UAE Law and Practice Contributed by: Abdelhak Attalah and Ghassan Hidar, Attalah Legal Consultancy
Additionally, the ML allows UAE residents of any nationality to own and register vessels in the UAE. It also extends registration to compa - nies incorporated in the UAE and vessels man - aged by UAE-based entities. This represents a significant shift from the previous Commercial Maritime Law of 1981, aligning the legal frame - work with the evolving needs and interests of the shipping community. Stakeholders in the shipping industry should be mindful of these developments and their potential implications for ownership, finance and dispute resolution in the maritime sector.
Another point of clarification pertains to the bareboat charterer of a ship registered abroad that meets the registration criteria for a UAE- flagged vessel, as set out in Article 13 of the ML. It would be useful to determine whether a bareboat chartered-in vessel flying the UAE flag under Article 18(1) of the ML will still be consid - ered a “foreign ship” for the purposes of Article 15(1), which requires approval from the Ministry for a foreign ship to engage in marine transpor - tation within UAE ports or to participate in other maritime activities such as towing, piloting, fuel - ling, etc.
592 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook