In Dubai, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced a transition to a new development model based on artificial intelligence. It's important to understand that this isn't just a financial center, but an independent free zone with its own legal and regulatory system.

Today, the most popular and straightforward way to obtain a Golden Visa in the UAE is through real estate investment. Essentially, you simultaneously purchase an asset and obtain long-term residency status. According to the Antwort Law team, this is the most frequently chosen option by clients because it is the most transparent: there is a clear entry fee, understandable requirements, and a relatively quick process.

Interest in the Golden Visa in the UAE has grown significantly over the past couple of years. In our experience at Antwort Law, more and more clients are viewing it not just as a residence visa, but as a tool for more flexible living and working. Simply put, the Golden Visa is a long-term residency status for up to 10 years. It is available to investors, business owners, property owners, and certain categories of specialists. The program is regulated by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, and its terms are quite clearly structured.

The United Arab Emirates is tightening its grip on visa procedures. According to the Antwort Law team, a Good Conduct Certificate (or Police Clearance Certificate) is increasingly being requested for applications. According to updates from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), the new requirements are already being applied to a number of nationalities. However, this is not so much a formal change in the rules as a genuine tightening of the approach to applicant screening.

The unstable situation in the UAE is forcing more and more entrepreneurs to seek alternative options for growing their businesses. Requests for opening a backup corporate account in another jurisdiction to continue servicing international transactions are currently one of the most frequent requests from our team of lawyers at Antwort Law. We not only have extensive, successful, and diverse experience in banking and KYC consulting, but also the rare opportunity to evaluate alternative options across multiple jurisdictions, as we operate globally. We'll discuss this in a new article, highlighting the top 5 countries where Arab companies should open a backup account to ensure your business continues uninterrupted.

The Antwort Law team notes Dubai's latest step toward systemic regulation of digital assets—the launch of a separate regulatory framework for derivatives trading on virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies. This new framework, developed by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), covers derivatives such as futures and options on crypto assets at the for the first time at the separate regulatory level. The document has already entered into force and applies to all licensed providers operating in Dubai. Essentially, the regulator is removing one of the riskiest segments of the crypto market from the "gray zone" and creating clear and binding rules for it.

The Antwort Law team notes an important change in the United Arab Emirates' tax system—the launch of the first phase of the research and development (R&D) tax incentive program. This innovation reflects the country's strategic focus on developing an innovative economy and aligning tax policy with international standards.

Have you successfully scaled your business in your home country and are now thinking about international expansion? So, you are reading this article at the right time, because the right way to go abroad does not start with registering a foreign company, but much earlier - at the stage of planning and setting up a legal and tax strategy. At Antwort Law, we do this regularly and based on our experience, we can share with you our 10 key insights that we see again and again in our international practice.

On January 1, 2026, amendments to the value-added tax (VAT) legislation in effect in the United Arab Emirates since 2018 came into effect. The amendments clarify the rules for the system and introduce a new procedure for the refund of input VAT. The main change is a five-year period for the refund or offset of accumulated VAT. Companies can now apply for a tax credit refund only within five years of the end of the tax period. After this period, the refund is lost.

A second or third citizenship for entrepreneurs is no longer a luxury, but an everyday tool for mobility, asset protection, and personal security. It's not just a new document allowing visa-free travel to other countries, but also a new legal, tax, and banking profile for its holder. This is where potential applicants should be extremely cautious. At Antwort Law, thanks to our work in many jurisdictions, we encounter situations where entrepreneurs, without developing a comprehensive strategy, obtain a second passport and face account freezes, bank audits, and regulatory risks. We would like to substantiate these calls for caution with a real-life example from our practice and also warn you of two other less obvious risks: