Our expertise

At Kayrouz & Associates, we provide legal services across civil, criminal and commercial law for global organisations operating in the Middle East, as well as for local businesses and individuals in the UAE.
Corporate and commercial

Do the UAE Economic Substance Regulations still apply in 2026?

Cabinet Decision 98 of 2024 cancelled UAE Economic Substance notifications and reports for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. The regime still governs the historical period from 2019 to 2022, where unfiled returns and penalties remain live. The substance test itself now sits inside corporate tax, where a Qualifying Free Zone Person must show adequate UAE substance for the 0 per cent rate.

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August 6, 2026
Corporate and commercial

ADGM SPV in the UAE: Nexus, Rules and Setup

An ADGM special purpose vehicle holds assets and ring-fences risk inside a common law free zone. Every application turns on the nexus to ADGM, the UAE, or the GCC. This guide sets out the vehicle's limits, the exempt and non-exempt setup routes, cost, corporate tax, and how it compares with a DIFC Prescribed Company.

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August 5, 2026
Corporate and commercial

What does VARA require to issue an asset-referenced virtual asset in Dubai in 2026?

An asset-referenced virtual asset falls into VARA's Category 1, which requires a licence and per-token approval before issuance. This article sets out what VARA asks on capital, reserves, custody and redemption, and shows when a token instead falls to the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Central Bank.

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July 29, 2026
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Our offices

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Address: Electra Street, Al Mazrooei building, 9th floor, office 903

Tel.: +971 2 5555779

PO Box: 62829

Opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

Dubai, UAE

Address: Business Bay, Empire Heights, block B, office 1604

Tel.: +971 4 8761744

PO Box: 41504

Opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

Beirut, Lebanon

Address: Miziara Centre, above Sea Sweet, Block C, 4th floor

Opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

Sharjah, UAE

Address: Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), Al Messaned, Sharjah, UAE

Opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm