- In line with the economic growth and progress that the Emirate was undergoing, developing Government legal work was a must. Consequently, in 2008, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, instructed that the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department be established and affiliated to His Highness the Ruler's Court. The Department was established with the aim of providing various legal services to the Government and Government Entities in the Emirate of Dubai and supervising all relevant legal matters to keep up with the socioeconomic and developmental growth of the Emirate, through an integrated regulatory environment. His Excellency Dr. Lowai Mohamed Belhoul was appointed Director General of the Department.

- Receive complaints and claims against Government Entities, and seek to settle them amicably, in accordance with the applicable legal procedures;
- Represent the Government and all Government Entities in claims and disputes, filed by or against them, before the competent judicial bodies, and mediation and arbitration committees and centres;
- License the advocacy and legal consultancy professions and firms, monitor their practice, and issue the relevant regulations, bylaws and resolutions;
- Draft and review contracts and agreements to which the Government or Government Entities are a party upon the request of such entities, and represent them in any relevant negotiations;
- Review all memoranda of association of establishments and companies established by the Government or Government Entities or to which they are a party;
- Provide legal support to the Government and Government Entities to enable them to exercise their powers and duties;
- Compile, maintain and archive all documents related to conventions, memoranda and contracts concluded between the Government or Government Entities and official external bodies;
- Supervise the training and qualification of legal consultants through providing training courses, programmes and workshops in all areas of law, in addition to training and equipping the local resources with the skills required for Government Entities’ work, and
- Prepare and publish specialised legal research, studies and publications;

- 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Thursday, and Friday 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM

- - 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Thursday, and Friday 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM

- The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department is located at His Highness The Ruler’s Court, 4th floor.

-The Centre is located at Al Hudaiba Awards Building, Block C, Jumeirah Street, Dubai.

You can visit the careers page on the Department’s website and the Department’s page on the “dubaicareers” website

A written expression of dissatisfaction specifying the actions or decisions taken by the Government Entity which adversely affected the complainant’s or claimant’s legal position or interests, along with the remedies which the complainant or claimant are seeking from the Government Entity

Local Government Entities in the Emirate of Dubai (e.g. Government Departments, Public Establishments and Public Authorities).

- The Department does not have jurisdiction to receive complaints against Federal Government Entities; it only has jurisdiction to receive complaints against local Government Entities.

- The Department does not have jurisdiction to receive complaints against semi-Government companies or establishment, as these are not subject to the Government Claims Law No. 3 of 1996 and its amendments.

- Pursuant to Government Claims Law No. 3 of 1996 and its amendments, the Department has jurisdiction to receive only civil claims filed against Government Entities; that is, the Department does not have jurisdiction to receive criminal complaints, or provisional or summary claims, as these are not subject to the Government Claims Law. Civil claims, for the purposes above, mean substantive actions in which a plaintiff seeks a final ruling on the merits of the case (one which has acquired the status of res judicata) in connection with the right which is the subject matter of the dispute. Civil claims require submitting and signing a statement of claim and other relevant remedies. These do not mean or include summary or interim claims where interlocutory relief is sought through a summary court order without prejudice to the right subject matter of claim.

- No, you may not. Any party wishing to file a claim against a an Emirate-level Government Entity must follow the procedures stipulated in the Government Claims Law No. 3 of 1996 and its amendments, through first filing the claim with the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, and then completing the procedures provided for in the aforementioned Law.

- This will nullify the claim filing process, and the claim will be dismissed as it has not been filed as prescribed by law.

- There are no fees, as this is a legal action procedure provided by the Department pursuant to its mandate. These claims are filed with the Department to verify the validity of the claim filed against the Government or the Government Entity, and seek amicable settlement of the dispute between the Government Entity and the claimant.

- A complaint can be submitted through any of the following channels:
1- Vising the Department’s Premises in person.
2- On the Department’s website.
3- Via email. Dispute.Settlement@legal.dubai.gov.ae
Or contact@legal.dubai.gov.ae
4- Via the smart application.

No, it is not.

1- A statement of claim signed by the claimant, or the claimant’s legal representative, stating the facts and legal evidence, and the remedies the complainant is seeking from the Government Entity.
2- Complete the “Complaint Against a Local Government Entity” form. Click here
3- Complainant’s identity documents (UAE ID, valid passport, valid commercial license for companies, or power of attorney if the complaint is submitted by Complainant's representative).
4- All supporting documents of the complaint or claim.

Complete the “Complaint Against a Local Government Entity” form on the Department’s website along with the required documents or filing pleadings and the required documents through the following email: contact@legal.dubai.gov.ae

- Once the Department receives a complaint, it will be reviewed. Should the complaint not meet the requirements for consideration, the complainant will be contacted and instructed to complete the requirements of the complaint by attaching the documents, providing the required information to complete the procedures, and notifying the Respondent Government Entity. The complainant will be given a period of five working days to complete the requirements, and in the event that the requirements are not satisfied or a response is not received from the complainant, the complainant shall be notified that the complaint has been removed from the system, and that it is possible to re-submit it once the requirements for consideration are satisfied.

- Within a week, the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department will enclose the claim or complaint in a letter addressed to the Government Entity to respond within 15 days of receipt.
- The Department will examine the claim impartially, and determine the legal position for both the complainant and the respondent Government Entity, to find out the facts and the validity of the complaint.
- Based on the Department’s review of the complaint or claim, it will make all endeavours to find a common ground and amicably settle the dispute between both parties, and accordingly draft an amicable settlement agreement if necessary, provided that this is signed by both parties, to record what was agreed upon and bind either party towards the other.

- The Department takes all its procedures and seeks to settle the dispute within two months from the date on which the claim is filed, in accordance with the Government Claims Law No. 3 of 1996 and its amendments

- The Department makes its recommendations to the Government Entity to rectify its legal position, and amicably settle the dispute with the complainant by suggesting appropriate solutions to reach an amicable settlement between the two parties.

