Stage 01
Set up
We help you choose the right structure and jurisdiction, whether onshore or in a free zone, and prepare the licence application, constitutional documents and founding shareholder arrangements.
Corporate & Commercial
Corporate and Commercial Lawyers in Dubai
Our corporate and commercial lawyers in Dubai advise businesses, founders, shareholders and investors on company formation, commercial contracts, corporate governance, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions.
We help businesses structure transactions, manage legal risks and protect their commercial interests under UAE law. Our team works in Arabic and English and coordinates with our litigation and arbitration lawyers when disputes arise.
Across the life of a business
Where we step in as your business grows.
Most businesses move through the same stages. We can join you at any point, but early advice on structure and contracts usually prevents the costliest problems later.
Stage 02
Operate
We draft and negotiate contracts with customers, suppliers, agents and distributors, and keep your board resolutions, company records and regulatory filings in order.
Stage 03
Grow
We structure joint ventures, new investors, expansions and acquisitions, working alongside our Banking & Finance team where funding is involved.
Stage 04
Exit or restructure
We act on share and asset sales, buy-outs, reorganisations and winding up. If a dispute arises, our Litigation & Arbitration team is already familiar with your documents.
Clients
Who we act for.
Owners, investors and managers have different priorities. We advise each client with a clear view of how the other side, the regulator and, if needed, the court is likely to respond.
Founders and foreign investors
Entrepreneurs and overseas businesses entering the UAE market or expanding within it.
Family businesses
Owners and next-generation shareholders who need clear governance, shareholder terms and records.
Companies and corporate groups
Local and international businesses that need dependable contracts and day-to-day corporate support.
Shareholders, directors and investors
Parties negotiating rights, protections, board seats and exit terms.
Government-related and institutional clients
Entities that need contracts and governance documents that meet regulatory expectations.
We act for both buyers and sellers, and for investors and founders, subject to conflict checks.
Services
Our corporate and commercial services.
Practical advice across the matters our clients most often need, under UAE law and in the main onshore and free zone regimes.
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01
Company formation in the UAE
We advise on the right legal form and jurisdiction, whether mainland or free zone, and handle licensing, the memorandum and articles of association, shareholder structure and the filings needed to start trading. Where a licence activity, ownership limit or local requirement affects your plan, we tell you before you commit.
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03
Commercial contracts and terms of business
We draft, review and negotiate the contracts your business runs on, including supply, services, agency and distribution, franchise, NDAs and your standard terms. We focus on payment, liability, termination, governing law and dispute resolution, because those clauses matter most when something goes wrong.
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04
Mergers, acquisitions and restructurings
We act for buyers, sellers and investors on share and asset transactions, from due diligence and term sheets to the transaction documents and completion. We also advise on internal reorganisations, group restructurings, buy-outs and exits.
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05
Corporate governance and board support
Good governance protects directors and keeps the company compliant. We advise boards and management on director duties, board and shareholder resolutions, delegation of authority, company records and regulatory filings, and we support family businesses in putting formal governance in place.
Regimes
The regimes and authorities we work within.
The right structure depends on the regime. We advise on the choice and then handle the process.
UAE onshore
Companies established under UAE federal company law and licensed by the relevant emirate authority, such as the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism for Dubai mainland companies.
Free zones
Companies established under the rules of individual free zone authorities, including the limits on trading in the wider UAE market and how to structure around them.
DIFC and ADGM
Financial free zones with their own common-law frameworks and courts, relevant where investors or counterparties expect English-style documents.
Cross-border and tax coordination
We work with your foreign counsel on international transactions and with your tax adviser on how the structure interacts with UAE corporate tax.
Our approach
How we run a corporate mandate.
Our approach is the same on every mandate: understand your commercial objectives, identify the key risks and agree a structure that is realistic and commercially sensible.
Scoping
We confirm your objectives, the parties, the documents and the timeline.
Structuring
We set out the options, the legal and regulatory implications and the likely cost and timing.
Drafting and negotiation
We prepare the documents, negotiate with the other side and keep you updated at each step.
Completion and follow-up
We complete the filings and signing, and set up the records and review dates that keep the company compliant.
Why Alsuwaidi Advocates
Drafting that is built to be enforced.
