UAE legal guide to be launched for expats

Expats you're in luck! Here's something to keep you at ease when living, working or even investing in the UAE.
A new UAE Legal guide book is being launched on March 5, 2018 in Dubai under the authority of Dubai Rulers Court and has been written by Jasamin Fichte, Shehab Mamdouh, Ravi Jawani, Walid Batisha and Moaz Forawi from Fitche and Co legal consultants.
The 243 page handbook simplifies the complexity of the current Arabic legal law and as well as the Shariah law to give a basic overview of how to steer away from or if need be approach legal cases in the UAE, as well as an explanation of Dubai Courts system and what basics you need to know if you are planning or setting up a business in the UAE.
We have all seen those stories in the newspaper of expats breaking the law by accident, only to find themselves in jail shortly after. Take the example of Mr Jamil Ahmed Mukadam, from Leicester UK, who made a middle finger gesture in anger to a driver who apparently tailgated him and started flashing his lights on the road, back in September 2017. In the UK this is not a major offense but in the UAE it is of course taken very seriously and Mr Mukadam was arrested. The book therefore aims to smooth out any grey areas for expats, to give a clear understanding of what is expected from them whilst in the UAE.
Shehab Mamdouh, nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year 2017 award explains that "The law is (although not always in front of you) one of the most important things for living an easy life in any society. Whatever your occupation, there is a law specific for that job. If you don't work according to the regulation, you will not only be hindering your safety but also your own peace as a citizen or a tourist. Take the roads for example, if you don't abide to the traffic law by the Roads and Transport Authority you will most likely cause an accident and will be prosecuted by the law. The most important thing to remember is that, although you may be clear about the law in your home country, UAE law has it's own rules that may differ from what you already know or have learnt back home."
The guidebook was created because like many law firms, solicitor and owner of Fichte and Co legal consultancy Jasamine Fichte (originally from Germany) found that grasping a legitimate English translation of the Arabic law in the UAE, was near impossible. A google English translation of the law seemed to have no author to it and on relaying the online translation to Arabic colleagues, it was deemed as incorrect.
Jasamin adds that "You can be well educated, talented at what you do from your home country but if you don't have the knowledge of the law in the UAE, and you want to live and work here, you will have a hard time gelling into the society and/or advancing in your business without knowing the UAE law. We are giving expat attorneys, lawyers and CEOS in particular a chance to have a smooth and enjoyable time while in the UAE and also saving all parties including the Dubai Rulers Office and Dubai Courts, time, money and the overall unnecessary stress with providing them a concise "UAE Legal Guide" overview.
1,000 copies have been printed presently and will be available on Amazon and LexisNexis website to download. As it is a legal guide, the book will be updated online as the law gets updated. This is the beginning of a series of books from Fichte and Co who aim to empower the people with the correct knowledge of the region. Other concise books in the future will aim to include Real Estate investment laws in UAE and Employment Laws in the UAE.
 crystal@khaleejtimes.com