Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy

26/09/2026

In the UAE, commercial disputes are commonly resolved through court litigation or arbitration. The better option depends on the contract, the type of dispute, the parties involved, the location of their assets, and the result they need.

This guide is intended for expat entrepreneurs, UAE companies, working professionals with business interests, investors, long-term residents, foreign companies, and mixed-nationality shareholders. It explains how Commercial arbitration Dubai proceedings differ from UAE court litigation and when guidance from a DIAC arbitration lawyer may be necessary.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/commercial-arbitration-dubai-court-litigation/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

25/09/2026

You receive the keys to a newly completed Dubai apartment and expect everything to be ready for use. Within weeks, however, water begins leaking through the ceiling, tiles crack, the air-conditioning repeatedly fails, or serious defects appear in walls and common areas.

The developer may describe the problems as minor “snagging issues.” For an owner who has invested hundreds of thousands or millions of dirhams, the question is more serious: Who is responsible for fixing the defects, and what happens if the developer refuses?

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/construction-defects-dubai/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

24/09/2026

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 introduced a new Civil Transactions Law in the UAE and came fully into force on 1 June 2026. It replaced Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 and updated many of the rules dealing with contracts, civil liability, construction work, property damage and compensation.

For businesses, developers, insurers, contractors and individuals, these changes are important when dealing with accidents, damaged property, defective work and negligence claims.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/knowledge/legal-articles/civil-law/property-damage-claims-uae-civil-liability/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

23/09/2026

Commercial contracts are signed with the expectation that both sides will perform what they have promised. But sometimes an unexpected event occurs that is outside the parties’ control and makes performance impossible.

This is where the concept of force majeure becomes relevant. For businesses that are facing a force majeure UAE contract, it is important to understand that the mere disruption is not automatically a release of a party’s obligation to perform.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/force-majeure-in-uae-contracts/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

23/09/2026

How to Start an Inheritance Case in Dubai: Step-by-Step Guide

Losing a loved one is a deeply emotional experience, but navigating the legal complexities of claiming their inheritance in a foreign country can add tremendous stress. Whether the deceased left a registered will or the estate is subject to default UAE laws, accessing frozen bank accounts and transferring real estate requires a formal, structured court process. In this video, Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy breaks down the step-by-step process of starting an inheritance case in Dubai, explaining exactly what families must do to secure their rightful assets without unnecessary delays.

[The Breakdown: The Step-by-Step Inheritance Process]
Filing an inheritance claim in Dubai requires precision and a thorough understanding of the local judicial system. We walk you through the essential steps:

Gathering Critical Documents: Securing the official, attested death certificate, proof of relationship (marriage/birth certificates), and a complete inventory of the deceased's UAE assets (bank accounts, property deeds, and company shares).

Determining the Applicable Law: Establishing whether the estate will be governed by the new Civil Personal Status Law for non-Muslims, traditional Sharia law, or a formally requested foreign law.

Filing the Case: Opening the official inheritance file in the Dubai Personal Status Court or the relevant civil court to request a Succession Certificate (Declaration of Heirs).

Court Approval & Distribution: The process of a judge reviewing the legal heirs' entitlements, validating any existing wills, and issuing the final ex*****on order to unfreeze and legally distribute the assets.

[Essential Legal Insights]
The "Frozen Asset" Reality: Why all bank accounts (including joint accounts) and property transfers are strictly frozen upon death until the court concludes the inheritance case.

The Power of a Registered Will: How having a DIFC or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) registered will drastically speeds up the probate process and bypasses default legal distribution.

Why Early Legal Representation Matters: Minor procedural errors, missing documents, or improperly translated foreign certificates can cause devastating delays or result in the estate being distributed contrary to the family's wishes.

Watch the video here:
📺 https://youtu.be/R5VdUbDvQMo



📞 Speak to our lawyers today for a confidential consultation
📲 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971503540047
☎️ Call: +971 4 325 4000
📩 Email: [email protected]
🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/

Losing a loved one is a deeply emotional experience, but navigating...

22/09/2026

We are pleased to share that Mrs. Awatif Al Khouri, Founder and Principal of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy, has been featured in Emirates 24/7, providing legal insight on whether mothers can sponsor their children’s residence visas in the UAE.

In the feature, Mrs. Awatif discusses the eligibility requirements for mothers sponsoring their children, including residence and financial requirements, proof of the parent-child relationship, and additional documentation that may apply depending on custody arrangements and individual family circumstances.

The article also looks at the requirements applicable to divorced and single mothers and the documents families should consider when preparing a child residence visa application.

Read the full article on Emirates 24/7:
https://www.emirates247.com/uae-guide/can-a-mother-sponsor-her-childs-visa-in-the-uae-eligibility-documents-and-costs-explained-for-2026/5820



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

Learn how mothers in the UAE can sponsor their child's residence visa in 2026, including eligibility rules, minimum salary requirements, required documents, Golden Visa exceptions and updated visa costs

22/09/2026

Things can change fast during a separation or divorce. A parent may be given an opportunity for employment abroad, return to his/her home country, remarry or move closer to family support. But moving is never just a personal decision when there is a child involved.

The custodial parent in Dubai does not have an inherent and unrestricted right to relocate the child to another nation. The UAE legislation prioritises the child’s wellbeing as well as both parents’ rights.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/child-relocation-in-dubai/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

21/09/2026

We are pleased to announce the publication of the United Arab Emirates chapter of ICLG – Family Laws and Regulations 2027, authored by Mrs. Awatif Al Khouri, Founder and Principal of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy.

The chapter provides an updated overview of the UAE family law framework, addressing key areas including divorce, financial matters following divorce, marital agreements, child maintenance, custody and parental responsibility, international family matters, and recent developments in UAE personal status law.

Drawing on more than three decades of legal experience in the UAE, Mrs. Awatif provides practical insight into the legal framework governing both local and expatriate families, including the significant changes introduced by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status.

We are proud to contribute to ICLG’s international Family Law guide and to share our UAE family law experience with practitioners, businesses and individuals worldwide.

Read the full UAE chapter on ICLG : https://iclg.com/practice-areas/family-laws-and-regulations/united-arab-emirates/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

20/09/2026

Commercial disagreements are a normal part of doing business. A supplier may miss the deadline, business partners may have different ideas about what they owe each other, or the same contract may be read differently. While court proceedings are sometimes necessary, they are not always the first or most practical option.

The UAE provides several forms of alternative dispute resolution UAE businesses and individuals can consider before, or in some cases during, formal litigation. These include negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/commercial-mediation-uae/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]

19/09/2026

Can you just cancel the contract and ask for your money back?

The short answer is: sometimes, but cancellation is not automatic.

If you want to cancel off-plan property Dubai, your rights depend on why you want to terminate, what the SPA says, whether you or the developer has breached the agreement, the project’s official construction status, and whether RERA has formally cancelled the development.

Read the full 📰article: https://www.alrowaad.ae/legal-blog/cancel-off-plan-property-dubai/



Visit our website 🌐 https://www.alrowaad.ae/
Call us 24/7 📞 @ +971 4 325 4000
WhatsApp us 📲 https://wa.me/971503540047
Email us 📩 @ [email protected]