Cabinet Resolution No. (10) of 2025

regarding the regulations for professional law firms and legal consultants

Cabinet:

After reviewing the Constitution
And Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 regarding the competencies of ministries and the powers of ministers and its amendments
And Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2022 regarding the regulation of the profession of lawyers and legal consultants
And Cabinet Resolution No. (8) of 2025 regarding the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2022 regarding the regulation of the profession of lawyers and legal consultants
And Cabinet Resolution No. (9) of 2025 adopting the Charter of the Profession of Lawyers and Legal Consultants
And based on what was presented by the Minister of Justice, and the approval of the Cabinet

It has been decided as follows:

Article (1) Definitions

In applying the provisions of this resolution, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings shown next to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• Ministry: Ministry of Justice
• Minister: Minister of Justice
• Competent Authority: Department of Local Economic Development or the competent authority in the free zone, as the case may be.
• Competent Department: Department of Lawyers and Legal consultants Affairs at the Ministry
• Decree-Law: Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2022 regarding the regulation of the profession of lawyers and legal consultants.
• Committee: The Committee for Regulating the Affairs of Lawyers and Legal Consultants established in accordance with Article (79) of the Decree-Law.
• Register: The paper or electronic document prepared by the competent department to record the data of professional companies licensed to practice the profession of law, or the profession of legal consultants in each emirate and in the free zones, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree-Law and its executive regulations.
• Lawyer: The natural person whose name is registered in the lists of practicing or non-practicing lawyers at the Ministry.
• Legal consultant: The natural person whose name is registered in the list of legal consultants at the Ministry.
• Profession: The profession of lawyers or legal consultants.
• Professional Company: The professional company for lawyers or legal consultants licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Decree-Law and this decision.
• Partner: The lawyer or legal consultant who is a partner in the professional company.

Article (2) General Provisions

A citizen lawyer may establish a professional company as a law firm and legal consultant, by himself or in partnership with one or more lawyers, or with international law firms or companies whose main office has been established for a period of no less than (15) fifteen years, and which has branches or companies in at least (3) three other countries, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry and the competent authority.

A citizen legal consultant may establish a professional company as a legal consultant, by himself or in partnership with one or more legal consultants, or with international law firms or companies whose main office has been established for a period of no less than (15) fifteen years, and which has branches or companies in at least (3) three other countries, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry and the competent authority.

All partners must be licensed to practice the profession, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree-Law, its executive regulations and this decision.

Article (3) Professional Companies Licensing Register

A register shall be established in the competent department to record licensed professional companies in each emirate or free zone, as the case may be, provided that the register includes the following data:

• Name of the professional company, the partners’ data, and the registration number for each.
• Legal form of the professional company.
• Registration data issued to the professional company by the competent authority.
• Name and data of the director or directors of the professional company.
• Address of the company, and its branches, if any.

The professional company shall notify the Ministry and the competent authority of any amendments to its data within (15) fifteen working days from the date of the amendment. Failure to do so may result in administrative penalties.

Article (4) Forms of Professional Companies

The professional company shall take one of the following legal forms:

• Partnership company
• Limited liability company
• One-person limited liability company

Any professional company that does not adopt one of the above forms shall be considered null and void, and the persons contracting in its name shall be personally and jointly liable for the resulting obligations.

Article (5) Name of the Professional Company

The professional company shall have a professional name. It may not be registered under a name that has been previously used or that is confusingly similar.

The following must be taken into account in the company name:

• If the name includes the name or surname of one or more partners, all must be licensed to practice the profession.
• The name must adhere to trade name rules as set by the competent authorities, without conflicting with professional ethics or traditions.
• It must indicate the nature of the profession, the type of activity, and the legal form of the company.
• It must not violate public order or public morals.

Article (6) Address of the Professional Company and its Correspondence

Each professional company must register an address where notices and correspondence will be sent, with the Ministry being notified within (15) fifteen days from issuance of the professional license.

The company shall update the Ministry of any address changes within (15) fifteen days. All official documents must display the company’s name, legal form, license number, and registered address. If the company is under liquidation, this must be indicated on all issued papers.

Article (7) Basic Data of the Professional Company's Memorandum of Association

The memorandum of association must include:

• Name and address of the professional company.
• Head office of the professional company.
• Purpose for establishing the company.
• Duration of the company's existence (if any).
• Names, titles, academic qualifications, and residences of each partner.
• The management system and identification of the manager(s) along with their powers.
• Capital amount and each partner’s share, including details on any non-cash contributions, their valuation, provider, and associated mortgage or privilege rights, if any.
• Provisions for distributing profits and losses among partners.
• Company’s fiscal year.
• Provisions for liquidating the company and dividing its funds.
• Conditions for appointing, remunerating, and dismissing the manager.
• Mechanism for transferring legal services contracts and fees to another entity.
• Any other conditions agreed upon by the partners.

Article (8) Conditions for Licensing Professional Companies

To obtain a license, the following conditions must be met:

1. The applicant must be a citizen lawyer registered in the register of practicing lawyers, or a citizen legal consultant registered in the register of practicing legal researchers and consultants, as applicable.
2. Submit a copy of the company’s memorandum of association certified by the competent authority.
3. Provide a valid insurance contract for the duration of the license covering liability for professional errors, with annual coverage determined by ministerial controls.
4. Pay the prescribed license fee.

