Contract drafting and review in the UAE
The cheapest dispute is the one a good contract prevents. We prepare and review agreements so your rights are protected before anything goes wrong.
A contract that is unclear about payment, scope, termination or the law and forum for disputes invites argument. In the UAE, the choice of governing law, the dispute forum and whether an Arabic version is needed all matter.
We draft commercial, service, supply, agency, employment, shareholder and partnership agreements, review contracts prepared by others for risk, and support you in negotiating amendments.
How we can help
Commercial, service, supply and agency agreements
Clear scope, pricing, delivery, liability caps, termination rights and dispute resolution, written for how your business actually works.
Employment, shareholder and partnership agreements
Employment contracts consistent with UAE labour law, and shareholder or partnership agreements covering decisions, deadlock, exit and transfers.
Review and risk vetting of agreements prepared by others
We read the other side's draft, flag the clauses that matter and explain them in plain words, with suggested changes.
Negotiation support and amendments
Mark-ups, negotiation notes and amendments that keep the deal moving while protecting your position.
From first call to resolution
Brief
What the deal is, what matters most to you and where the risks are.
Draft or review
A first draft or a marked-up review with a short note of the key issues.
Negotiate
We help you respond to the other side and settle the wording.
Sign and keep
Final version, execution formalities and a summary of key dates and obligations.
Clauses we look at first
- Payment and security: when payment is due, what happens if it is late, and whether cheques, guarantees or retention are involved.
- Termination: who can end the contract, on what notice, and what is owed when it ends.
- Liability: caps, exclusions and indemnities, which decide how much a mistake can cost.
- Governing law and disputes: UAE courts, DIFC or ADGM courts, or arbitration, and where.
- Language: whether an Arabic version is needed, and which version prevails.
Before you sign something already drafted
Many clients come to us with a contract the other side has prepared and a deadline to sign. A focused review can usually be done quickly: we read the whole document, list the clauses that carry real risk for you, explain each in a sentence or two and suggest wording you can send back. You then decide what is worth negotiating and what you can accept.
Cross-border agreements
For contracts between parties in India and the UAE, we consider where each party has assets and where a judgment or award would need to be enforced, and draft the dispute clause with that in mind.
Drafting & Vetting Agreements: your questions
Not always, but some documents, and any document filed in a UAE court, need an Arabic version or translation. Where both versions exist, the contract should say which prevails.
Yes. We mark up the draft, explain the key risks in plain words and suggest changes you can send back.
It depends on the value, the parties, confidentiality and where enforcement would happen. We explain the trade-offs for your deal.
Fees are quoted after the first consultation, once we know the type and complexity of the agreement, and agreed in writing before we start.
Who you will work with
Guides on this topic
Related practice areas
Let’s talk about your matter.
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