As the UAE continues to consolidate its position as a leading global hub for family offices and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families as highlighted in our previous publications, and as part of a broader legislative reform that impacted many industries, the UAE has recently adopted a new civil transactions law that has introduced some significant changes to the legal framework in the country. This reform provides an opportunity for family offices in the region to review their existing structures and consider how they can be improved.
Our firm’s Corporate and Dispute Resolution teams are working closely to assess the practical impact of the new law across key sectors and transaction types, including as they related to family offices and UHNW families, and we would be pleased to discuss how these reforms may affect your existing or future arrangements.
On 30 December 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued Federal Decree Law No. 25 of 2025, introducing a comprehensive new Civil Transactions Law (or “New Law”) that is currently reported to take effect on 1 June 2026. The New Law represents a major development in the UAE’s legal framework and is part of the UAE’s broader legislative modernisation agenda aimed at enhancing legal clarity and promoting investment throughout the UAE. Unlike previous reform efforts, which were largely incremental, the New Law constitutes a wholesale legislative re-codification of UAE civil law, replacing the prior framework in its entirety rather than amending it selectively.
