ARUN MANKUNNAN
@barefootattorneys.bsky.social
Head of Legal & Compliance at AZ&T LEGAL. Architecting corporate governance and navigating regulatory risk across the UAE. Legal Strategy | AML/CFT | Corporate Excellence.
UAE trade license renewals now trigger compliance audits without warning. Regulators use renewals to test substance, visas, banking, and disclosures. If your structure can’t survive renewal scrutiny, operations stall quietly.
January 22, 2026 at 6:20 PM
UAE trade license renewals now trigger compliance audits without warning. Regulators use renewals to test substance, visas, banking, and disclosures. If your structure can’t survive renewal scrutiny, operations stall quietly.
Choosing the wrong UAE visa category can kill banking access. Founder vs investor visas trigger different compliance reviews—most applicants learn this too late.
January 22, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Choosing the wrong UAE visa category can kill banking access. Founder vs investor visas trigger different compliance reviews—most applicants learn this too late.
Golden Visa eligibility doesn’t guarantee approval. High-net-worth applicants fail due to documentation, source-of-funds, or compliance gaps—not wealth.
January 22, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Golden Visa eligibility doesn’t guarantee approval. High-net-worth applicants fail due to documentation, source-of-funds, or compliance gaps—not wealth.
The wrong free zone choice rarely hurts at incorporation. It hurts later—when banking, tax, hiring, or exits fail because the zone doesn’t fit the business model.
January 22, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The wrong free zone choice rarely hurts at incorporation. It hurts later—when banking, tax, hiring, or exits fail because the zone doesn’t fit the business model.
“100% foreign ownership” does not equal full control. Many mainland structures still expose founders to veto, governance, or operational risk they didn’t model.
January 22, 2026 at 6:08 PM
“100% foreign ownership” does not equal full control. Many mainland structures still expose founders to veto, governance, or operational risk they didn’t model.
Offshore UAE structures are quietly being exited by international groups. Not due to legality—but because banks and counterparties now treat them as high-risk.
January 22, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Offshore UAE structures are quietly being exited by international groups. Not due to legality—but because banks and counterparties now treat them as high-risk.
A UAE company can be fully licensed and still be non-compliant. Regulators don’t warn first—they enforce when substance, governance, or disclosures don’t align.
January 22, 2026 at 6:07 PM
A UAE company can be fully licensed and still be non-compliant. Regulators don’t warn first—they enforce when substance, governance, or disclosures don’t align.
In 2026, the Free Zone vs Mainland choice determines banking access. Many foreign investors choose speed—then lose accounts, transactions, or investor confidence.
January 22, 2026 at 6:06 PM
In 2026, the Free Zone vs Mainland choice determines banking access. Many foreign investors choose speed—then lose accounts, transactions, or investor confidence.
Board resolutions fail UAE regulatory scrutiny more often than disclosed. The breach isn’t obvious—until banks or authorities reject them without explanation.
January 22, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Board resolutions fail UAE regulatory scrutiny more often than disclosed. The breach isn’t obvious—until banks or authorities reject them without explanation.
In the UAE, a shareholders’ agreement that conflicts with the MoA has limited value. Investors learn this only when voting rights, exits, or control are challenged.
January 22, 2026 at 6:02 PM
In the UAE, a shareholders’ agreement that conflicts with the MoA has limited value. Investors learn this only when voting rights, exits, or control are challenged.
Governing law clauses that work in London or New York often backfire in UAE courts. Foreign lawyers miss how UAE judges treat jurisdiction, evidence, and public order.
January 22, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Governing law clauses that work in London or New York often backfire in UAE courts. Foreign lawyers miss how UAE judges treat jurisdiction, evidence, and public order.
Many contracts signed by foreign investors in Dubai are legally unenforceable from day one. Not because of bad intent—but because mandatory UAE validity rules were never met.
January 22, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Many contracts signed by foreign investors in Dubai are legally unenforceable from day one. Not because of bad intent—but because mandatory UAE validity rules were never met.
US and UK companies lose UAE contract disputes not because contracts are weak—but because they rely on assumptions that don’t survive UAE procedural law, evidence rules, and local enforcement standards.
January 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM
US and UK companies lose UAE contract disputes not because contracts are weak—but because they rely on assumptions that don’t survive UAE procedural law, evidence rules, and local enforcement standards.
UAE compliance is no longer a backend issue.
For foreign investors, it now determines banking access, investor approval, and deal survival.
If your UAE structure can’t withstand scrutiny before money moves, the deal is already dead.
For foreign investors, it now determines banking access, investor approval, and deal survival.
If your UAE structure can’t withstand scrutiny before money moves, the deal is already dead.
January 22, 2026 at 5:58 PM
UAE compliance is no longer a backend issue.
For foreign investors, it now determines banking access, investor approval, and deal survival.
If your UAE structure can’t withstand scrutiny before money moves, the deal is already dead.
