Advertise on podcast: Lawgical with Ludmila

Is surrogacy legal in the UAE? The removal of an express federal prohibition in 2023 opened the door, but the legal position remains more nuanced than headlines suggest. In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova explains the UAE’s evolving surrogacy framework, Abu Dhabi’s operational pathway, and the legal and financial considerations intended parents should understand before proceeding. The discussion covers: Gestational versus traditional surrogacy and restrictions on donor eggs and sperm. Eligibility requirements for intended parents and surrogates. Abu Dhabi’s approval process, treatment requirements, and birth registration. The position in Dubai and other emirates. Parentage, custody, inheritance, nationality, and recognition abroad. Agency fees, surrogate compensation, insurance, and contractual risks. Anonymity, lifestyle restrictions, and the limits of contractual control. Moving embryos across borders and pursuing surrogacy abroad. The episode also compares birth-registration approaches in other jurisdictions and explains why careful documentation and legal advice matter from the outset. Find more legal insights at lylawyers.com. Listen to Lawgical on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the video podcast on YouTube.

What are real estate agents in Dubai legally responsible for, and what happens when a property deal goes wrong? In this episode of Lawgical, U.S.-qualified lawyer Ludmila Yamalova explores the legal framework governing real estate agents in the UAE, with a particular focus on Dubai. She explains the duties agents owe buyers and sellers, the limits of their role, and how disputes over commissions, deposit cheques, and property transactions can arise. Drawing on practical examples and court cases, Ludmila discusses: The different layers of UAE and Dubai laws governing real estate brokerage. Licensing requirements and the consequences of unlicensed brokerage. Disclosure duties, conflicts of interest, and representing one or both parties. RERA Forms A, B, F, I, and U, and the importance of written brokerage agreements. Commission entitlement, payment terms, and disputes when transactions fall through. How MOUs, booking forms, emails, and WhatsApp messages can form part of a contractual arrangement. Property advertising permits, QR codes, and social media requirements. Due diligence before marketing or investing in off-plan properties. Agents’ responsibilities when holding deposit cheques and handling payment instructions. Brokerage liability, employment disputes, and where complaints may be resolved. Anti-money laundering obligations, third-party payments, and crypto transactions. Whether you are an agent, buyer, seller, or investor, this episode explains why understanding the rules matters, and how compliance helps protect both individual transactions and confidence in Dubai’s real estate market. Find more legal insights at lylawyers.com. Listen to Lawgical on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the video podcast on YouTube.

Who owns and controls the common areas of a jointly owned property in Dubai? What rights do individual property owners have, and what happens when they disagree with a developer or management company? In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova examines the legal framework governing jointly owned properties in Dubai. She explains how the UAE Constitution, the UAE Civil Transactions Law, Dubai real estate laws, the Eight Principles of Dubai, and RERA regulations collectively shape the rights and protections available to property owners and investors. The episode also explores the roles of owners’ committees, management companies, developers, the Dubai Land Department and RERA. It considers recurring concerns involving service charges, access to financial records, conflicts of interest, management-company performance and the limited legal standing currently available to owners’ committees. Topics covered include: What constitutes jointly owned property in Dubai Ownership of common areas and undivided shares The hierarchy of federal and Dubai real estate laws The relevance of the Eight Principles of Dubai The roles of the Dubai Land Department and RERA The rights and responsibilities of property owners The function and limitations of owners’ committees The role of developers following property handover Service charges, audited budgets and segregated accounts Conflicts of interest involving management companies The process for replacing a management company The jurisdiction of the Rental Disputes Center Complaints involving government authorities The legal remedies available when owners’ concerns remain unresolved The central principle is that owners hold genuine interests in the common parts of their communities and should be able to manage those interests collectively. Management companies act as service providers, while regulators and legal procedures are intended to protect property ownership, investor confidence and the integrity of Dubai’s real estate market.