The March/April 2026 edition of Lexis Middle East Law Alert provides a comprehensive snapshot of key legal, regulatory, and commercial developments across the GCC. It combines expert-led feature articles with practical updates on evolving laws, offering in-house counsel, legal practitioners, and business leaders insight into how recent legislative changes impact contracts, compliance, digital regulation, real estate, and taxation. The publication particularly highlights the UAE’s new Civil Code, Qatar’s evolving e-commerce framework, and emerging technology regulations shaping the region.

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FEATURE: A NEW CODE: CONTRACT CONCERNS

An in-depth analysis of the newly issued UAE Civil Code, focusing on how it reshapes contractual priorities. The authors explore risk allocation, enforceability, and key considerations businesses should reassess when drafting and negotiating contracts.

FEATURE: ONLINE ONLY APPROACH

A detailed look at Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 25/2026, outlining licensing requirements for businesses operating exclusively online. This section clarifies compliance obligations for digital-first companies without physical premises.

IN-HOUSE PROFILE: ALL THE RIGHT MOVES

A profile of Daniela Bartolo, General Counsel at Careem, exploring how rapid organisational growth has driven a reassessment of compliance approaches. The piece highlights how in-house legal teams are adapting frameworks, processes, and risk management strategies to keep pace with expansion.

IN-HOUSE PROFILE: PRACTITIONER PERSPECTIVE

A practitioner-led overview of recent legal developments relating to self-driving vehicles in Dubai, offering practical insights into the evolving regulatory landscape and the implications for implementation and compliance.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

A regional roundup of notable legal industry appointments and career moves, offering insight into talent trends and leadership shifts across the Middle East legal market.

CONTRACT WATCH: ARBITRATION CLAUSES

A practical guide by Antonia Birt, Partner at Reed Smith International, highlighting key lessons in drafting and enforcing arbitration clauses, with a focus on avoiding common pitfalls and strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms.

TAX AND FINANCE ROUND-UP

An overview of key fiscal and financial developments, including evolving treatment of R&D tax credits in the UAE. This section highlights regulatory shifts impacting corporate tax planning and financial strategy.

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TECHNOLOGY MONITOR

Explores major developments in technology law across the GCC. Topics include proposed regulation of crypto-mining in ADGM and broader legal responses to emerging digital industries.

Digital Child Safety: A focused analysis of new UAE legislation introducing a dedicated digital child safety framework—among the first in the region—addressing online protection measures and platform responsibilities.

LEGAL ROUND-UP

A summary of major legal developments across the region, including updates such as new shared housing rules in Dubai. Designed to give readers a quick but meaningful understanding of recent legislative changes.

LAW MONITOR

A jurisdiction-wide tracker of significant legal updates in the GCC. It includes a featured analysis of Qatar’s Preliminary Real Estate Registry and its implications for off-plan property sales and investor protection.