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Business in

Dubai

Top reasons to invest in Dubai

Resilient and Dynamic Economy

A diversified economy bolstered by strong economic fundamentals

Smart City Incubating Innovation

Enables a culture of innovation and digitization becoming home to the Middle East’s First Unicorn

Empowering Institutions

Advocates future-ready regulations and leads the region in governance, government effectiveness, and Efficiency

Connecting Worlds

Strategic Location "Where East Meets the West", connects the world as a gateway to two-thirds of the world’s most attractive growth markets

Business Made Easy

Starting a Business In 5 Minutes and 1 Step, ranks 1st regionally and 16th globally on the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ report

Cutting-Edge Infrastructure

Boasts state-of-the-art roads, ports, and airports to serve one of the world’s busiest gateways into the region for business, commerce, and tourism.

Magnet for Talent

Boasts the highest percentage of talented foreign labor force globally with an exceptional standard of living

Outstanding Trade and Logistics

Acts as a gateway to the region and a central hub for global trade flows

100% Business Ownership

Being an attractive and dynamic business launch location, Dubai now welcomes foreign investors to fully own their mainland business, in a significant amendment to a decades-old Commercial Companies Law, stipulating that an Emirati national must be the majority shareholder with 51% of the shares, while foreign investors could only own up to 49%.

The lifting of restrictions on foreign investment ownership continues a series of measures aimed at empowering not only an investor-centric, and innovation-driven economy but also one that is responsive and agile.

Click here for a list of all business activities that are applicable for 100% foreign business ownership.

Dubai is considered the largest business city in the UAE according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report for over 15 years, with a population of 3.4 million individuals living in the city, 16.73 million visitors, an area of 4,114 km², and an unemployment rate of 0.5%.
 
With a futuristic outlook, Dubai has embarked on a journey to transform its business environment and become the leading location for investors globally.

Dubai’s efforts to streamline regulation, support innovation and digitization, provide world-class logistics and infrastructure, and develop human capital have paved the way for its premier position today as the preferred destination for FDI.

Resilient and Dynamic Economy 

With an aim to make the city a dynamic engine of economic growth, the strategic plans laid out by the government have enabled Dubai to become a diversified, investor-centric, and innovation-driven economy. 

Ranked 1st in employment growth, 2nd in youth unemployment and employment rate, and 8th in the diversification of the economy globally, Dubai has earned a reputation for its political, social, and economic stability, making it one of the world’s most attractive places to do business. A stable macro-economic environment, sustainable economic policies, and superior growth strategies have fueled Dubai’s outstanding economic performance and diversification. 

#1

Gross domestic savings (%)

IMD WCY

#1

Employment – Growth

IMD WCY

2.22%

GDP growth rate (in constant prices) in 2019

Dubai Statistics Center

$ 77,472

GDP (PPP) per capita in 2018

IMD WCY

#4

Global Hub for Investment

Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index

#4

GDP (PPP) per capita

IMD WCY

Smart City Incubating Innovation

Enables a culture of innovation and digitization becoming a home to the Middle East’s First Unicorn.

The Government of Dubai promotes digitization and innovation through policies that cater to innovators, start-ups, incubators, and SMEs. An entrepreneur-friendly culture and a host of strategic initiatives brings together stakeholders such as policymakers, enterprises, academia, business, and the financial sector need to harness the power of digital innovation. 

Dubai has led the move in cultivating a culture of innovation and digitization and its continual application and adoption by commerce and industry ecosystems. 

Dubai ranks 1st in the levels of technology employed, dedicated cyber-security teams, scientific and technical employment, and internet users. As a testament to this, Microsoft and Oracle have recently opened their regional cloud data centers in Dubai.

Empowering Institutions

Dubai’s rapid pace of development is underpinned by a transparent, reliable, and dynamic regulatory framework that serves as a platform for growth. 

Dubai’s public institutions competently, seamlessly, and expeditiously enforce and monitor implementation of the regulations and policies, particularly in the aspects that facilitate the investor journey. Owing to these strides, Dubai ranks 13th among 190 economies in protecting minority investors and 9th among 190 economies in enforcing contracts. 

Policy is matched to busines requirements to ensure economic growth in key sectors and to deliver a world-class investor experience. The backbone of this is a collaborative policy-making approach, that leads to a host of public-private partnerships, ensuring that Dubai is investor friendly, oriented to supporting profitable growth and protecting intellectual property.

