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Hotels & Leisure

As an owner, investor, lender or operator in the hotels and leisure sector, you encounter complex business issues that require expert solutions. In addition to managing real estate assets, your issues may include corporate, tax, financing, construction, environment, litigation and employment matters, often across borders. CMS UAE is at the forefront of this buoyant sector in the Middle East region and can connect you to sector specialists in globally.

CMS lawyers lead strategically in the sector, having completed more deals than any other law firm and being top ranked by all legal directories. We can advise you on M&A, financing, development & construction, leases, management and franchise agreements and tax structuring. In addition to our core client base of investors and lenders, we also advise operators, brand owners, administrators, construction companies and technology providers.

We can give you access to the latest information, ideas and opportunities. We can introduce you to other sector players, including operators, purchasers, vendors, construction firms, financiers and investors. Such contacts can prove invaluable to your business. If you are involved in a distressed situation, our real estate restructuring lawyers can help sell your hotel or leisure asset out of insolvency. In the event of a dispute, our industry experts can guide you through the litigation process, ensuring you the best outcome.

Highlights of our experience in Hotels & Leisure in UAE
On the disposal of a portfolio of 42 hotels with an internationally recognised brand to a UAEbased investment company for in excess of £600 million. Emaar Properties on joint venture and management...

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17/01/2022
UAE legal reforms – New Labour Law
Introduction - 2021 Reforms In Q4 2021, as part of its 50th Year Anniversary, the UAE announced some of the broadest changes to its legal landscape in many years. It also introduced major practical changes...
04/11/2021
Update: CMS Expert Guide to International Arbitration – Americas
We are pleased to announce that the fifth volume of the CMS Expert Guide to International Arbitration has been published, covering seven jurisdictions in the Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Chile...
20/08/2019
Brave new world - economic substance requirements introduced in the UAE
New regulations concerning economic substance (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No.31 of 2019) (the “Reg­u­la­tions”) have been implemented in the UAE. The Regulations intend that all in-scope UAE entities...
31/07/2019
M&A and GDPR: announced GBP 99 m hotel chain fine highlights due diligence...
A year since the implementation of the GDPR, decisions were handed down in the UK and Germany revealing how the regulation has a direct impact on M&A transactions. In one ruling, the Supervisory Authority...
03/07/2019
UAE update: relaxation of foreign ownership restrictions
In 2018 the UAE passed the Foreign Direct Investment Law (the “FDI Law’), which was intended to pave the way to relaxing foreign ownership restrictions on companies registered “onshore” in the...
23/05/2019
Tackling single-use plastics: the advent of many legal measures which will...
Yesterday’s announcement that subject to certain exceptions plastic straws, plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic beverage stirrers in England will be prohibited from supply as of April 2020 has gained...
19/09/2018
De/Re Flagging in the Hotels Industry
CMS and Drees & Sommer are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Hotels sector event. The past 18 months have seen some high profile cases where the brand over the hotel door has been changed. Where...
29/08/2018
Hotel Structures in the Middle East - All Change
The hotels market in the UAE has historically been dominated by the traditional hotel management agreement (“HMA”) structure between the hotel owner and their chosen operator. The past few years has...
13/08/2018
VAT in the Hotels and Leisure Sector
Earlier this summer, Anna Burchner (CMS Tax partner), Alexandra Tuck (CMS Tax senior associate) and Laura Whiteley (Lawyer) held a number of roundtable discussions with clients at our Dubai office on...
02/07/2018
Finding the balance: human touch versus high tech
Today, we launch our new report for the hotel and restaurant sector. Hotels and restaurants are increasingly expected to deliver a new and different experience; one that leaves a lasting memory, distinguishes...
01/05/2017
CMS, Nabarro and Olswang complete groundbreaking merger
London, 1 May. CMS UK, Nabarro and Olswang today announce the completion of their transformational merger, creating the 6th largest law firm globally by headcount. Trading as CMS, and with 70 offices...
07/03/2016
Investing in Iran: Opportunities for Hotel Operators and Investors
Iran, the second-largest nation in the Middle East, has been one of the most talked about in recent years, most notably surrounding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) which was agreed...