This latest development reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to enhancing its real estate sector and making residency opportunities more accessible to a wider range of property owners.

What’s New?

• Single Property Owners
  Under the updated criteria, individuals who own a single property are now eligible to apply for the 2-year residence visa without any minimum property value requirement. This marks a significant shift from previous thresholds and opens the door for more investors to qualify.

• Multiple Property Owners
  For individuals who jointly own property, each owner must hold a minimum share valued at AED 400,000 or more to be eligible for the visa.

What This Means for Property Owners

This update significantly expands access to UAE residency through property ownership. By removing the minimum value requirement for sole owners and maintaining a reasonable threshold for co-owners, the UAE is making it easier for investors of varying capacities to benefit from long-term residency.

The revised framework is expected to encourage increased investment in the real estate market while providing greater flexibility and inclusivity for property owners.

Trench & Associates FZCO (c) 2026

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has announced the implementation of new regulations concerning Power of Attorney (POA) and Declaration Letters, effective 1 July 2025.

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Moreover, the amendment clarifies that the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), acting as the National Assessing Authority, will annul any pending penalties and refund paid penalties related to rejected appeals for financial periods following 31 December 2022. For additional information, please contact FTAESR@tax.gov.ae.

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This new Mental Health Law is focused on managing the treatment and protecting the rights of psychiatric patients.

It also affects how employers and employees deal with mental health issues. Here are the key points:

1. To whom the Law Applies

The Mental Health Law applies to people with mental health issues that affect their thinking, mood, behavior, perception, memory, or other mental abilities. These issues must significantly impact their social life, work, or education, or cause them mental suffering. Each Emirate will have a committee to monitor and protect patient rights.

2. Employers’ Responsibilities

Protection from Termination Employers cannot terminate or restrict the work of an employee just because they have a mental disorder, unless a specialized medical committee supports this decision. This rule changes how employers can handle employment and mental health issues, raising questions about how it fits with current UAE labour laws.

Right to Privacy Employers must keep an employee’s mental health information confidential, protecting their privacy and dignity at work.

Workplace Considerations
• Training and Support: Employers should train employees about mental health, reduce stigma, and create a supportive work environment.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Employers should consider flexible work arrangements, adjusted job duties, or access to mental health resources for employees with mental health conditions.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Companies should enhance or establish programs that provide confidential counseling and mental health support.
• Compliance Monitoring: HR should regularly check that the company follows the Mental Health Law through audits and policy reviews.
• Policy Reviews: Employers should seek legal advice to ensure their policies comply with the new Mental Health Law and best practices.

Summary of article by: Ms Helen de Oliveira Carvalho, Trench & Associates DMCC

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As corporate compliance professionals, we are invited by the business to foster the courage necessary to remain outcome-focused in ambiguous situations. Being effective in this role requires us to ask the questions that will help the business appropriately balance its competitive survival instincts with its greater vision. Some examples of these questions include:

• What message are our sales goals sending to the business about the balance between winning and doing things the right way?
• What are the short-term and long-term outcomes we are seeking?
• How is this decision aligned with our strategy

Summary of article by: Ms Helen de Oliveira Carvalho, Trench & Associates DMCC

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If the property is mortgaged, a statement of account and a no objection certificate from the mortgagee bank specifying the sums paid and outstanding as of the date of the NOC is required. However, the paid mortgage amount is reduced. It can be AED 1,000,000 or more.

Therefore if the Net Amount, after mortgage is AED 1,000,000 for your share in the Property, one can obtain a Golden Visa.

Summary of article by: Noemi Villanueva, Trench & Associates DMCC

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The Writ of Debt is an exception to the general rules of filing a First Instance Case, and it can only be pursued under specific circumstances. The competent court to issue the Writ of Debt is the court in which the debtor resides.

According to Article 143.1 of the CPL, the following requirements must be met for a creditor to apply for a Writ of Debt: a. The creditor’s right must be proven in writing, whether electronically or in hard copy. b. The creditor’s right must be due and enforceable. c. The creditor must be claiming a fixed amount of money or a specified movable asset.

Filing a Writ of Debt does not prevent the creditor from claiming interest, compensation, or initiating precautionary measures, as stated in Article 143.3 of the CPL. However, this provision applies specifically to monetary claims arising from commercial contracts or when the creditor possesses a commercial instrument, excluding cheques.

