Awareness of business laws

The UAE has several regulations in place for smooth and fair conducting of businesses. As a responsible entrepreneur, you are obliged to comply with laws that

• govern your business
• protect labour rights, consumer rights and intellectual property rights
• protect health and environment and ensure safety
• govern the free zone in which your business is set up in.

This page provides an overview of commercial regulations that govern the business enterprises and activities in the UAE, in terms of formation, practice and application.

Laws as per sector

General

• Federal DecreeLaw No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes
• Commercial Transactions Law, amended by Federal Decree Law No.14 of 2020 Amending Certain Provisions of the Federal Law No.18 of 1993 concerning the Commercial Transactions Law  

• Federal Law by Decree No. 42 of 2023 Concerning Anti-Commercial Fraud

• Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection

• Federal Decree Law No. 36 of 2023 Regulating Competition

Technology-based trade law

• Federal Decree by Law No. (14) of 2023 Concerning the Modern Technology-Based Trade

Find out more laws regulating the economic sector in the UAE- Ministry of Economy

Laws concerning establishments in the private sector

• Ministerial Resolution No. 318 of 2024 on the Procedure for Addressing Establishments with Registered Employees That are not ConductingTheir Licensed Activities

Laws concerning recruitment and employment - Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

• The UAE Labour Law 
• Resolutions and circulars 
• International agreements 

Laws concerning private security companies - Ministry of Interior

• Federal Law No. 37 of 2006 concerning private security companies
• Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2008 concerning application licensing fees for private security companies

Laws that regulate securities and commodities

Check regulations from Securities and Commodities Authority.

Laws for health, environment and safety regulations

• International agreements - Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
• Laws and legislation - Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
• Rules and regulations - Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
• Environment laws - Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi
• Federal Decree by Law No. 24 of 2023 on Combating Human Trafficking

 Taxation laws:

• Federal Decree by Law No. (47) of 2022 Concerning Corporate and Business Tax

• Federal Decree Law No. 7 of 2017 on Excise Tax

• Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax

• Federal Law by Decree No. 13 of 2016 Concerning the establishment of the Federal Tax Authority

View more tax laws on the website of Federal Tax Authority.

Laws for the industrial sector

• Federal Decree Law No. 25 of 2022 Regarding the Regulation and Development of the Industry