items and dual-use technologies to UAE entities, particularly in the artificial intelligence sector.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule significantly upgrading the export control status of the United Arab Emirates under the Export Administration Regulations. This regulatory change recognizes the UAE as a U.S. Major Defense Partner and facilitates its secure access to certain sensitive items, including advanced computing technology and missile systems, through enhanced favorable treatment and new license exceptions.

On July 14, 2026, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule “Enhanced Favorable Treatment for the United Arab Emirates under the Export Administration Regulations” (Final Rule) that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774) to significantly improve the status of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)...