UAE laws by sector
UAE commercial, companies, insolvency, competition, consumer and broader business legislation.
Federal Law No. (6) of 2018
Establishes the UAE federal arbitration framework for arbitration agreements, tribunals, proceedings, awards, court assistance, annulment and recognition/enforcement, including domestic and qualifying international arbitration.
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Federal Law by Decree No. (42) of 2023
Creates the current federal framework against commercial fraud, counterfeit goods, fraudulent or spoiled goods and misleading commercial practices, and provides inspection, seizure, closure, destruction, sanctions and appeal mechanisms.
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Federal Law by Decree No. (6) of 2022
Creates the modern federal framework for establishing, registering, governing, financing, supervising, merging, converting and dissolving cooperative associations, including digital/platform and service cooperatives.
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Federal Law No. (15) of 2020
Protects consumers in the UAE by regulating product and service quality, pricing, advertising, invoices, warranties, defects, spare parts, recalls, e-commerce, provider obligations and consumer remedies.
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Federal Law No. (3) of 2022
Regulates registered commercial agency relationships, eligibility, registration, exclusivity, commission, supply, termination, non-renewal, compensation, disputes and administrative penalties in the UAE.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (50) of 2022
The principal federal commercial transactions code, governing traders, commercial acts, business obligations, commercial sales, agency/brokerage, banking operations, accounts, guarantees, negotiable instruments and related commercial dealings.
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Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021
The principal UAE federal companies statute governing incorporation, ownership, governance, capital, managers/directors, shareholder rights, mergers, conversions, foreign companies, liquidation, inspection and offences.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (14) of 2023
Regulates trade conducted through websites, applications, platforms and other modern technology, covering digital traders, licensing, digital contracts, consumer rights, data, logistics, payments, returns and enforcement.
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Federal Law No. (22) of 2000
Establishes and regulates the federal union representing the UAE chambers of commerce and industry, defining its objectives, membership, governance, representation, finances and institutional powers.
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Federal Law No. (2) of 2015
Historic UAE commercial companies legislation governing company formation, ownership, governance, capital, joint stock companies, LLCs, foreign companies and liquidation before replacement by Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2021.
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Federal Law No. (2) of 2014
Establishes the federal SME development framework, including the National SME Programme, government support mechanisms, incentives, procurement access, financing support, classification and obligations of participating enterprises.
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Federal Law No. (19) of 2002
Raises the general customs duty on foreign goods imported from outside the GCC Customs Union from 4% to 5% on a CIF basis, preserves tobacco-specific federal customs rules and identifies exempt goods alongside the Unified Customs Law.
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Federal Law No. (11) of 2019
Sets UAE rules for determining the origin of goods and governs certificates of origin, preferential and non-preferential origin, verification, record-keeping, objections and enforcement.
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Federal Law No. (2) of 2015
The 2015 Commercial Companies Law was the principal federal companies statute governing mainland commercial-company formation, governance, ownership, management, capital, joint-stock companies, foreign companies, liquidation, inspection and penalties. It is retained here as a historical law because it was expressly repealed from 2 January 2022 by Federal Decree by Law No. (32) of 2021.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2024
This decree-law gives GCC citizens, whether natural or legal persons, equal treatment with UAE citizens when practising economic activities and professions in the UAE, subject to exclusions or conditions adopted through GCC Supreme Council or UAE Cabinet decisions. It repeals the former Federal Law No. (2) of 1984.
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Federal Law by Decree No. (42) of 2023
The 2023 Anti-Commercial Fraud Law protects UAE markets and consumers by prohibiting fraudulent, counterfeit, adulterated or misleading goods and regulating supplier obligations, inspection, seizure/disposal, grievance procedures, penalties and enforcement. It repealed Federal Law No. (19) of 2016.
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Federal Decree-Law No. (51) of 2023
The Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy Law governs preventive settlement, restructuring and bankruptcy/liquidation for covered UAE debtors, creates a specialist Bankruptcy Court and modernises creditor, trustee, financing and cross-border insolvency rules. It replaced Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 2016 and has been in force since 1 May 2024.
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