The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Economy, is the legal reference for the ministry. It is the source from which laws are issued and legislations enacted. The following are just examples - and not exclusive list - of its most important tasks:

• Preparation of draft laws and their amendments as well as Cabinet resolutions, ministerial decrees and administrative circulars related to the UAE economic and commercial activities.
 
• Participation in the meetings of the Legislative Technical Committee of   Ministry of Justice to discuss the draft laws forwarded by the Ministry or other related laws which are overseen and implemented by the Ministry.
 
• Commenting on the conventions, treaties and resolutions related to trade laws in the GCC.
 
• Passing legal remarks on the economic and trade agreements to be signed with other Arab Countries.
 
• Reviewing private joint-stock companies Establishment Contracts as well as their statutes fundamental orders and issuing legal opinions in this regard.

• Handling law suits raised by or against the Ministry in addition to the preparation of legal pleadings and supporting documents to be forwarded to, and handled by, the UAE State Litigation Department in Ministry of Justice.
 
• Preparing legal memoranda and passing legal opinions regarding all legal issues referred by the Ministry’s various sections and departments to the Laws & Regulations Department for legal advice and consultations.

• Examining petitions, grievances and complaints raised by the Ministry's staff and issuing related legal opinions.

• Performing administrative investigations regarding the Ministry’s employees in case a staff violates his duties which are stipulated in the Civil Service Law and the decrees pertaining to its execution.
 
Recently, The Legal Affairs Section has amended and updated the following projects:
 
• Consumer Protection Act and its implementation statute
• Businesses Companies draft Bill
• Auditors draft Bill
• Country/Certificate of Origin Rules draft Bill
• Private Joint-Stock Companies Governance/Arbitration Draft resolution
 
For the time being, the different departments of the Ministry are drafting other bills to be reviewed by the Legal Affairs which will state its observations on these drafts, for example:
 
• Competition Bill
• Foreign Investment Bill
• Arbitration Bill