Legal 

Legal & Compliance – Key Requirements and Considerations

• Business Licensing

  • Obtain a Commercial or Professional License from DED or a Free Zone.

  • License must cover activities like Software Development or IT Services.

  • Operating without proper licensing risks heavy penalties.

• Industry Permits

  • No real estate brokerage license required (we’re a software provider).

  • Coordination with RERA/DLD may be needed if integrating with systems like Trakheesi or Ejari.

  • Listings must comply with advertising regulations (e.g., valid permit numbers).

• Data Protection (PDPL)

  • Comply with UAE Federal Law No. 45 of 2021.

  • Requirements: user consent, data deletion options, encryption, and security.

  • Fines for non-compliance can reach AED 3 million.

  • Appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) if handling significant personal data.

• Cybersecurity

  • Follow UAE cyber laws and Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) standards.

  • Strong data protection is essential to avoid legal, financial, and reputational damage.

• Employment Law

  • Align with UAE Labour Law (2022 updates): fair contracts, flexible work models, and mandatory benefits.

  • Consider Golden Visa eligibility for tech talent retention.

• Intellectual Property

  • Register trademarks and protect proprietary algorithms and code.

  • Use NDAs with all employees and partners to guard IP and business logic.

• Compliance Advisors

  • Engage corporate legal counsel for licensing and setup.

  • Consult a data privacy specialist for PDPL alignment.

  • Work with a RERA/legal advisor to ensure features (e.g., syndication, contract workflows) are regulation-compliant.

Key Takeaway: Proactive legal compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it builds investor and client trust. In the UAE, companies like Careem thrived by embracing regulation early. We will do the same to gain a competitive edge.