Foreign investment: UAE legislation

Cabinet Resolution No. (23) of 2024 Concerning the National Treatment of the Nationals of States of the Cooperative Council of Arab Gulf States as UAE Nationals Concerning the Practice of Commercial Activities

Gives nationals of GCC member states the same treatment as UAE nationals when practising commercial activities in the UAE, excluding Hajj and Umrah services, exclusive commercial agencies and fisheries services, and lets the Cabinet amend the exclusions on the Minister of Economy's proposal; it repeals Cabinet Resolution No. 4 of 2007.

Ministerial Decision No. (138) of 2024 On the Controls and Procedures for Registering Branches and Representative Offices of Foreign Companies

Creates the Ministry of Economy register of branches and representative offices of foreign companies and sets the procedure: initial Ministry approval, licence from the local authority, legalised and translated documents, then registration, renewal, amendment, suspension, deletion, re-registration and auditor appointment, with fees, late-payment penalties and administrative deletion after two years without renewal.

Federal Law No. (3) of 2022 Concerning Regulating Commercial Agencies

Replaces the 1981 agencies law: registered commercial agencies remain reserved to UAE nationals and wholly Emirati-owned companies, with exceptions for public joint stock companies at least 51% Emirati-owned and Cabinet-approved international companies; agencies need a notarised contract registered with the Ministry of Economy, one year's termination notice, a Commercial Agencies Committee for disputes and transitional periods.

Cabinet Resolution No. (55) of 2021 Determining the List of Activities with a Strategic Impact

Lists the activities with a strategic impact that remain subject to national-participation and regulator approval under the Commercial Companies Law: security, defence and military activities, banks, exchange houses, finance companies and insurance, money printing, telecommunications, Hajj and Umrah services, Quran memorisation centres and fisheries, with a 5 plus 14 working-day approval procedure.

Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2021 on Commercial Companies

The principal law for onshore UAE companies: it sets out the permitted legal forms (joint liability, limited partnership, LLC, private and public joint stock), incorporation, capital, management, general assemblies, accounts and audit, conversion, merger and liquidation, and leaves national-participation requirements to the Cabinet's strategic-impact regime.

Regulation No. (3) of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai

Designates, by plot number across 23 Dubai areas shown on Land Department maps, where non-UAE nationals may hold freehold ownership without time limit or usufruct and leasehold rights up to 99 years, with one Nad Al Sheba plot limited to usufruct or leasehold; in force on Gazette publication.