- The Department advises the claimant of his legal position and provides the Government Entity’s response and the legal grounds on which the response has been based, in addition to any other legal points that the Department deems to be essential, which clarify to the claimant that the claim is not valid. The aim is to enable the claimant to make a well-informed decision as to either proceed with the claim or waive it altogether and opt for not taking legal action.

- The Department does not issue any decisions regarding the claim, but rather makes recommendations to the parties, and seeks to reach an amicable settlement to the dispute

- An amicable settlement of the complaint or claim submitted against Government Entities is reached through a negotiation or mediation process conducted by the Department. Amicable settlement is the only objective of this process, and the negotiation serves to resolve the dispute between two or more parties. Each party puts forward suggested resolutions to reach an amicable settlement to the dispute in a way that is satisfactory to both parties.

- Settling Government disputes amicably without resorting to court has positive effects and will achieve valuable results for both the Government Entity and the claimant. These advantages and results include the following:
1- Saving time and effort and achieving expeditious justice, whereby a dispute is settled in a shorter period of time than the time usually taken by the various stages of litigation until a final judgment is rendered. Coupled with this are the enforcement procedures that may also involve other disputes. An amicable settlement to a dispute that is satisfactory to both parties can be carried out voluntarily without compulsion.
2- Reducing the number of disputes to which the Government is a Party, whenever there is a way to amicably settle these disputes without adversarial action before judicial bodies, and placing a heavy burden on the claimant to be awarded the rights subject of claim.
3- Minimizing costs and expenditure, when resorting to litigation to resolve a dispute. Both parties will incur costs and work hours allocated to the dispute by the teams managing the case file, whether for the claimant, the Respondent Government Entity, the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, or Dubai Courts, in addition to avoiding any litigation expenses and legal fees the parties may incur.
4- Involving the parties to the dispute in making the final decision regarding the dispute, whereby during the negotiation and settlement stage, each party will be actively involved and will have a key role in finding various solutions to the dispute according to a mechanism that best serves its interest or reduces its losses. However, should the dispute be brought before a judiciary body, that party loses the ability to make such a decision, and can only build its case to defend its legal position. Ultimately, the decision and the sole solution will be up to the court considering the dispute.
5- Amicable settlement maintains the relations between the two parties to the dispute, strengthens tolerance and promotes mutual cooperation between the parties in the future. An amicable settlement is reached following negotiations based on mutual respect between the two parties and their involvement and cooperation with the Department to find a solution to the dispute. This can end the dispute while at the same time maintaining the relations between the two parties to the dispute, which is less likely to happen if the dispute proceeds to court where each party stands as an opponent against the other and the dispute might be marked by hostility or intransigence.
6- Seeking legal opinion and insight on the dispute, whereby through legal negotiations and meetings with the department, the claimant is provided with a legal opinion and insight on its claim in a neutral, impartial and transparent manner. The party also gets acquainted with the Government Entity’s response and legal arguments and grounds invoked by the Government Entity as regards the claim filed by the claimant.
The Department will advise the complainant as to whether its legal position is valid or not in the claim filed against the Government. In other words, the Department will provide pro bono legal advice to the complainant regarding the claim, and to that end, the Department will depend primarily on the legal grounds, evidence and sound reasoning, providing the complainant with insight as to how the claim will be resolved from a legal point of view. Accordingly, the claimant will be able to make a well-informed decision; should the claimant find that the claim is not valid or groundless, the complainant will not proceed with the complaint beyond that point, thus saving time, effort, money, and pointless expenses that could have been incurred in litigation for a claim that is likely to lose.

- Pursuant to the Government Laws Law No. (3) of 1996 and its amendments, the complainant has the right to proceed with its claim to judicial authorities, if the two-month period has elapsed since the date its claim was filed without reaching an amicable settlement.

- In the event that it was not possible to settle the dispute amicably, the Department will send a letter to the Respondent Government Entity detailing the content of the actions that are being taken, and the Department will also issue to the complainant upon its request a certificate confirming that the claimant fulfilled the requirements of the Government Claims Law, and that the dispute could not be settled.

This is not required. Pursuant to Article 3 (d) of the Government Claims Law, the claimant has the right to file its claim in court upon the expiry of two months since the submission of such claim (which meets all the requirements) to the Department, without reaching an amicable settlement of the dispute.

- Submitting the claim to the Department before filing a claim in court is regarded as a lawful excuse preventing any legal action before the lapse of two months as per the meaning contemplated in Article (481) of the UAE Civil Code. This results in a suspension of the statute of limitations stipulated by law. The rule is that the period for such an excuse shall not count towards the calculation of the statute of limitations. In other words, the statute of limitations shall be suspended as long as the cause of suspension subsists. Upon the expiry of two months, the cause of suspension will cease to be valid and the previous period (pre- suspension) shall be added to the subsequent period (post- suspension). Consequently, the period for when the excuse is valid shall be deemed a suspension and not an interruption.

- Yes.

Two months.

The plaintiff has the right to request the issuance of a certificate to initiate arbitration proceedings after the lapse of the two-month mediation period, but in practice, especially in the case of complicated disputes, the mediation period may exceed two months with the consent of all parties.

- Federal Law No. (6) of 2018 on Arbitration.

- Pursuant to Article (3) (bis) of Law (3) of 1996 Concerning Government Claims and its amendments, a judgment rendered against any Government Entity may only be enforced after the approval of His Excellency the Director of His Highness the Ruler’s Court; and therefore, the request for enforcement shall be submitted to the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

- A request to enforce the judgement along with all the required documents should be submitted to the Director General of the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

- The following documents must be enclosed with the enforcement request:
a- A copy of the judgement to be enforced.
b- Copy of the annexed decision containing the executory wording of the judgment.
c- Copy of other relevant judgements (Court of Appeal judgement and Court of Cassation judgement)
d- Copy of the requesting party’s power of attorney.

- Upon receipt and registration of the enforcement request, the Department will take the following steps:
- Draft a memo of the enforcement letter, to be submitted to the Director General of the Department for approval.
- Obtain approval for the enforcement letter from His Excellency the Director of HH The Ruler's Court, Dubai.
- Notify the entity against whom the judgment is to be enforced once approval is obtained.
- The Entity complies with the operative part of the judgment and pays the dues to the party requesting enforcement.

- The amounts due will be settled either by filing a request with the enforcement judge, stating the proposed settlement arrangement, or by filing a request to the entity requesting the enforcement, or by a filing a request to the Department.

- Pursuant to the Law Concerning the Financial Regulations of the Government of Dubai, 25% of the due sums must be paid, and the remaining sums could be paid in instalments

- The period of instalments for the sums due is one year, and it is possible to extend that period to three years by a decision of the director general of the entity.

- The Contracts Directorate services all Dubai Government Entities.

- The Contracts Directorate provides a wide range of services to Government Entities in the Emirate of Dubai, which include:
- Review of contracts / agreements.
- Drafting of contracts / agreements.
- Negotiating on behalf of Dubai Government Entities.
- Providing legal advice.

Completing and submitting a contract request form, through the following link: the link
- RFP, particularly the scope of services and specifications
- Proposal (technical, commercial, financial, etc)
- Project plan, if available
- Vendor’s commercial licence or establishing document
- Any other documents and information relevant to the matter

- Phone: 04-353337
- Email: contracts@legal.dubai.gov.ae
Phone: 04-353337

The Contracts Directorate will send an email to the entity once the matter has been registered and an employee has been assigned.

- A performance bond is a bank guarantee issued by a bank licensed in the UAE at the request of a vendor in favour of a Dubai Government Entity to ensure satisfactory completion of services and other obligations by the vendor under the contract/agreement. The performance bond is stipulated in Dubai Law No. 12 of 2020 Concerning Contracts and Warehouse Management in the Government of Dubai (Law No. 12). However, Law No. 12 also provides for some limited exemptions from this requirement.
- Please contact the Contracts Directorate for further information.

- An advance payment bank guarantee is a bank guarantee issued by a bank licensed in the UAE at the request of a vendor in favour of a Dubai Government Entity as security for any upfront payment which a Dubai Government Entity may agree to make to the vendor before the delivery of the relevant services to which such payment relates. Pursuant to Law No. 12, the advance payment bank guarantee must be in the same amount and currency as the advance payment. There is no exemption to this requirement under Law No. 12.

- A bid bond can be in the form of a cash amount, a certified cheque or a bank guarantee issued by a bank licensed in the UAE at the request of a bidder who is required to submit the same to accompany its bid for a project or engagement for a Dubai Government Entity. The bid bond is replaced with a performance bond upon entry into a formal contract between the Dubai Government Entity and the bidder. Law No. 12 provides certain exemptions to this requirement.
- Please contact the Contracts Directorate for further information.

- The Contracts Directorate takes into account several factors when deciding on this question, including the nature of the proposed transaction, the extent to which the parties wish for provisions to be legally binding, the potential risks and the total value of the project. Please contact the Contracts Directorate for further information.

- If the contract/agreement has been executed, and the entity wishes to amend some of the terms of the contract/agreement, an amendment agreement will be required.
- Please contact the Contracts Directorate for advice on the required documents and the applicable procedures.

- The Contracts Directorate will review and analyse the provisions of the existing contract/agreement (including the scope of services and specifications if applicable, and the deliverables, etc.) to assess the situation, and identify the applicable legal remedies, which can be of a contractual nature, in addition to remedies applicable under the relevant laws.
If there is an alleged breach of an existing contract/agreement, please contact the Contracts Directorate to provide further assistance, and to advise on the required documents and the applicable procedures.

- It depends on the wording and nature of the contract/agreement. Please contact the Contracts Directorate to provide you with appropriate advice in accordance with the terms of the contract/agreement.

- There are numerous types of intellectual property rights (such as copyright, trademarks, patents). Therefore, the Contracts Directorate needs to first understand the type of expected intellectual property rights, to be able to provide advice on the rights and appropriate contractual remedies in addition to the registration of intellectual property rights (if applicable).
- Please contact the Contracts Directorate for further information.

- If the signed contract/agreement does not contain adequate provisions (including protections and remedies) in relation to the confidential information of the Dubai Government Entity, it is advisable to sign a separate NDA.

- Yes, the purpose of an NDA is to protect confidential information. It is not intended to cover the scope of services, deliverables, fees and other rights and obligations that can be "agreed" upon between the two parties regarding for example an actual service agreement. An NDA is normally intended to enable the parties to freely discuss and exchange information prior to the actual commencement of any services. Therefore the Dubai Government Entity needs to conclude and execute an actual contract/agreement once a vendor has been selected and before they commence any service provision. .

- For a contract/agreement to be valid and enforceable, only authorized signatories of a Dubai Government Entity can sign it. This is determined by its establishing law and internal policies.

- Yes, the letter of intent is only intended to express the intention of the Dubai Government Entity to enter into a contract/agreement and the award letter is only intended to be applicable when a Dubai Government Entity awards the project to a vendor, and these documents are not intended to contain comprehensive rights, obligations, legal remedies, etc. as these are expected to be stipulated in the actual contract/agreement.

- As stated above, a contract/agreement must be signed before the commencement of services by a vendor in order to fully protect the Dubai Government Entity. If the services have commenced before signing the contract/agreement, this exposes the Dubai Government Entity to various potential commercial and legal risks, including an inability to enforce obligations on the vendor, a lack of available remedies. The Dubai Government Entity will be put in a weaker bargaining position.

- Please contact the Contracts Directorate for further information on this.

1- Legislative Support Services
- Initial legal drafting of proposed legislations related to Government Entities, per their request, including draft laws, or draft bylaws, regulations, decision, or instructions.
- Study and review of draft legislations referred to by Government Entities, per their request, and provide the relevant commentaries thereof in terms of formalities and substance.
- Drafting legal documents requested by Government Entities in connection with their work.
2- Legal Advice Services
- Providing legal advice and opinion on any inquiry related to legal issues faced by the Government or Government Entity, per their request, in the course of its business.

