The hospitality and leisure sector is thriving in the UAE. Much of this success can be attributed to its high levels of tourism, excellent infrastructure and diverse customer base. For the industry to remain successful, businesses must continue to meet legal requirements.
The hospitality and leisure sector in the UAE is governed by federal laws, emirate-specific requirements, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi. Free zones also have legal frameworks to follow.
There are various legal complexities in the sector, so many businesses may choose to work alongside a legal team to ensure compliance. We can be your trusted and dedicated legal team, with years of experience in the sector.
Our support ranges from licensing and real estate to consumer protection and more. You can count on us for a comprehensive suite of legal services, delivered by a dynamic and trusted team.
Common challenges in hospitality & leisure
With years of experience in the hospitality and leisure sector, we are confident that we can support businesses of all sizes.
- Understanding franchising agreements
- Ensuring compliance with employment laws
- Licensing and regulatory compliance
- Meeting necessary regulations
- Ensuring consumer protection and data privacy
- Organising lease agreements
- Resolving disputes correctly
- Maintaining sustainable practice
Our expertise
Hamdan Al Shamsi Lawyers & Legal Consultants can provide strategic guidance and support on the complex legal landscape of the hospitality and leisure sector. Our team will ensure that your business operations follow all compliance requirements for zoning and strata laws.
Whether you manage a hotel, restaurant or another establishment, our legal team can guide you on franchise agreements and negotiations. We recognise the importance of getting an effective outcome for our clients, so we always take the time to understand your goals before we get started.
Our employment law team regularly supports businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector. Additionally, our strategic dispute resolution team can be on hand to help with operational and management issues in your company.
We are regularly instructed to support hospitality and leisure businesses with mergers and acquisitions due to our extensive industry experience. Whether you’re investing or making a real estate transaction, our trusted legal team will be on hand to ensure compliance at every stage of the process.
Our services
- Hotel management and franchise agreement negotiation
- Real estate transactions for resort and mixed-use properties
- Compliance with zoning and strata laws
- Employment law for the hospitality workforce
- Intellectual property protection for hotel brands and entertainment content
- M&A and investment structuring in hospitality assets
- Dispute resolution for operational or management issues
Why partner with us
- Client-centric approach
- Extensive experience in the hospitality and leisure sector
- Seamless collaboration across our dedicated teams
- Comprehensive knowledge of intellectual property protection
- Trusted legal counsel
