UAE Benefits and Legal Structures

UAE  is one of the world’s leading trading centres and is a gateway to markets covering the Gulf States, Middle East, CIS, East Africa and Asian sub – continent. It is strategically located mid – way between the Far East and Europe. The UAE is a federation of seven Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. The UAE has grown to become one of the largest economies in the Middle East. The region has a high migration rate and has one of the world’s largest growing populations specifically due to the migration. The region has a large expatriate community who come from the United States, Europe, Africa, India, Pakistan, Philippines and other parts of the world. The country offers endless investment opportunities to local and international investors and attracts trade due to its strategic location and very pro-active initiatives. Number of Free Zones located throughout the Emirate also offer lucrative incentives attracting investment.

Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown into a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region. With a diverse, multicultural population, Dubai offers its residents and businesses a unique environment, enriched with the cultures of more than 190 nationalities and a quality of life and work unrivalled in the Middle East. It is a bustling metropolis with a combination of Emirati heritage, Arabic vitality, Western spontaneity and Asian ambition.

Dubai is the third largest re-export hub in the world and home to Jebel Ali port, which is one of the top ten busiest ports in the world. Dubai Airport serves as one of the major international hubs in the Middle East for the transportation of passengers and cargo. In less than 40 years, Dubai has transformed itself from local trading community into one of the most inspirational, exciting and successful cities in the world. Its progress continues to make global headlines and it is now an immensely attractive destination for tourists and businesses alike.

• No currency restrictions and foreign exchange control, quotas or trade barriers
• Freedom to repatriate profits and capital
• Low corporate tax rate in the GCC
• Minimal import duty of only 5% with exemptions
• Globalized business community and regional hub for major MNCs
• State of the art infrastructure and telecommunication facilities
• Availability of work force from more than 190 nationalities,
• Stable and reliable currency (USD is pegged with local currency -1USD=3.67 Dirhams)
• Finest airports and seaports in the world
• Presence of E-Governance system
• World class international exhibition and conference venue

The legal structures are one of the important aspect in doing business in UAE.
The investors have the option to set up in the following areas in accordance with their business activities:

• Dubai Mainland
• Free Zone
• Offshore Companies

The rules and regulations of setting up of business entities or legal structures are different in the Main land, Free zones and Offshore.The details are given in the respective heads.

There are three broad categories/types of licenses for any business activities in the U.A.E.:

• Commercial licenses for all kinds of trading activity;
• Industrial licenses for establishing industrial or manufacturing activity;
• Professional licenses for professions, services, craftsmen and artisans;

• Other licenses provided by authorities (freelance, instant license)