- Through submitting a request via the Government Entities Portal link

- The period varies according to the nature of the request, but usually, providing the service takes any of the following:
- For Legislative Support Service, between (10) working days and (30) working days after completing all documents needed.
- For Legal Advice Service, between (10) working days and (20) working days after completing all documents needed.

Legislative Support Service:
1. Formal application by the Government Entity through the available service channels.
2. Submitting the following Documents:
- The draft legislation for preparation or review
- In case the draft legislation is unavailable, you are kindly requested to provide us with the main legal rules that the requested entity needs to include in the draft legislation (in relation to application for preparing initial draft legislation).
- Correspondence in relation to the application, federal and local laws and/or relevant decisions, studies, and strategies (if any)
- Any other documents requested by the Department.
Legal Advice Service
1. Formal application by the Government Entity through the available service channels.
2. Submitting the following Documents:
- Correspondence in relation to the legal advice including legislations, decisions, and any other relevant documents.
- Any documents that the applicant sees fit and related to application.
- Any other documents requested by the Department.

- The applicant should be one of the Government Entities in the Emirates of Dubai.
- The application should fall within the jurisdiction of the Department.
- Filing the needed and completed documents.

- Legal services related to intellectual property rights of Dubai Government and Government Entities, including the registration, renewal and amendment of all forms of intellectual property rights and taking the necessary action to prevent infringement of such rights.
- Legal services related to the incorporation of Government establishments and companies, including drafting and reviewing memoranda of association of establishments and companies that Government Entities wish to establish or hold shares in, and drafting, reviewing or amending the articles of association of such establishments and companies.
- Legal services that do not fall under the functions of other organisational units of the Department.

- All Dubai Government Entities.

- All Dubai Government Entities

- Government Entities Portal.
Email: Government.Support@legal.dubai.gov.ae

- The law establishing the Government Entity.
- Copy / photocopy of the right subject of the service sought (work, trademark, patent, etc.), and its details including specification, etc..
- Instrument of assignment by the author / inventor / designer of the right subject of the sought service to the requesting entity.

- The law establishing the Government Entity.
- Approval of the Executive Council to establish the company if the Government Entity is subject to Decree No. (1) of 2019 Regulating the Incorporation of Companies by Government Entities in the Emirate of Dubai.
- Details of the Legal form of the company.
- List of partners.
- Capital and equity of each partner.
- Company's purpose and activities it will conduct.

- Examine the request and all the documents attached thereto received from the requesting Government Entity.
- Provide the Government Entity with the initial opinion.
- Upon confirmation by the Government Entity, applications for registering intellectual property rights will be processed by the Ministry of Economy, and these include payment of registration fees, technical examination by the Ministry of the right subject of the application, and the elapse of the period of objection as established by law to the application submitted to the Ministry.
- Provide the Government Entity with the Ministry of Economy’s decision to accept the application, along with a copy of the right registration certificate, or otherwise with the Ministry’s decision to reject the application.

- Review the application and all the documents attached thereto received from the Government Entity.
- Provide the Government Entity with the initial opinion and the initial draft of the memorandum of association or articles of association.
- Receive the comments of the Government Entity on the initial draft of the memorandum of association or the articles of association.
- Finalise the memorandum of association or the articles of association in light of the comments received from the Government Entity.

- The Government Legal Support Section provides its services in both Arabic and English, and the language to be used will be determined according to the language of the request and the accompanying documents.

- Currently, the Department does not charge any fees from Government Entities for providing legal services related to intellectual property rights, but there may be some fees charged by registration entities, such as the fees of the Ministry of Economy.

- Currently, the Department does not charge any fees for providing legal services related to the incorporation of Government establishments and companies, but there may be some fees charged by entities concerned with the registration and issuance of commercial licenses of companies, such as the fees of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai.

- It varies according to the type of right to be registered.

- It varies according to the type of document to be drafted or revised, and it also depends on the date on which the documents requested by the Government Entity are completed.

To apply for registration on the Roll of Practising Advocates, please submit an application through the Legal Professions System (LPS). Click here

An applicant may submit an application for registration on the Roll of Practising Advocates, subject to the following requirements. The applicant must:
Either:
1.1 Hold an undergraduate degree in law or its equivalent from an educational institution that is recognised by the competent authority in the Emirate or the UAE;
or
1.2 Hold an academic qualification in law, in addition to a valid professional membership from the jurisdiction where the applicant is authorised to provide legal services. In all cases, these certificates must be duly legalised.
• The applicant must not engage in any other commercial activity or practise any other profession (whilst employed by the firm) except for teaching or training in any area of law.
• The Department may, at its discretion and at any time, ask the applicant to provide any additional information and relevant documents to assess the eligibility of the application.

