Do NOT invest in Dubai or the UAE.
If something goes wrong which invariably it will you will have NO legal recourse.
Spend five minutes reading about our 5-year fight for justice in the United Arab Emirates legal system and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
https://www.change.org/p/hh-shk-moha...concepts-vs-lo
DUBAI desperately likes to convince the world that Dubai is open for business but the reality of justice is far different to what they advertise on the international stage or would like the world to believe. In particular utilising the DIFC through to Dubai court for an individual or smaller investor with no recourse. If you set up your contract/MoU to have legal recourse through the DIFC you may end up with an award (judgement) in your favour but enforcing it or getting the DIFC to action this with the local courts is impossible. Regardless of what they say. And its very expensive. They will skin you and hang you up to dry and wont give you a second thought.
I am not bitter or angry or anti UAE just passing on 5 long years experience of attempting to seek justice and enforce rule of law in UAE courts and the DIFC.
Rule of law implies that every citizen is subject to the law, including law makers themselves. It stands in contrast to the idea that the ruler i.e. Shk Mohammed is above the law, for example by divine right.
If you currently residing in the UAE are you confident;
1. The government and its officials and agents accountable under the law;
2. The laws are clear, publicised, stable, fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property;
3. The process by which the laws are enacted, administered, and enforced is accessible, fair, and efficient;
4. Access to justice is provided by competent, independent, and ethical adjudicators, attorneys or representatives, and judicial officers who are of sufficient number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve.
There are many other places in the world to invest where you will have legal recourse and rule of law is actually applied in all cases.
Again, caution, don't invest in the UAE or Dubai.
A couple more examples for you:
1. Recently (NOV 2014) SCHON Properties was allowed to advertise on international TV as one of the UAE’s prime property developers (ref: recent international televised cricket coverage) whilst not having delivered a project to thousands of hard working investors and having taken huge deposits more than 5 years previously. Absolutely disgraceful the UAE Government would allow this to happen!
2. TAMEER Properties. I have a very good friend who invested in a well publicised project in Abu Dhabi. Initially this project was a joint investment with the Abu Dhabi government. The building Tameer Towers commercial never ever commenced construction and remains an expensive sandpit to this day! Following a 3 year legal battle he ultimately won the right to have his funds returned via the UAE cassation court (supreme court). Nonetheless, the developer, Tameer Holding flouts the award in the face of the UAE law, refuses to return funds, openly remains in business, advertises new projects in the UAE whilst holding sizeable assets. All the while the courts, the governments, the leaders, the police wont act on their own supreme court award to seize property and stop Tameer trading, forcing a return of his funds/initial deposit in 2008! How is this justice? Is this rule of law?