Litigation experience behind every contract
The lawyers who draft your agreements also act in UAE courts and arbitration, so clauses are written with enforcement in mind.
Senior public-sector and regulatory background
Our Managing Director has more than 33 years in UAE legal affairs, including legislative review and regulatory governance.
Arabic and English
Documents, negotiations and filings are handled in the language they need to be in.
One point of contact across practices
Corporate, finance, real estate and disputes work together under a single lead where your matter crosses areas.
People
Your corporate and commercial team.
Our legal team supports businesses, shareholders and investors with corporate and commercial matters. We identify the appropriate lead for each mandate based on the nature of the matter, relevant experience and the legal support required, ensuring clear communication throughout the engagement.
Shuaib Al Suwaidi
Managing Director | Senior Legal Attorney — Dubai, UAE. All legal services.
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Omar
Criminal lawyer; civil, commercial and criminal litigation, legal drafting and court filings.
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Basim
Corporate legal assistant; litigation support, commercial matters and legal documentation.
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Mostafa
Civil & commercial procedure research.
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33+ years in UAE legal affairs
Leadership
Senior legal experience, applied to your business.
Our Managing Director, Mr. Shuaib Al Suwaidi, brings more than 33 years of experience across UAE legal affairs, public-sector advisory work, legislative review and regulatory governance.
His time as Director of Legal Affairs at Dubai Customs and in senior legal roles at the Dubai Police General Command shapes how we approach compliance, contracts and dealings with authorities.
Read his full profileCareer highlights
- Dubai Police General Command, 1989–2015Legal and advisory roles, reviewing federal and local legislation and advising senior departments.
- Dubai Customs, 2016–2022Director of Legal Affairs: legal compliance, regulatory development and organisational reform.
Areas of expertise
- Legal opinions and consultations
- Regulatory compliance and governance
- Legislative drafting and policy review
- International agreements and cooperation memoranda
FAQs
Corporate and commercial FAQs.
Answers to the questions clients raise most often when setting up or running a business in the UAE.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a company in Dubai?
In many cases, yes. Ownership rules depend on the business activity and the licensing authority, and some strategic activities still carry restrictions. We confirm what applies to your activity before you choose a structure.
Should I set up on the mainland or in a free zone?
The answer depends on where your customers are. Mainland companies can generally trade across the UAE market, while free zone companies enjoy specific benefits but may face limits on trading directly onshore. We compare the options against your business plan.
What should a shareholders' agreement cover?
At minimum: who controls decisions, which matters need unanimous or special approval, how funding is provided, restrictions on transferring shares, how deadlock is resolved and how a shareholder exits. A good agreement is written for the day the parties disagree.
What is the difference between a share sale and an asset sale?
In a share sale the buyer takes the company with its history and liabilities. In an asset sale the buyer selects the assets and contracts it wants. The choice affects risk, tax, third-party consents and timing, so it should be decided early.
Which governing law and forum should our contract choose?
That depends on the parties, where assets are held and where a judgment or award would need to be enforced. We advise on whether UAE law, a free zone framework or a foreign law is practical, and whether courts or arbitration suits the relationship.
How does the new UAE civil transactions law affect our contracts?
Changes to UAE civil legislation may affect how certain commercial contracts and obligations are interpreted and enforced. The impact depends on the applicable legal provisions and the terms of each agreement. We recommend reviewing existing contracts with our legal team to identify whether any updates are necessary.
How do you structure fees for corporate work?
We are open to fixed fees for defined scopes such as company formation or a contract review, and to hourly or blended approaches for larger transactions. Fee options are discussed openly at the start of each mandate.
Can you also handle a dispute that arises from our contracts?
Yes. Our Litigation & Arbitration team acts in UAE courts and in DIAC and other arbitrations, and is already familiar with how your documents were drafted.
Insights
Related insights.
Guides and checklists from our corporate and disputes work.
Start the conversation
Setting up, investing or signing a contract?
Speak with our corporate and commercial legal team about your business objectives, legal requirements and next steps. We can help you identify the appropriate legal support for your situation under UAE law.
Submitting an enquiry does not create a lawyer–client relationship. We will confirm any potential conflicts before receiving detailed information.
Dubai Office
Dubai Healthcare City
Oud Metha Offices, 403Dubai Healthcare City
United Arab Emirates Office details & directions ↗