Dubai · United Arab Emirates
Contract Lawyers in Dubai
Contracts drafted for the forum that will enforce them, onshore UAE law or the common-law courts of DIFC and ADGM. Fixed fees, fast turnaround.
Get a fixed-fee quote in under 2 hours.
Share a few details about your contract. An attorney from our team will assess your requirement and respond with a precise quote and timeline. No obligation, no automated replies.
Standard UAE contracts drafted in 24 to 48 hours. Complex or multi-forum work in 3 to 5 days.
Or reach us directly
WhatsApp +91 8004800100 · contact@mylegalpal.com
WhatsApp +91 8004800100 · contact@mylegalpal.com
Onshore UAE
DIFC
ADGM
DMCC
Dubai · Abu Dhabi
One country, two legal systems. The contract has to match.
My Legal Pal drafts and reviews contracts for businesses operating in Dubai and across the UAE. The defining feature of UAE contract work is that the country runs two parallel legal systems at once, and a contract has to be built for the one that will actually enforce it.
Onshore UAE follows a civil-law system, with contracts often required in Arabic or bilingual Arabic and English to be enforceable in the local courts. Inside the country sit the financial free zones of DIFC (Dubai) and ADGM (Abu Dhabi), which run their own English-language common-law systems with their own courts. A contract written for DIFC enforcement is drafted differently from one meant for the onshore Dubai courts.
Whether you need an NDA, a master service agreement, a shareholders’ agreement for a DIFC or ADGM holding company, an agency or distribution agreement, or an employment contract under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the document is built for your forum and your commercial position. We provide contract drafting with fixed fees and standard contracts in 24 to 48 hours.
The contracts that cause damage are the ones that looked fine.
Most UAE contract problems trace back to a mismatch between the document and the forum. A contract drafted in English alone can run into trouble in an onshore court that works in Arabic. A clause that is standard in DIFC can be unfamiliar to the onshore system, and the reverse is also true.
Onshore needs Arabic
For enforceability in the onshore UAE courts, contracts are commonly required in Arabic or as a bilingual document, with the Arabic version often prevailing. We draft bilingual contracts so there is no gap between what you agreed and what a court reads.
DIFC and ADGM are their own world
These free zones apply English common law with their own courts and rules. For a holding company or investment vehicle set up in DIFC or ADGM, the documents should be drafted to that standard, not to onshore civil law.
Employment follows the federal law
Onshore employment runs under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with end-of-service gratuity and fixed-term rules, while DIFC and ADGM have their own employment regimes. The contract has to match where the employee is based.
Cheque and payment recovery
Payment terms and security in the UAE carry their own practical realities. We draft payment and recovery provisions with enforcement in mind, not just on paper.
A shareholders’ agreement for a DIFC-incorporated company drafted under onshore assumptions can leave you in the wrong court with the wrong remedy.
How it works
From brief to signed contract, with a lawyer review at every stage.
Share your requirement
Tell us the deal, the counterparty, the forum (onshore, DIFC, or ADGM), and your priorities.
Lawyer assessment
An attorney confirms scope, the governing forum, and a fixed fee before any work begins.
Drafting
Drafted by a lawyer with experience in this contract type and the relevant UAE forum, bilingual where needed.
Internal review
A second review for legal accuracy, commercial fit, and enforceability in the chosen forum.
Delivery with summary
A clean contract with a plain-language note on the key clauses and likely negotiation points.
Revisions
Adjusted until the contract reflects exactly what you need, ready to sign.
Which contract do you need?
Select the contract type that fits your deal. We will tell you what it covers and the typical timeline.
What makes a UAE contract actually hold up
The clauses and choices most often missing from template contracts. Tap to expand each.
01
The right language for the right court
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An English-only contract filed in an onshore court that works in Arabic.
A bilingual Arabic and English contract, with a clear prevailing-language clause, drafted for onshore enforceability.
02
Forum chosen on purpose: onshore, DIFC, or ADGM
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The choice of court and governing law decides which system hears a dispute and what remedies apply. For free-zone entities, DIFC or ADGM is often the better seat, but only if the contract is drafted for it.
03
A limitation of liability that survives review
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“Neither party shall be liable for any damages.” Often too broad.
A cap tied to fees paid, with carve-outs for IP infringement, breach of confidentiality, and indemnities, drafted to the chosen forum.
04
Employment terms matched to the regime
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Onshore employment runs under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 with end-of-service gratuity and fixed-term rules. DIFC and ADGM have their own. The contract must match where the employee sits.
05
Payment and recovery built for enforcement
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Payment terms should set clear due dates, interest on overdue amounts, and remedies that are practical to enforce in the UAE, rather than a vague promise to pay.
What clients say
Shareholders’ agreement for our DIFC-incorporated holding company. They knew the difference between DIFC and onshore drafting without us having to explain it.
Bilingual distribution agreement for our UAE market entry. Clean Arabic and English, and it held up when we needed it.
They sorted out which forum our contract should sit in before drafting a word. That single decision saved us a lot of trouble later.
Employment contracts for a mixed onshore and free-zone team, each drafted to the right regime. Exactly what we needed.
Shareholders’ agreement for our DIFC-incorporated holding company. They knew the difference between DIFC and onshore drafting without us having to explain it.