Before applying for a Writ of Debt, the creditor must send a demand letter or legal notice to the debtor, giving them a minimum of five days to pay the amount due. Article 144.1 of the CPL stipulates that this step is mandatory.

Debtors who receive demand letters or legal notices should seek immediate legal advice, especially if they know that the combined requirements for a Writ of Debt are fulfilled. On the other hand, creditors should serve the demand or notice in a way that allows for proof of delivery, such as through notarization.

The creditor submits a petition along with the debt instrument and evidence of serving the demand to the court. The petition should include the details of the Statement of Claim. The Writ of Debt is issued within a maximum of three days from the submission of the petition, determining the amount to be paid or the movable assets to be handed over. The judge has the authority to accept or reject the request for a Writ of Debt, and if rejected, the decision must be reasoned. Creditors can still file a substantive case against the debtor for the recovery of the debt amount. Challenging the Writ of Debt is possible through a grievance or an appeal, depending on the claim amount.

The creditor must personally summon the debtor with the issued Writ of Debt, as per Article 146 of the CPL. Failure to summon the debtor within three months renders the Writ of Debt null and void. Once the Writ of Debt is issued, it becomes immediately executable, allowing creditors to proceed with enforcement without waiting for further proceedings or appeals.

If a creditor wishes to attach assets in the possession of third parties, usual attachment procedures apply, as stated in Article 149 of the CPL.

Summary of publication by: Sherif ElKhatib, Legal Consultant, Trench & Associates DMCC

Read the publication in detail: HERE

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Our presentation focused on the process of establishing businesses in Dubai and the different options available to businesses depending on the type of activities they engage in and the scope of their services.

We took the participants through the main differences between Free Zones and Mainland establishment structures in Dubai. We also had an opportunity to discuss the introduction of FDI into the UAE Federal Laws since 2021, which has significantly changed the landscape for businesses in the region. The laws and regulations have been implemented throughout the UAE and it was exciting to share the latest updates with the participants.

After the presentation, we gave the participants exercises that helped to reinforce the key concepts and principles we covered during the session. The winning team was treated to a casual get-together, where we had an opportunity to engage with them and hear their feedback on the presentation. It was inspiring to learn that many of the young graduates were exploring the chance of continuing their working experience in Dubai.

We are grateful to James Maughan of Falcon and Associates for organizing the program and inviting us to participate. Falcon and Associates have been instrumental in creating, delivering, and implementing initiatives that increase the understanding and appreciation for the vision of Dubai. They partner with private and public sector entities to achieve specific social, economic, and trade-related goals to support the long-term strategic positioning of Dubai.

In this particular case, Falcon and Associates partnered with Karen Manasfi of Capdev in respect of her “Doing Business in MENA workshop”. This collaboration ensured that the participants received a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of the business environment in Dubai and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

Article By: Cynthia Trench

Trench & Associates DMCC

The purpose of the evening was to discuss the protection of assets concerning wills, inheritance, and estate planning. I covered the part in respect of the laws of UAE and Lotte dealt with Danish Law.  My presentation focused on the recent amendments made to the UAE Personal Status Law, which came into effect through Law no. 41 of 2022.

During the presentation, I had the pleasure of addressing a group of Danish attendees who showed keen interest in learning about the latest developments in the UAE’s legal landscape. My primary emphasis was on the amendment to the Personal Status Law, which has allowed non-Muslims to have their estates distributed between their spouse and children on an equal basis, in case they die without a will.

The new law has brought a significant change that can benefit many non-Muslims residing in the UAE. Previously, the distribution of the estate would have been in accordance with the Sharia law principles. Now, however, non-Muslims can have peace of mind knowing that their assets will be divided equally amongst their immediate family members, even without a written will.

Furthermore, the amendment also removes any differentiation between male and female children in the distribution of the estate. Both sons and daughters will receive an equal share of 50% their parent’s estate, ensuring gender equality and fair treatment of all children.

In conclusion, the evening was a valuable opportunity to discuss the changes made to the UAE’s legal framework and how they can positively impact non-Muslim residents in the country. I was delighted to have been a part of such a productive and informative session, and look forward to participating in similar events in the future.

Article By: Cynthia Trench

Trench & Associates DMCC

Summary of article by: Nandini Sircar
Published: Tue 14 Feb 2023, 6:00 AM
Last updated: Tue 14 Feb 2023, 1:50 PM

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