UAE is acknowledged around the world for the excellent business environment it offers. Rules and regulations for conducting business from UAE are among the most liberal and attractive in the region. It has established it self as the leading regional commercial center, for overseas companies it offers outstanding access to potential markets.
There are several categories of licenses available which can be broadly classified under following categories:
Commercial licenses.
Professional licenses.
Industrial licenses.
By law UAE established companies must have fifty-one per cent participation by UAE nationals except in the following cases:
Within the Free Zones.
Business activities which are 100% GCC owned.
Where wholly owned AGCC companies enter into partnership with UAE nationals.
Where foreign companies register a branches or representative office in UAE.
Business Facts:
The UAE has spent an average of Dhs. 5 billion (US$1.36 billion) per year on domestic development since it started exporting oil in 1964. The UAE is the fourth largest oil producer in OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela. The UAE provides almost 25 per cent of Japan’s total oil requirements.
The UAE has the third largest crude oil reserves in the world. Abu Dhabi's Khuff reservoir is rated as one of the world’s largest non-associated gas fields. The UAE has the third largest gas reserves in the Middle East. Approximately 20 per cent of the world’s gas reserves are in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia holds more than 25 per cent of the total world oil reserves. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is ranked as the 20th largest oil and Gas Company in the world.
The Middle East holds more 65 per cent of the total world oil reserves. Abu Dhabi's oil reserves at present production levels will last for approximately 130 years while Dubai’s oil reserves are estimated to last another 25 years The Jebel Ali port is the world’s largest man-made port. Khor Fakkan is the only natural deepwater port in the Middle East. UAE has one of the world’s highest per capita incomes in the world.Much of the land that makes the United Arab Emirates was formed under the sea.