Shareholder disputes
Disagreements between shareholders over strategy, distributions, management or the direction of the company.
Corporate & Commercial Law · Dubai & Sharjah
Shareholder & Partnership Dispute Lawyer Dubai
Being sued by a business partner, outvoted as a minority shareholder, or facing a deadlock? These disputes affect the business itself - act early.
MBM represents shareholders, partners, directors and investors in Dubai business disputes - deadlock between partners, minority shareholder oppression, director disputes, joint venture breakdowns and forced or wanted exits. We work from the company's own constitutional documents, not assumption.
The framework
The company's own documents decide most of these disputes
UAE companies operate within the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021), which sets out shareholder rights, governance mechanics and minority-protection principles. But most shareholder and partnership disputes actually turn on the company's own memorandum and articles of association and any separate shareholder or partnership agreement - these documents typically govern exit, deadlock, valuation and dispute resolution in more specific terms than the statute itself.
Whether a dispute is heard in court or arbitration depends entirely on what those documents provide. This page describes the general framework; it is not advice on your dispute.
Matters we handle
Shareholder & partnership disputes MBM is instructed on
These are the situations that most often reach us. If yours is not listed, it is still worth a call.
Minority shareholder oppression
Being consistently outvoted, excluded from decisions, or denied information as a minority shareholder.
Partnership disputes & deadlock
Disagreements between partners that prevent the business from being run effectively, including genuine 50/50 deadlock.
Director disputes & removal
Disputes involving a director's conduct, authority, or removal from office - whether you are seeking removal or defending against it.
Joint venture breakdowns
Disputes arising when a joint venture's governance, funding or exit provisions are tested by a disagreement between the JV partners.
Being sued by a business partner
Where a partner or co-shareholder has already filed a claim, the priority is understanding exactly what is alleged and on what basis.
Shareholder exit disputes
Disputes over the terms, valuation or mechanics of a shareholder's exit, whether wanted or forced.
Our approach
What MBM actually does on a shareholder or partnership dispute
Concrete steps, in the order they usually happen.
Read the constitutional documents first
We start from the memorandum, articles of association and any shareholder agreement, since these usually decide what remedies are actually available.
Establish the correct forum
Court or arbitration, depending on the dispute resolution clause - getting this wrong wastes time and cost.
Assess the realistic remedy
Buy-out, damages, an account of profits, or a negotiated exit - we advise on what is actually available before pursuing any of them.
Negotiate where realistic
Many shareholder disputes are commercially resolved once each side understands its actual legal position.
Litigate or arbitrate
Where the matter proceeds, we prepare and present the case in whichever forum the company's documents specify.
Before you call
What to have to hand
You do not need any of this to call us - but having it ready makes the first conversation more useful.
- Memorandum & articles of associationThe company's constitutional documents
- Any shareholder or partnership agreementIncluding side letters or amendments
- Board and shareholder resolutionsRelevant to the dispute
- Any claim or notice receivedIf proceedings have already started
- A timeline of eventsAs you understand them, with dates where you can
Why MBM
Corporate structure, read the way a court will
Shareholder and partnership disputes are won on the constitutional documents and the governance record. What makes the difference is a team that reads them closely, from the start.
- We act on multiple sides. Advising majority and minority shareholders gives us a practical view of how these disputes are actually argued.
- Litigation and arbitration in-house. If your matter has to be argued, the people advising you are the people who will argue it.
- Straight answers on merits. If a claim is weak on the documents, we will tell you that early.
- Two offices. Dubai and Sharjah.
17Years in practice as MBM Businessmen Services L.L.C.
90+Years of shared experience across the team
10Lawyers, litigation and arbitration capable
95%Win rate in high-stakes disputes, as published by the firm
Common questions
Shareholder & partnership disputes, answered directly
General information, not advice on your dispute. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts and documents.
My business partner is suing me in Dubai - what should I do first?
Have the claim and the underlying shareholder or partnership agreement reviewed before responding. What you are entitled to, and what remedies are realistically available, depends heavily on the company's constitutional documents and the specific facts.
What can a minority shareholder do if being outvoted or oppressed by majority shareholders?
The Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021) and the company's own memorandum and articles of association generally provide certain minority-protection mechanisms, though what applies depends on the company structure and the specific conduct in question.
Can a director be removed from a UAE company, and on what basis?
A director's removal is generally governed by the company's constitutional documents and the Commercial Companies Law framework. Whether a removal is valid, or whether a removal being sought is defensible, depends on the process followed and the grounds relied on.
How do I resolve a deadlock between business partners?
Deadlock is usually addressed first through the mechanisms in the shareholder or partnership agreement itself, if any exist - buy-out provisions, deadlock-breaking clauses, or dispute resolution terms. Where the agreement is silent or the parties cannot agree, the matter may need to proceed to negotiation, arbitration or the courts, depending on what the agreement provides.
What is involved in a joint venture dispute?
JV disputes typically turn on the JV agreement itself - governance rights, funding obligations, exit mechanisms and deadlock provisions - and on what has actually happened between the parties. MBM reviews the agreement and the facts together before advising on options.
How can a shareholder exit a company they no longer want to be part of?
Exit is generally addressed through share transfer, buy-out or, in some cases, a company restructuring, depending on what the constitutional documents allow and whether the other shareholders agree. Where they do not agree, the position becomes a genuine dispute.
Is a shareholder or partnership dispute resolved in court or through arbitration?
This depends entirely on what the shareholder agreement, articles of association or partnership agreement provide. Many corporate agreements include an arbitration clause, in which case the dispute proceeds there rather than before the ordinary courts.
Can MBM act for both majority and minority shareholders?
Yes, though not in the same matter. MBM advises shareholders, partners and directors on both sides of these disputes, which gives a practical understanding of how each position is typically argued.
What documents matter most in a shareholder or partnership dispute?
The company's memorandum and articles of association, any shareholder or partnership agreement, board and shareholder resolutions, and the financial and governance record of the company are generally central to these disputes.
How much does a shareholder dispute lawyer cost in Dubai?
The initial consultation with MBM is free. Cost thereafter depends on the value and complexity of the dispute, and whether it proceeds by negotiation, litigation or arbitration. MBM provides a scope and fee position before you instruct.
Free consultation
Tell us about your matter
Tell us briefly about your situation. Our team will review your enquiry and advise you on the appropriate next step. Everything you send is treated as confidential.
- +971 4 570 0204Dubai office · Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00
- WhatsApp +971 54 596 1111Send the constitutional documents as a photo if it is easier
- info@mbm-co.comAttach the constitutional documents and any relevant agreement
Practice area: Corporate & Commercial Law
Jurisdiction: Dubai & Sharjah, UAE
Last reviewed: September 2026
Thank you — your enquiry is with our team.
A member of the MBM team will review what you have sent and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
A shareholder dispute affects the business itself. Act before positions harden.
Whether you are defending a claim or considering one, the earlier the constitutional documents are reviewed, the more options remain open. The first consultation is free.