This guide outlines key governance, succession and continuity considerations for founder-led and family businesses operating across the UAE and wider GCC region. It incorporates perspectives shared by Dubai International Financial Centre and Hourani & Partners during a private EO Dubai member session focused on long-term business continuity, governance preparedness and structural planning considerations. The session…
The United Arab Emirates is home to a large expatriate population, many of whom personally own assets either within the UAE or across multiple jurisdictions. For such individuals, a properly drafted and registered Will is an essential step in ensuring that their personal assets are protected and distributed in accordance with their wishes. In the…
In periods of heightened geopolitical and market uncertainty, buyers negotiating or signing sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) with a split exchange and completion structure often revisit one question: does the material adverse change (MAC) clause provide a meaningful route to withdraw from the transaction if circumstances deteriorate before closing? The short answer is that it…
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Miami is an international investment forum that brings together global investors, policymakers, business leaders and innovators to discuss emerging economic trends and cross-border opportunities. Organised as part of the broader Future Investment Initiative Institute platform, it reflects Saudi Arabia’s efforts to engage with global markets and shape international investment dialogue….
Murabaha financing is the most widely used structure in Islamic finance, underpinning the majority of Sharia-compliant lending across the GCC. Abdullah Qureshi and Nadim Khan have authored a comprehensive practice note for Thomson Reuters Practical Law examining the mechanics, legal framework, documentation considerations, and recent market developments shaping murabaha transactions in onshore UAE. The note…
Geopolitical events are reshaping the way private wealth is managed. Sanctions, regulatory changes, market volatility and political uncertainty have direct consequences for individuals and families with assets across borders. This article draws on insights from a panel discussion hosted by Hourani and Partners in February 2026, where legal experts across key jurisdictions shared their perspectives…
In an increasingly volatile global environment, businesses are compelled to rethink traditional operating models and adopt more flexible approaches to workforce management. Temporary remote working arrangements, particularly those allowing employees to perform their duties from jurisdictions outside the UAE or KSA, have become a practical response to uncertainty. While such arrangements support continuity and employee…
The introduction of the Variable Capital Company (VCC) regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) marks an important development for investment structuring options in the region. Although introduced in the DIFC in February 2026, the general concept will be familiar to practitioners who have worked with protected cell companies or segregated portfolio companies in…
The geopolitical volatility that we are currently all living through can have a direct impact on financing arrangements both for lenders and borrowers across the GCC. It is critical that on whatever side of the table you sit on a financing, you have already started to take the necessary steps to anticipate areas within your…
Our Head of Private Wealth & Family Offices and Partner, Sunita Singh-Dalal, recently contributed to Hubbis’ Private Client Adviser Outlook 2026, offering her perspective on how the UHNW advisory landscape in the Middle East is undergoing a significant transformation. Her insights highlight the increasing sophistication of family governance frameworks, the rising influence of next generation…
Saudi Arabia’s investment landscape continues to evolve rapidly under Vision 2030, supported by wide-ranging legal reforms and major economic initiatives aimed at attracting foreign capital and strengthening investor confidence. This Chambers Global Practice Guide 2026 chapter (Saudi Arabia) by Hourani & Partners combines practical “Law and Practice” guidance with a forward-looking overview of the Kingdom’s…
Hourani recently hosted the second in its Private Wealth breakfast series examining the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on private wealth planning. The panel brought together experts from the UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Belgium, and Russia to discuss how global developments are reshaping migration, structuring, and succession strategies for internationally mobile families. The session…