• For UAE Nationals:
1- Valid Emirates ID card;
2- Passport;
3- University degree in law or in Sharia and law combined, or, for degrees awarded outside the UAE, a certificate of equivalency or an academic qualification in law, in addition to a valid professional membership from the jurisdiction where the applicant is authorised to provide legal services;
4- Certificate of good conduct;
5- Certificate issued by the Judicial Institute evidencing that the applicant has passed the advocacy course (theoretical part);
6- Certificate of practical training, for a period of 6 months, from an advocacy firm, and an attendance sheet evidencing that the applicant attended 60 hearings as a trainee advocate;
7- Letter issued by the owner of the firm where the applicant is to practise the legal profession, which approves the applicant’s registration as an advocate with the firm, or an application to licence an advocacy firm if the applicant holds a license for a firm based outside the Emirate of Dubai;
8- Employment contract legalised by the Ministry of Labour;
9- Certificate from the Department of Economic Development in Dubai and from the commercial licensing authority in the emirate where the applicant’s passport was issued, stating that there are no commercial licenses under the applicant’s name;
10- Curriculum vitae (CV);
11- For firms based outside the Emirate of Dubai, the license of the firm issued by the Commercial Licensing Authority;
12- Master’s Degree or PhD (if applicable);
13- Ministry of Justice Card (if applicable); and
14- A recent photo.
15- For firms based outside the Emirate of Dubai, a request to approve the advocate’s firm.
• For Non-UAE Nationals:
1- Valid passport;
2- Valid residency visa under the sponsorship of the firm through which the applicant wishes to practise the legal profession;
3- University degree in law or in Sharia and law combined, or for degrees awarded outside the UAE a certificate of equivalency or an academic qualification in law, in addition to a legalised valid professional membership from the jurisdiction where the applicant is authorised to provide legal services;
4- Certificate of experience of no less than (15) years in advocacy, the judiciary or public prosecution;
5- Letter from the owner of the law firm stating that the applicant intends to join, explaining the reasons for applying for the registration of a Non-UAE national advocate, e.g. the workload and the experience of the applicant;
6- Certificate of good conduct;
7- Certificate from the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, stating that there are no commercial licenses under the applicant’s name;
8- Curriculum vitae (CV), and
9- A recent photo.

- The advocate/ legal consultant registration fee is two thousand dirhams (AED 2,000), in addition to a 10 dirhams innovation fee and a 10 dirhams knowledge fee. A UAE National advocate/ legal consultant applying for registration for the first time at the Department shall:
1- Pay 50% of the prescribed annual advocate registration fee, for a period of (3) years starting from the date of registration with the Department;
2- For each UAE national advocate pay 50% of the annual firm licensing/ renewal fees prescribed by the Department, for a period of (3) three years, starting from the date of licensing the firm if the firm is owned by any such advocate, or from the date of joining the firm if it is owned by others.

E-Pay
- All payments of the prescribed advocate registration fees may be made using the e-pay service through the smart system. E-pay requires the payee to use a valid credit or debit card (the Department accepts corporate or personal credit or debit cards).
The e-pay function will be available once an application is approved. Applicants will only be permitted to transfer an e-payment following receipt of the e-invoice on the applicant’s registered email address.
Payment by Cheque
Individual advocates can make payments by cheque drawn on their personal account (not the firm account). The cheque must be made payable to “H.H The Ruler’s Court” and the original cheque must be delivered to the Department.
Bank Transfer
The applicant can transfer the fee to the Department’s bank account with the following details:

H.H. The Rulers' Court
Account: 1012004074102
IBAN: AE07 0260 0010 1200 4074 102
Emirates NBD-Head Office

Pursuant to Administrative Resolution No. (105) of 2017 Amending Some Provisions of Administrative Resolution No. (233) of 2015 Approving the Bylaw for the Registration of Advocates in the Emirate of Dubai, an advocate may not practise the profession in the Emirate except after taking the following oath:

- The advocate shall take the oath before a court of appeal circuit.
- A advocate who has a right of audience to appear before the Federal Supreme Court shall take the oath before the Court of Cassation.
- The oath is recorded in minutes of the proceedings, a copy of which shall be kept in the advocate’s file at the Department.
- Taking the Oath is a prerequisite for advocates to be admitted to the Roll of Practising Advocates. Applicants seeking to provide legal services as “Advocates” may not work for a licensed firm unless they take the Oath.

The Department issues each advocate registered on the Roll in the category of practising advocates an identification card, which shall evidence that its holder is authorised to practise the Profession in the Emirate through a licensed firm. The card shall record the start and expiry date of the registration and the licensed firm the advocate is employed by.
The identification card is the official property of the Department. The practising advocate may not use it except for the purpose for which it was issued, and must:
1- Prohibit others from making use of the card;
2- Produce the card, upon request, to individuals, and public and private entities, with whom the advocate deals;
3- Notify the Department in the event of loss or damage to the card, and obtain a report of loss from the police;
4- Refrain from altering, omitting, or adding to the information recorded on the card, and
5- Return the card to the Department once transferred to the category of non-practising advocates, struck off the Roll or suspended, following an amendment to the registration particulars, or upon the Department’s request.

An advocate registered on the Roll of Practising Advocates must submit an advocate registration renewal application within the last month of the registration expiry date.

An advocate registered on the Roll of Practising Advocates must submit an advocate registration renewal application within the last month of the registration expiry date.
1- The renewal application must be submitted within the last month prior to the expiry date of the registration (to avoid any late application fines that may be imposed);
2- The applicant must maintain full-time employment within the firm, and not engage in any commercial activity or other profession in addition to the same, except for teaching or training in any area of law or the legal profession;
3- The application must meet the registration requirements stipulated in Article (7) of the Bylaw Concerning the Registration of Advocates in the Emirate of Dubai. However, Article (7) of the same Bylaw does not apply to Non-UAE national advocates who were registered with the Department prior to the time the Bylaw came into force;
4- The applicant must pay the registration renewal fee prescribed by the Department, and
5- The applicant must meet any other requirements stipulated by any bylaws, resolutions and instructions issued by the Department.

The advocate registration renewal fee is two thousand dirhams (AED 2,000), in addition to AED 10 innovation fee and AED 10 knowledge fee.
A UAE national advocate who is registered for the first time with the Department must:
1- Pay 50% of the prescribed annual advocate registration fee, for a period of (3) years starting from the date of registration with the Department;
2- For each UAE national advocate, pay 50% of the annual firm licensing/ renewal fees prescribed by the Department, for a period of (3) three years, starting from the date of licensing the firm if the firm is owned by any such advocate, or from the date of joining the firm if it is owned by others.

Failure to renew an advocate registration within the specified time limit shall lead to a fine of one thousand Dirhams (AED 1,000) per day with a maximum aggregated value of fifteen thousand Dirhams (AED 15,000) for the first month and thirty thousand Dirhams (AED 30,000) for any delay exceeding one (1) month, in addition to AED 10 innovation fee and AED 10 knowledge fee.

