Business Formation and Incorporation

We guide entrepreneurs and corporations through every legal step of setting up a business in the UAE and the wider Middle East, ensuring a solid foundation for growth.

Practice Overview

At Kayrouz & Associates, we support clients at every stage of business formation, from choosing the right legal structure to completing registrations, licensing, and compliance requirements. Whether launching a start-up, forming a new subsidiary, or expanding an existing business into the region, our legal team ensures a seamless process.

We advise on the selection of onshore, offshore, or free zone entities, taking into account tax efficiency, liability exposure, ownership structures, and sector-specific regulations. Our lawyers prepare all necessary incorporation documents, shareholder agreements, and company constitutions to formalise the business under local laws.

Our experience extends to multi-jurisdictional formations, joint ventures, and complex ownership arrangements involving foreign investors and public-private partnerships. We also advise on Emiratisation policies, governance requirements, and regulatory filings to ensure businesses remain in good standing post-launch.

We offer legal advice on a wide spectrum of matters:

  • Advising on legal structure selection (LLC, sole proprietorship, branch, etc.)
  • Drafting incorporation documents and shareholder agreements
  • Coordinating regulatory approvals and business licensing
  • Registering with relevant ministries, free zone authorities, and trade departments
  • Advising on governance, compliance, and post-incorporation obligations
  • Supporting foreign ownership and cross-border entity structuring
  • Meet Our Team

    Our team is equipped to handle complex legal matters with precision and care. Learn more about our lawyers below.
    Pierre Kayrouz

    Pierre Kayrouz

    Chief Legal Officer
    Maria Valeyeva

    Maria Valeyeva

    Chief Compliance Officer
    Georges Touma

    Georges Touma

    Head Litigator
    Carlos Rahme

    Carlos Rahme

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Sandy Y. Geagea

    Sandy Geagea

    Legal Consultant
    Rita Semaan

    Rita Semaan

    Legal Consultant
    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Paralegal
    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Junior Legal Counsel
    Saeed Gaber

    Saeed Gaber

    Legal Research Analyst

    Priya Bavanasi

    Senior Corporate Lawyer
    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Senior Corporate Counsel
    Professor Mark Engelman

    Mark Engelman

    Intellectual Property Barrister
    Arka Navle

    Arka Navle

    Corporate Counsel
    Nashita Nazneen

    Nashita Nazneen

    Junior Corporate Counsel
    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Business Development Manager

    Marium Razzaq

    Solicitor

    Parvathy Pavithran

    HR and Document Controller

    Chantal Elia Khawam

    Front Desk Specialist
    Employment and Labour Law

    Employment Contract Drafting Requirements in UAE

    Employment contract errors regularly cost UAE employers six-figure sums in penalties and compensation when clauses violate Federal Decree-Law No. 33 requirements. This guide examines mandatory contract particulars, MOHRE registration procedures, probation and notice rules, and the 22 most common drafting mistakes that expose employers to liability.

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    January 16, 2026
    Corporate & Commercial Law

    Commercial Contracts for UAE Logistics Companies

    Commercial contracts determine whether logistics companies recover payment when customers disappear, whether they're liable for six-figure cargo damage, and whether disputes take three months or three years to resolve. This guide examines contracts that actually matter in UAE logistics operations, clauses that fail in Dubai courts, and mistakes that cost logistics companies their margins.

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    January 15, 2026
    Family Law

    Family Business Succession and Restructuring in UAE: Planning for Generational Transfer

    Family business succession remains one of the most critical challenges for UAE enterprises, with commonly cited research suggesting 70% fail to successfully transition to the second generation. This guide examines practical succession models, governance structures, legal entities including DIFC/ADGM foundations, Sharia inheritance implications, and strategies for preserving business unity during generational transfer.

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    January 14, 2026
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