Minors’ Contracts in the UAE: When Are They Voidable?

The new law makes transactions by a discerning minor that combine benefit and detriment voidable for the minor’s protection. Purely beneficial and purely detrimental transactions must be distinguished from that category.

The official explanation identifies a one-year period for the guardian from knowledge and a one-year period for the minor after reaching majority. Record the contract date, guardian’s knowledge, majority date and the nature of the exchange, and assess any confirmation or later conduct.

Do not treat every transaction by a minor as automatically void or apply one category’s rules to every case. Capacity, the type of transaction, the person entitled to act and the applicable time rules must be checked.

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 entered into force on 1 June 2026. Check the dates, applicable special legislation and temporal rules for the particular case.