Real Estate and Construction Laws, Regulations and Case Trends in the UAE

This course provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of construction law in the United Arab Emirates, with a strong emphasis on recent judicial decisions and legislative developments shaping the construction industry. It is designed for lawyers, in-house counsel, engineers, project managers, consultants, developers, and dispute resolution professionals involved in construction and infrastructure projects in the UAE.

The course begins with an overview of the governing legal framework applicable to construction contracts in the UAE, including the UAE Civil Code, the Commercial Transactions Law, and the regulatory regimes applicable in free zones such as the DIFC and ADGM. Participants will examine commonly used standard forms of contract, particularly the FIDIC suite, and understand how UAE courts interpret and apply their provisions in practice.

A core focus of the course is the rights, obligations, and liabilities of key project participants, including employers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and lenders. The program explores issues such as scope of works, payment mechanisms, variations, delays, extensions of time, termination, defects liability, bonds and guarantees, and decennial liability. Particular attention is given to liquidated damages, concurrent delay, force majeure, unforeseen circumstances, and limitation periods, as interpreted by recent Court of Cassation rulings.

The course also addresses dispute resolution in construction projects, covering litigation before onshore courts, arbitration in the UAE, consolidation of multi-party disputes, enforceability of arbitration clauses, and the growing judicial scrutiny of unilateral and multi-tiered dispute resolution clauses.

In addition, the program highlights major regulatory developments, including Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025 regulating contracting activities, its licensing, classification, and compliance requirements, and the legal consequences of non-compliance.

Through case studies and judicial precedents, this course equips participants with practical insights to manage risk, draft robust contracts, and effectively navigate construction disputes in the UAE.