Reviewing the wealth of commentary on the use of letters of intent in construction contracts, one might speculate that at the time the pyramids were being built some well-intentioned Egyptian lawyer was earnestly hammering out hieroglyphics warning his contemporaries of the potentially dire consequences of commencing construction works without a concluded contract in place. Nevertheless, [...] read more »

One of the most interesting aspects of working in different jurisdictions is seeing how different regions approach the same issues in different ways – both legally and commercially. An example of this in the context of PPP transactions, is the differing approach taken in the UK and the Middle East in respect the inclusion of delay liquidated damages regimes in Project Agreements. read more »

To continue the nuclear theme of my last blog, which considered the legal and regulatory frameworks necessary for a country aspiring to nuclear power, and suggested that the UAE had set the bar high in its progress to date, this blog looks at what other countries in the region are up to and how all these projects might be financed.read more »

As you will all have noticed, there is something of a nuclear renaissance underway. Among existing nuclear powered countries those leading the comeback are the US, China and India, all building, or with ambitious plans to build many more nuclear power plants. There is also substantial interest in nuclear power from countries that [...] read more »

Mediation has become established in the West as a useful alternative to more confrontational and adversarial forms of dispute resolution. Here in Dubai it is uncommon, but in our experience the number of disputes is on the increase, so could it, or should it, have a role to play?
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If you’re based in the UAE, the answer to the above question is probably not.
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If you are a construction contractor accustomed to operating in common law jurisdictions where the doctrine of “freedom of contract” is generally upheld, you should be aware that the position under UAE law is different. We explore how it is different below …
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Recap
After a diversion a fortnight ago to address the newsworthy events in Dubai, normal service resumes with this blog. The previous two blogs in this series considered decennial liability and liability for harmful acts under UAE law.
This blog will briefly consider whether it is possible to limit liability under your contract eg by including [...] read more »

The news of the requested standstill period for Dubai World debt repayments has left those of us who advise on Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the region wondering what it will mean for us……
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Recap
The previous blog on this topic considered the potential for liability to be unwittingly assumed by parties to construction contracts. This was highlighted by the example of decennial liability under the UAE Civil Code. This blog considers another perhaps unknown liability: strict liability for harmful acts under UAE law, and considers whether parties [...] read more »