UAE Enacts Civil Transactions Law Setting Legal Adulthood at 18

Overview

• The decree standardises legal time references to the Gregorian calendar, replacing prior use of lunar years in age-related rules.
• Minors from 15 may seek court authorisation to manage assets to support youth participation in economic activity.
• Courts gain broader discretion to apply principles of Sharia when no applicable legislative provision exists.
• Parties must disclose fundamental information during pre-contract negotiations to promote informed decisions and reduce disputes.
• A dedicated framework governs non-profit companies, and a foreigner’s UAE assets without heirs will be treated as a charitable endowment.