Persons registered on the Roll of Practising Advocates who no longer wish to maintain or renew their registration must apply to transfer from the Roll of Practising Advocates to the Roll of Non-Practising Advocates. Such transfer must be done prior to the expiry of registration to avoid the imposition of late renewal fines.

Submit a request to change the employer firm via available channels (including the Legal Professions System (LPS)), provided that the applicant advocate must:
1- Be registered on the Roll of Practising Advocates.
2- Submit an employment contract legalised by the Ministry of Labour.
3- Submit a copy of the residence visa in the Emirate (for non-UAE nationals).
4- Submit a written letter from the new licensed firm confirming it has no objection to the advocate joining the new firm.
5- Return the original advocate’s registration card issued by the Department.
6- Submit a copy of the registration card issued by the Ministry of Justice (for advocates).

AED 500 amendment fee.
AED 10 innovation fee.
AED 10 Knowledge fee.
Total is 520 dirhams

The Roll of Non-Practising Advocates is reserved for advocates who were registered on the Roll of Practicing Advocates and no longer wish to practice the advocacy profession.
Please note that it is an offence under the Executive Council Resolution No 22 of 2011 for persons who are registered on the non-practising advocates roll to provide legal services.

Please log into your Advocate LPS account and select the service “Transfer from Practising to Non-Practising Legal Advocate Roll”.

The advocate registered on the Advocates Roll under the non-practicing advocates category does not have to renew their registration; that is, they remain registered on the aforementioned roll until they apply to transfer to the Roll of Practising Advocates.

Persons registered on the Roll of non-practising Advocates who are applying to return must send an e-mail to the Advocates Affairs Section’s email and along with the following documents:
1- Valid Emirates ID;
2- Valid passport;
3- Certificate of good conduct.
4- Employment contract attested by the Ministry of Labour;
5- Certificate from the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, stating that there are no commercial licenses under the applicant’s name;
6- Curriculum Vitae (CV);
- Firm license issued by the Commercial Licensing Authority;
8- Letter issued by the owner of the firm, which approves the applicant’s registration as an Advocate with the firm;
9- Photo;
10- Ministry of Justice Card, if applicable, and
11- Certificate from the employer for the duration of the registration on the Non-Practising Roll, if applicable.

In the event that a year or more elapses since the advocate was registered on the Roll of Non-Practising Advocates, the fees will be 2000 dirhams, but ,if the period is less than that, the fees will be 500 dirhams, in addition to a 10 dirhams innovation fee, and a 10 dirhams knowledge fee in both cases.

- The user name and password can be obtained by clicking on “Forgot password?”, and following the steps.
- The password of an individual account or a firm account can be reset by logging into the account and clicking on the “Edit” button below the account holder’s name. The special settings page will then be opened.
- Within the special settings page there is a set of sub-bars for each section of the personal account. Among these is the password reset bar.
- Once you click on the password reset bar, you will be asked to enter and confirm you current and new passwords.
- Once the information is entered, click on “Update”, and your password will be updated.

- The account activation process is part of the registration process, and no member of the public may create an account to log into the LPS without first submitting a registration application as an advocate and meeting all the registration requirements. Once the application is accepted, the applicant will be provided with the login details to access the LPS.

- An advocate registered on the Roll may request a “to whom it may concern” certificate by sending an email to the Advocates and Legal Consultants Affairs Section: advocates@legal.dubai.gov.ae
- The fee for issuing the certificate is 200 dirhams, in addition to a 10 dirhams innovation fee and a 10 dirhams knowledge fee.

- These are complaints related to the acts committed by an advocate or a legal consultant registered with the Department, which constitute a violation of the rules, duties, requirements, or ethics of practicing the advocacy and legal consultancy profession.

a- The Department’s smart phone application available in Apple Store and Google Play Store.
b- The Department’s website.
c- E-mail: contact@legal.dubai.gov.ae
D- Visit the Department premises’ in person at HH the Ruler's Court - Dubai - Bur Dubai - Al Fahidi Street, opposite Dubai Museum.

a - If the complainant is an individual, the complaint shall be submitted by the complainant in person or the complainant’s legal representative.
b - If the complainant is a company, the complaint shall be submitted by the company’s legal representative.
c- The Professional Conduct Section or Department when detecting a violation.

a- Completing the prescribed form.
b - The complaint should be against an advocate or a legal consultant registered with the Department.
c- The complaint should be related to a breach of professional conduct (for example: failure to properly discharge duties when performing the work specified in the retainer, jeopardising client’s interests, providing any legal assistance or advice to the client’s opponent on the same dispute or on a related dispute).

a- A document evidencing the identity of the Complainant (passport or Emirates ID).
b- A memorandum detailing the Complaint signed by the Complainant or, if applicable by the Complainant’s legal representative, which states the following:
- Name of the Complainant.
- Name of the advocate / legal consultant against whom the complaint is being filed, and the firm where he/she works for.
- Facts and remedies.
- Final requests of the Complaint which fall with the jurisdiction of the Department.
c- Additional documents required to be presented, if applicable:
- Copy of the retainer issued to the advocate or legal consultant;
- Copy of the retainer agreement;
- Copies of the payment receipts for the fees, and
- Copies of the correspondence between both parties to the Complaint.

a- Notify the advocate / legal consultant of the content of the complaint to respond to it.
b- Review the complaint and examine its evidence to determine its validity.
c- Hold a meeting with both parties to the Complaint (if necessary);
d- Refer the Complaint to the Department’s Professional Conduct Committee, which will decide thereon;
e- Notify both parties to the Complaint of the hearings scheduled before the Committee to hear the Complaint, and
f- Notify both parties to the Complaint of the decision issued by the Professional Conduct Committee.

a- In case the violation is not confirmed, the Committee will issue a decision for closure of the complaint.
b- In case the violation is confirmed, the committee will issue one of the following disciplinary actions:
- Send a written warning including a description of the violation and instruct the advocate / legal consultant not to repeat that violation in the future.
- Send a written warning.
- Suspension from practice for a period not exceeding two years.
- Strike the name of the advocate / legal consultant off the Roll of Practising Advocates or Practising Legal Consultants.

a- If a decision for closure of the complaint has been issued or disciplinary action is taken, the complainant has the right to file a written grievance against it.
b- An advocate / legal consultant will have the right to file a written complaint if a decision has been issued to impose disciplinary action against such advocate / legal consultant.