Article (9) Procedures for Licensing Professional Companies

The licensing process shall follow these procedures:

1. Submit the license application to the competent department using the designated form, with all required documents attached.
2. The competent department will register the application and issue a notice of submission.
3. The department will verify that all conditions for licensing are met and may request additional documents.
4. The application will be referred to the committee, which must decide on initial approval within (15) fifteen days. If no decision is made within this period, it shall be deemed a rejection.
5. The applicant must complete the licensing procedures with the competent authority within (90) ninety days from the initial approval; this period may be extended if necessary.

Article (10) Professional Companies Acquire Legal Personality

A professional company does not acquire legal personality or commence business until it is registered in the commercial register and recorded by the competent department.

Article (11) Duration of Professional Companies’ License and Renewal Mechanism

The license is valid for one year. The renewal application must be submitted at least thirty (30) days before expiration. If the license is not renewed within ninety (90) days of expiration without an acceptable excuse, the competent department shall advise cancellation of the license.

Article (12) Management of the Professional Company

The management of a professional company practicing law shall be undertaken by one or more partners listed as practicing lawyers. For companies practicing legal consultancy, management shall be by partners registered as legal consultants with the Ministry.

If there are multiple managers, decisions require an absolute majority. In the event of a tie, the matter shall be referred to the partners for a majority decision, unless the memorandum specifies otherwise.

The manager’s authority must not compromise the independence of partners or employees nor breach the core values of the profession. The manager must exercise due care and act consistently with the company’s purpose and the powers granted by the partners.

Article (13) Prohibition of Partners Practicing in More Than One Professional Company

A partner may not be a founder in more than one professional company or work for another professional company.

Article (14) Responsibility of Partners and the Professional Company

Each partner is personally liable for his professional errors toward the company and other partners. The professional company is liable for the errors of its partners, as well as for acts or omissions by its manager(s) and employees acting on its behalf, provided third parties rely on such actions.

Any clause that exempts a person from personal liability within the company is null and void.

Article (15) Practice of the Professional Company

The company shall practice its activity exclusively through its licensed partners or employees under its supervision. It may not operate through employees of another professional company without prior approval from the competent administration.

The company’s activities are limited to the licensed profession. It may not engage in commercial activities or form other companies, except that it may own and invest in financial or real estate assets to further its purposes.

Employment of representatives or administrators must be based on documented contracts in accordance with current legislation.

Article (16) Partner Loses the License to Practice Temporarily

If a partner loses the license temporarily or a disciplinary/penal ruling prevents him from working, he must immediately cease working in the company until the suspension is lifted and the cause removed.

In a professional joint-stock or limited liability company reduced to one partner, the company shall expire unless its legal form is changed or another partner is added within (60) sixty days of the event.

Article (17) Partner Loses the License to Practice Permanently

If a partner loses his license permanently, he is deemed to have withdrawn from the company, while retaining his share of proceeds from contracts until the financial statements for the following fiscal year are issued.

If a founding partner dies, the company shall continue with the remaining partners. The deceased partner’s share is transferred to his heirs after evaluation on the date of death, and the heirs may receive rights from fee contracts (up to the following fiscal year), excluding pending lawsuits until a final judicial ruling.

If the partner whose name appears in the company’s name withdraws or dies, the company’s name must be amended within (6) six months.

Article (18) Heirs of the Deceased Partner Replace Him

The memorandum of association or a special agreement may stipulate that one of the deceased partner’s heirs replaces his share, provided the heir is licensed to practice the profession in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Article (19) Withdrawal or Waiver of Shares

A partner may not waive, sell, or mortgage his shares except with the majority approval of the other partners and provided that the shares are transferred to a licensed professional.

Article (20) Conversion of the Form of the Professional Company

A professional company may be transformed into any of the forms listed in Article (4) following the prescribed procedures for amending company contracts and with committee approval.

Article (21) Branches of the Professional Company

The company may open branches within the country after committee approval, but not more than one branch per emirate. If multiple branches exist in an emirate, each must have at least one registered lawyer or legal consultant.

Article (22) Merger, Deletion and Liquidation of Professional Companies

The provisions for merger, deletion, and liquidation set forth in the executive regulations shall apply to professional companies.

Article (23) Dissolution of the Professional Company

The company shall be dissolved by a committee decision if all partners lose the qualifications to practice. The dissolution decision must provide for the transfer of fee contracts and client rights to another office, with the general partners remaining responsible until a successor is appointed.

Article (24) Legislation Applicable to the Professional Company

The provisions of the current legislation shall apply to the company in matters not specifically provided for in the Decree-Law, its executive regulations, or this decision.

Article (25) Cancellations

Any provision that contradicts or conflicts with this decision shall be cancelled.

Article (26) Publishing and Enforcement of the Decision

This decision shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall take effect one month after the day following its publication.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister

Issued:
Dated: 11/Sha`ban/1446 AH
Corresponding to: 10 February 2025 AD