Abu Dhabi

Introduction: The Historical Opacity of Onshore Asset Tracing In traditional commercial disputes, pre-execution asset tracing in onshore jurisdictions has long been hindered by structural opacity. Outside of public shareholding disclosures, corporate registries for mainland and free zone limited liability companies do not publicly disclose banking relationships, intercompany receivables, or granular asset holdings. Strictly enforced banking

As the digital asset economy matures, the legal infrastructure governing it is inevitably tested. Commercial disputes in the Web3 space, spanning breach of contract, intellectual property, and licensing, are transitioning from theoretical debates to practical litigation. In a recent sequence of rulings, the Dubai Courts issued what is understood to be the first judgment in

The annulment of an arbitral award due to a strict procedural defect is often a frustrating experience for a prevailing party. A common scenario arises when a counterparty successfully sets aside an unfavorable award by arguing that their legal representative lacked the explicit authority to agree to arbitration or its specific terms. However, a profound

In what stands as potentially the first judicial decision in the United Arab Emirates, and potentially the broader Middle East, addressing institutional liability for the failure of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Court has established a direct precedent on corporate accountability. Financial institutions deploying AI for risk management, fraud detection,

Introduction: Data Center Warfare, AI Targeting, and the Cross-Border Liquidity Squeeze The 2026 Iran War, initiated by joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes under Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, has fundamentally altered the risk profile of commercial operations across the Middle East. Beyond traditional geopolitical and economic risks, the current conflict has escalated into “data center

For nearly thirty years, the “back-to-back” or “pay-when-paid” clause has been a standard method for allocating risk in UAE construction contracts. Historically, UAE courts have upheld these provisions as binding conditional obligations, protecting main contractors but often leaving subcontractors with limited legal options during upstream insolvency. However, a recent ruling by the Abu Dhabi Court

In a recent episode of The Advocate Next Door, Mahmoud Abuwasel, Partner at Wasel & Wasel, joined hosts Kelby Ballena and Margarita Rosa Arango to discuss the intersection of cryptocurrency, cross-border fraud, and dispute resolution. With the UAE serving as a global hub for digital asset adoption, Mahmoud shares exclusive insights into the region’s crypto

In the evolving legal landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the intersection between commercial construction disputes and tax compliance presents unique challenges for property owners. Often, contractors withhold essential documentation, particularly tax invoices, as leverage during payment disputes. However, these invoices are strictly required by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) for taxpayers seeking Value

Introduction The introduction of the UAE Corporate Tax regime via Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 has fundamentally shifted the commercial landscape in the region. As businesses adapt to the new regulatory environment, a critical legal question has emerged: to what extent can a company unilaterally pass its corporate tax liabilities downstream to independent contractors,

The following is an excerpted analysis of topics discussed in the book ‘UAE Crypto Litigation‘, a treatise on the judicial evolution of digital asset disputes in the United Arab Emirates, available at www.uaecryptolitigation.com. In the immediate aftermath of a geopolitical shock, such as the escalating conflict involving Iran, a frantic period of market panic and