Books and guides

Our guides to UAE law

Buying property in Dubai

For private investors: checking the developer and the property, what to look for in the SPA, how escrow accounts work, registration with the Dubai Land Department, transaction costs and what to do if a project is delayed or cancelled.

UAE employment law

For business owners and employees: employment contracts, probation, working hours and leave, termination and end-of-service gratuity, and disputes through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

A legal guide to the UAE

An overview of the legal system for anyone starting a business or relocating: federal and local law, the courts and the DIFC/ADGM financial free zones, company forms, tax, visas, documents and legalisation.

How to get a guide

Choose a guide in the form on this page and enter your email — the file arrives within minutes. The guides are free. We use your address only to send the guide and, if you agree, our UAE legal news digest; you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy.

Each guide explains the general rules and is not a substitute for advice on your situation. If you still have questions, get in touch; recent legal changes are covered in our News.

What is inside each guide

Every guide follows the same pattern: first how the rule works in general, then the mistakes we typically see in practice, and finally a checklist you can use before a purchase, a hire or a move. We cite legislation where it helps explain the point, not to pad the page.

Who the guides are for

• Entrepreneurs from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Europe setting up or running a business in the UAE.
• Private investors buying property in Dubai.
• Employers and employees of UAE companies.
• Anyone relocating to the Emirates who wants to understand the local rules.