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  Brief In a recent judgment by the Joint Judicial Tribunal in March 2021, the Tribunal ordered that: “…the United Arab Emirates is a party to the New York Convention for the recognition of foreign arbitration decisions and their implementation by Decree No. 43 of 2006, which states to accept

  Case brief In May 2021, the UAE Federal Supreme Court ruled on the first tax evasion criminal case ordering payment of five times the amount of the evaded tax, amounting to almost 4.2 million Dirhams. At a hearing in October 2020, the Federal Primary Court ordered the taxpayer to

  In a recent judgment, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the time limits related to tax disputes do not necessarily commence when notification is issued – but rather require evidence of the receipt and fulfillment of knowledge of the taxpayer of that decision and its contents. The Supreme Court

  In April 2021, the Dubai Cassation Court refused to grant an arbitration award writ of enforcement for violation of public policy on the grounds that the reasoning and decision of the award were not signed by the arbitrator. Background In 2020, a net-winner of an international / foreign arbitration

  Issue Companies often engage in, and operate projects, in the UAE through a joint venture or consortium structure. This is often the case in the construction industry. Generally, these joint ventures or consortiums are unincorporated – meaning that the parties making up the joint ventures do not incorporate a

  The days of the COVID-19 pandemic are gradually becoming a thing of the past and it comes as a sign of glee for companies around the world; but if there is one positive that has been derived from the pandemic, it is the advancement of technology in the workplace

  In a recent judgment, the Dubai Cassation Court clarified the procedure for challenging arbitration-related interim and precautionary orders issued by the competent court or the arbitral tribunal (or arbitrator). Case The contract between the plaintiff and the defendant is governed by an arbitration clause. The plaintiff is the beneficiary

  In late April 2021, the UAE Federal Supreme Court issued the first judgments on disputes arising out of tax private clarifications. The disputes had previously been adjudicated on by the Dubai tax dispute resolution committee, and by the Federal Primary Court and the Federal Appeals Court. The Federal Supreme

  On 28 April 2021, the UAE Cabinet of Ministers issued Decision No. 49/2021 amending provisions of Cabinet Decision No. 40/2017 regulating tax penalties (the “new Decision”). Important highlights: – Late payment penalties reduced from 1% per day to 4% per month. – 300% cap still applies. – New starting

  Recently, in a dispute that Wasel & Wasel was counsel on, the Federal Primary Court ruled providing a definition and test for the ‘tax benefit’ penalty for the first time. What is the ‘tax benefit’ penalty? Of the various tax penalties that are applied by the Federal Tax Authority

  In March 2021, the highest court in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Cassation Court, upheld the denial of the enforceability of an arbitration agreement due to the clause merely stating that arbitration shall be governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates without explicit scope

  In a recent judgment, the highest Court in Dubai, the Dubai Cassation Court ruled that incorporating a FIDIC contract (general conditions) by reference into a transaction does not necessarily bind the parties to the arbitration clause therein that FIDIC contract (general conditions). In this judgment, the Dubai Cassation Court

  Brief Since around September 2020, the tax dispute resolution committee of the Emirate of Dubai has been inoperable (under reformation). On 25 November 2020, the UAE Minister of Justice issued Ministerial Decree No. 691/2020 on the Formation of Tax Dispute Resolution Committees for the Emirate of Dubai. The Emirate

  Summary The UAE Supreme Court ruled that foreign companies engaging in commercial activities in the UAE are liable for the actions of their UAE subsidiaries even where the UAE subsidiary is the party to the contract in dispute and not the foreign company. The Supreme Court considered the following

  In a recent judgment by the Abu Dhabi Cassation Court, the Cassation Court found that the engagement of parties in the court and expert procedures – even whilst challenging the jurisdiction of the courts due to an arbitration agreement – should be considered by the courts in determining whether

  In late 2020, the UAE Federal Supreme Court ruled on the first COVID-19 related dispute which involved trade secrets. For employers and employees, this case provides a long-awaited answer as to the importance of how and when to treat COVID-19 issues with secrecy in the workplace. Facts The case

  In a precedent-setting judgment that Wasel & Wasel acted as counsel on, the UAE Federal Supreme Court ruled on provisions governing notifications of decisions taken by the tax dispute resolution committees, and their effect on the time limitation to challenge such decisions before the Federal Primary Court. The Supreme

  The Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) is based in Switzerland and is considered the elite international dispute resolution forum for legal disputes relating to sports, including commercial disputes (i.e., issues arising from sponsorship agreements or player contracts) and discipline (i.e., doping, non-compliance with codes of conduct). CAS also