For foreign investors, it now determines banking access, investor approval, and deal survival.
If your UAE structure can’t withstand scrutiny before money moves, the deal is already dead.
“Mailbox Free Zones” aren’t illegal—but Dubai banks treat them as future enforcement risks. No real decisions, no substance, foreign control, low tax optics. Banks reject early to avoid audits later. Presence must be real now, not theoretical.
January 6, 2026 at 10:40 AM
“Mailbox Free Zones” aren’t illegal—but Dubai banks treat them as future enforcement risks. No real decisions, no substance, foreign control, low tax optics. Banks reject early to avoid audits later. Presence must be real now, not theoretical.
“0% tax” doesn’t impress Dubai banks—it alarms them. Free Zone companies fail reviews due to weak substance, activity mismatches, ownership gaps, and cross-border risk. Tax efficiency without defensibility triggers rejection, not approval.
January 6, 2026 at 10:25 AM
“0% tax” doesn’t impress Dubai banks—it alarms them. Free Zone companies fail reviews due to weak substance, activity mismatches, ownership gaps, and cross-border risk. Tax efficiency without defensibility triggers rejection, not approval.
Dubai banks don’t reject applications randomly. They reject risk. License mismatches, weak ownership logic, fake substance, and cross-border opacity trigger silent denials—and those flags follow you. Banking failures are structural, not administrative.
January 6, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Dubai banks don’t reject applications randomly. They reject risk. License mismatches, weak ownership logic, fake substance, and cross-border opacity trigger silent denials—and those flags follow you. Banking failures are structural, not administrative.
US companies entering Dubai don’t fail at incorporation—they fail in the first 90 days. License mismatches, weak substance, and tax missteps trigger fines, bank flags, and audits. Formation speed feels good. Enforcement feels expensive.
January 6, 2026 at 9:16 AM
US companies entering Dubai don’t fail at incorporation—they fail in the first 90 days. License mismatches, weak substance, and tax missteps trigger fines, bank flags, and audits. Formation speed feels good. Enforcement feels expensive.
Hidden liens can block your UAE visa renewal overnight. Fines, bank defaults, or corporate disputes freeze approvals. Audit, reconcile, and clear all flags legally — ignorance now costs mobility, operations, and international credibility.
January 5, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Hidden liens can block your UAE visa renewal overnight. Fines, bank defaults, or corporate disputes freeze approvals. Audit, reconcile, and clear all flags legally — ignorance now costs mobility, operations, and international credibility.
Foreign investors in UAE companies are losing capital due to weak shareholder rights. Minority protections, dividend clarity, and exit clauses are often missing. Audit and fix before disputes drain your control and funds.
January 5, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Foreign investors in UAE companies are losing capital due to weak shareholder rights. Minority protections, dividend clarity, and exit clauses are often missing. Audit and fix before disputes drain your control and funds.
UAE offshore companies don’t fail in the UAE — they fail under IRS, HMRC, and CRA audits.
No substance + foreign control = profit reattribution, penalties, and exposure.
“Tax-free” structures collapse the moment scrutiny starts.
No substance + foreign control = profit reattribution, penalties, and exposure.
“Tax-free” structures collapse the moment scrutiny starts.
January 5, 2026 at 7:11 AM
UAE offshore companies don’t fail in the UAE — they fail under IRS, HMRC, and CRA audits.
No substance + foreign control = profit reattribution, penalties, and exposure.
“Tax-free” structures collapse the moment scrutiny starts.
No substance + foreign control = profit reattribution, penalties, and exposure.
“Tax-free” structures collapse the moment scrutiny starts.
Mis-report UAE Corporate Tax 2026 and face 6‑7 figure fines, frozen accounts, and personal director liability. Foreign investors: mistakes aren’t forgiven—they’re enforced. Risk is immediate, not theoretical.
January 1, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Mis-report UAE Corporate Tax 2026 and face 6‑7 figure fines, frozen accounts, and personal director liability. Foreign investors: mistakes aren’t forgiven—they’re enforced. Risk is immediate, not theoretical.
Your UAE company is fully legal — yet banks keep rejecting you. The uncomfortable truth: legality alone does not satisfy UAE banking compliance. AML, beneficial ownership, source-of-funds, and cross-border exposure are silently flagged. Preempt risk with strategic legal alignment.
December 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Your UAE company is fully legal — yet banks keep rejecting you. The uncomfortable truth: legality alone does not satisfy UAE banking compliance. AML, beneficial ownership, source-of-funds, and cross-border exposure are silently flagged. Preempt risk with strategic legal alignment.
UAE banks are quietly closing US & UK-owned accounts, even when corporate structures are legal. Transaction patterns & AML risk matter more than licenses. Ignorance can freeze operations overnight.
December 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
UAE banks are quietly closing US & UK-owned accounts, even when corporate structures are legal. Transaction patterns & AML risk matter more than licenses. Ignorance can freeze operations overnight.