- Thirty days, starting from the day following the date on which the decision has been notified.

- A committee formed by the Department, named the Committee for Hearing Grievances against the Decisions of the Professional Conduct Committee of Advocates and Legal Consultants.

- The Committee may issue a decision to uphold, revoke or amend the decision subject of grievance.

- Determining advocates and legal consultant fees and returning documents fall outside the scope of the Professional Conduct Committee of Advocates and Legal Consultants. Per the Federal Law for Organizing the Advocates Profession, civil courts hold jurisdiction over these matters. Nevertheless, the Professional Conduct Committee shall issue disciplinary decisions against the advocate or legal consultant against whom the complaint is being filed if a violation of these issues is committed.

What is the Continuing Legal Professional Development (CLPD) Program? A program that permits legal consultants to practice the legal profession through a licensed firm operating in the Emirate of Dubai. Through this program, the Department aims to regulate the conduct of legal professions in the Emirate in line with the highest international quality standards. This is achieved by equipping legal consultants with the necessary skills.

- If you are registered on the Roll of Practising Legal Consultants of the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, the CLPD Regulations will apply to you. However, if you are registered on the Roll of Non-Practising Legal Consultants, the CLPD Regulations will not apply to you.
The CLPD Regulations do not apply to legal consultants employed by Government Entities, establishments and companies, and other entities which do not provide legal services to the public.

You can view the course dates by visiting the course calendar portal on this website.

- Payments can be made for participation in Mandatory Activities online by purchasing credits or via bank transfer. As for accredited activities, please check with the provider.

- The CLPD registration payment fee is made to the CLPD Activity provider.

- Completion of the CLPD requirements can improve your skills and experience, which will in turn advance the level of legal services and ensure continued public confidence in the legal consultancy profession and its practitioners.

- These are the eight (8) Points of the Mandatory training courses that cover core subjects and must be completed by a Legal Consultant during the filing period.

- The Department has selected specific Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Firms based in Dubai as approved CLPD Course Providers to work alongside internationally recognised training companies to provide the Mandatory Courses. In selecting these Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Firms, the Department has relied on the unique experiences and knowledge of those firms. All of these courses will be provided by instructors experienced in the legal subject matter of each respective course, which will result in a CLPD Programme with a consistent standard of excellence

Yes. Each Legal Consultant is required to complete the CLPD Programme mandated by the Department. However, if your home jurisdiction is recognised as a CLPD provider in accordance with the curriculum approved by the Department, you can make use of the courses attended in your home jurisdiction, that will be counted at a maximum of two (2) points towards your non-mandatory CLPD Recognised Points.

- Yes. The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department ensures that CLPD Mandatory Courses will develop and change with each filing period to reflect the needs of the profession and the legal work in the Emirate

- A Legal Consultant will be registered in the courses provided by a CLPD course provider approved by the Department. The CLPD Affairs Committee of the Department will ensure compliance with certain requirements by course providers before they are granted accreditation. It is important for the Legal Consultant to verify that the CLPD Activity provider is accredited by the Department. If a provider is not accredited, no CLPD Points will be given for that Legal Consultant.
For a full list of accredited providers, click here

- There is only a limited number of CLPD courses in a given filing period. The Legal Consultant must register in these courses. Otherwise, the Legal Consultant’s registration may be subject to non-renewal, which will consequently prevent such Legal Consultant from practising the profession in the Emirate of Dubai.

- Yes. This can be done in accordance with the Department’s procedures, and this will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Professional Development Affairs Committee.

- Yes, this can be arranged through the website. For further details, please contact the Department on +97143533337

-Each Legal Consultant must maintain a complete record of all the CLPD courses he has undertaken in each filing period. The Legal Consultant must also complete, sign and file his CLPD Record with the Department within thirty (30) days from the lapse of the filing period, in accordance with the relevant procedures prescribed by the Department.

- If the Legal Consultant failed to file his CLPD Record within thirty (30) calendar days after the lapse of the filing period, the CLPD Affairs Committee will send him a notice to that end. In the event of non-compliance, the Legal Consultant shall be subject to non-renewal of his Registration and the provisions prescribed for in the Executive Council Resolution No. (22) of 2011 Concerning Fees and Fines Prescribed for the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Profession in the Emirate of Dubai.

- No, the Legal Consultant will not be able to renew his Registration with the Department if he did not complete the CLPD Requirements within the filing period. The Legal Consultant will also be subject to Executive Council Resolution No. 22 of 2011 Concerning Fees and Fines for the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Profession in the Emirate of Dubai.

- The "focus" sessions have been designed as moderated discussion sessions to look in further detail into a specific element of the core subject of a mandatory activity. These sessions are intended for Legal Consultants who have extensive experience in the subject matter or who have already undertaken the relevant overview course.

- For purposes of audit to be conducted by the Department, each Legal Consultant is required to keep the CLPD Record and documentation for three (3) years after each filing period. The documentation you maintain should consist of the following: proof of registration for the CLPD Activity; and confirmation of your attendance by the CLPD Activity provider, e.g. a certificate of completion or attendance.

- The Department may review CLPD Records at any time for a period of up to three (3) years after each filing period. The Department will give a Legal Consultant fifteen (15) calendar days from the notice of the audit, within which the Legal Consultant must produce all data and documentation evidencing completion of the CLDP Requirements.

- If a Legal Consultant fails to comply with the audit requirements or, if an audit reveals that a Legal Consultant did not comply with the CLPD Requirements, such Legal Consultant will be subject to Executive Council Resolution No. (22) of 2011 Concerning Fees and Fines Prescribed for the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy.

a- Fines;
b- Suspension from practising for a period of up to one (1) year, and
3- Striking the legal consultant off the Roll.
- The Department shall also have the right to not renew the registration of any Legal Consultant who does not comply with the CLPD requirements. A grievance against such penalties can be submitted as prescribed in Executive Council Resolution No. (22) of 2011 Concerning Fees and Fines Prescribed for the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Profession in the Emirate of Dubai, bylaws and resolutions issued by the Department.

- Legal Consultants who do not have an academic degree in Law from the UAE, and who are registered on the Roll to practise the profession in the Emirate of Dubai for the first time, must - within twelve (12) months of their initial registration with the Department – obtain twenty four (24) CLPD Points and must pass any tests set by the Department.

- Yes, payment can be made through the website and the smart application. The Central ePay gateway of Dubai Government enables corporate and individual customers to settle payable amounts owed to the Department's services electronically from anywhere and at any time, as follows:
- Dubai Government ePay Gateway: the data of each customer is handled in accordance with the best standards and practices of privacy and information security to ensure that the data is not exposed to any disclosure or illegal storage. Moreover, ePay Gateway offers several payments options to customers.
There are several online payment options approved by the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department for settlements of transaction fees. These include, inter alia, direct debit from the customer’s bank account, debit and credit cards, e-dirham G2.
The direct debit from the customer’s bank account is the latest payment option made available by Dubai Smart Government to pay electronic services fees, thanks to the partnership between Dubai Smart Government and Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Union National Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank. Holders of current account in any of these banks can make payments through the direct debit from the bank account instead of using credit cards, without having to pay any additional charges or fees, with the possibility of obtaining an e-financial report.
Dubai Smart Government, in cooperation with CBD, activated a CBD product; namely Cash Online , which is a virtual account service that promotes direct debit from the customer’s account to enable companies and individuals to electronically settle Government fees in Dubai. This virtual account allows customers who do not have accounts with CBD to benefit from the direct debit feature. No minimum balance is required to open a virtual account, which can be opened after submission of the required documents. For further information, click here

In accordance with the Dubai Paperless Government Strategy, launched by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, which aims to transform the Government of Dubai to a 100% paper free Government by the end of 2021, the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department has launched the Central Portal for Government Legal Services. It is an online communication platform between the Department and other Government entities that have the right to submit to the Department a request for a legal service pursuant to Law No. (32) of 2008 Establishing the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

The users of the Central Portal for Government Legal Services can submit a request for the following legal services:
• A request for filing a claim against an individual/company/Government entity.
• A request for filing an arbitration claim against an individual /company /Government entity.
• A request for execution.
• A request for drafting Government contracts and agreements.
• A request for legal advice.
• A request for legal support.
In addition, the concerned Government entities can review the details of their legal cases at the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

To register as a user authorised by the Government entity, please upload the registration form of the Government Entity Portal user", complete it and send it via email to Gov.Portal@legal.dubai.gov.ae. For uploading the form, please click here

• It is a platform that allows the Government entities to submit the requests and the attachments completely online without submitting any hard document in line with the "Dubai Paperless Government Strategy –100% paper free Government ". ,
• The Government entity can follow up the status of its request on a regular basis and to submit the relevant documents directly through the portal.

Yes. The search feature is available to users authorised to use the Government entity Portal in order to search for the details of requests submitted through the Government entity Portal.

The Government Entity Portal is a bilingual cooperation platform. Both Arabic and English languages are available.

You may contact the support team via email to Gov.Portal@legal.dubai.gov.ae

Yes. You may access to the Central Portal for Government Legal Services website using smart devices/mobiles.

No. this feature shall be available in Future.

All documents and files of maximum 2GB can be uploaded on the portal.

For feedback and suggestions, please contact the support team of the Government entity via email to Gov.Portal@legal.dubai.gov.ae

- Voluntary Legal Service is offered to members of the public, free of charge, by advocacy and legal consultancy firms participating in the Voluntary Legal Services Portal. This service is provided during the time slots allocated by the firms on the Portal.

- Individuals can access the Voluntary Legal Services Portal by visiting the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department’s website through this link. Click here

- The Portal is open to all members of the public who wish to receive Voluntary Legal Services.

- Yes, the applicant will need to register and provide the required details through the following link. Click here

a- Access the Voluntary Legal Services Portal through the following link: Click here
b- Enter the applicant’s details and select the preferred language and means of communication;
c- Specify the area of law for which the legal service is needed;
d- The Portal will, based on the information entered by the applicant, display a list of advocacy and legal consultancy firms along with their availability;
e- The applicant will select the firm according to the most convenient time;
f- Communication between the firm and the applicant will take place according to the method of communication selected;
g- The firm will either provide the Voluntary Legal Service or, decline the request; and
h- The applicant will rate the Portal

- Yes, the applicant may select an advocacy/ legal consultancy firm from the list of participating firms providing legal services on the Voluntary Legal Services Portal.

- In this case, the applicant can instead specify the area of law which the request relates to, the preferred language and the preferred method of communication. Accordingly, a list of advocacy and legal consultancy firms and the dates on which they are available will appear. The applicant can then select a convenient date.

- The applicant will not be able to select a particular advocate or legal consultant. The Portal will only show the names of the advocacy and legal consultancy firms without showing the names of the individual advocates or legal consultants who are providing the services.

- No. The advocacy / legal consultancy firm may, after discussing the issue with the individual, decide that the firm is not able to assist with the enquiry

- Yes, the applicant can submit a new request and select another advocacy / legal consultancy firm from the list of firms participating on the Portal.

- Advocacy and legal consultancy firms provide the Voluntary Legal Services in accordance with the timings stated by the firms on the Voluntary Legal Services Portal, any timing in addition to that will be subject to agreement between the applicant and the firm.