#1

Institutional Capacity and Access to Resources

Safe Cities Index

#3

Adaptability of Government Policy

IMD WCY

#1

Public-Private Partnerships

Safe Cities Index

AED 66.4 Billion

Government Budget

Connecting Worlds

Dubai is uniquely blessed with a geographical position that makes it the center of the physical world. Dubai has built on this advantage by providing efficient connections to key growth markets – regionally and globally. 

With future-ready airports and ports providing access to two-thirds of the world’s most attractive growth markets, Dubai has developed active gateways into the region for business, commerce, and tourism. 

AED

70%

Of Fortune 500 companies choose Dubai as their regional headquarter

Dubai FDI

AED

2.4 Bn

Consumers serve as a direct market in Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent and Africa

Dubai FDI

AED

8 Hrs

Flight connects 2/3 of the world’s population with Dubai

Dubai FDI

Dubai Airports

Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai's airports - Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC). 

Dubai is home to the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic. Dubai Airports enhances Dubai’s geographic advantage by providing safe, secure and environmentally responsible airports.

101M+

Project Revenue

141+

Scheduled Airlines

265+

Destinations

66M+

Passengers Served

57+

Years of Success

Dubai Airport, Terminal 3

Emirates Airlines

Emirates connects the world, and through their global hub in Dubai. They operate modern, efficient, and comfortable aircraft, and their culturally diverse workforce delivers award-winning services to customers across six continents every day

56M

Passengers flown in 2019-2020

157

Destinations

270

Fleet Size

172

Nationalities represented by employees

59,519

Employees as of 31 March 2020

Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 plane

Business Made Easy

Dubai has emerged as a global, central hub for business by transforming its business environment to become the preferred location for global investors and entrepreneurs shaping the future. Dubai ranks 1st globally in start-up days and procedures. 

It also ranks 1st in the global freezones of the year, and is the 4th most business-friendly city. Dubai’s economic ecosystem empowers businesses large and small to maximize profitable growth, forge lasting partnerships, and lead global markets with impactful innovation. 

#1

Getting Electricity

Doing Business

1 Day

To Start a Business

DCO Analysis

#3

Dealing with Construction Permits

Doing Business

#4

Business Friendliness

Global Cities of the Future

262,519

Business Licenses Registered in 2019

DCO Analysis

Cutting-Edge Infrastructure

Dubai continues to build sophisticated and reliable infrastructure, designed to enable uninterrupted economic growth. 

Dubai ranks 1st globally in air transport facilities, pedestrian friendliness, and public transport reliability. 

It is one of the world’s most connected cities, with future-proofing built into all new projects. 

The city aims to emphasize and develop “hard infrastructure” such as roads, utilities, logistics facilities, and manufacturing facilities as well as “soft infrastructure” in the form of law enforcement, financial system, education, health care, social welfare services, and cultural and recreational options. 

#1

Number of Attacks on Facilities/ Infrastructure

Safe Cities Index

#1

Power Network

Safe Cities Index

#1

Transport Affordability

Deloitte

#6

Roads

IMD WCY

#7

Water Consumption Intensity

IMD WCY

#8

Connectivity

Global Cities of the Future

A Magnet for Talent

Dubai proactively identifies human capital needs in diverse domains and attracts and retains high-quality talent. 

As a testament to this, Dubai has the highest percentage of foreign labour force and the largest scientific and technical employment globally. 

A collaborative mechanism between government, business and academia enables Dubai’s talent pool to meet private sector requirements. Dubai is continually investing in an ecosystem that facilitates knowledge transfer and raises workforce quality, thereby optimizing return on investment for investors.

#1

Scientific and Technical Employment

IMD Digital Competitiveness Index

#3

Labour Force (%)

IMD WCY

#5

Working Hours

IMD WCY

#5

Net Flow of International Students

IMD WCY

0.5%

Unemployment rate in 2019

Dubai Statistics Center

#8

International Experience

IMD WCY

Outstanding Trade and Logistics

Dubai is a global leader in international trade, providing businesses with a friendly export-import environment, supported by regional and international trade agreements and efficient logistics services. 

As businesses move beyond geographical barriers, Dubai has positioned as the key gateway to the region and a hub for global trade flows. Dubai is naturally positioned to become the epicentre of trade flows and the key node through which the world’s wealth and talent flow. 

Through efficient logistics, Dubai supports the production and movement of cargo globally, connecting the dots between a global network of ports and terminals with ground-breaking technology.

#2

Export of Goods (%)

IMD WCY

#3

Export of Goods per Capita

IMD WCY

#3

Export concentration by partner

IMD WCY

#7

Customs Authorities

IMD WCY

Jebal Ali Port

The Jebel Ali Port is a gateway hub that enables trade across the region and beyond. It is a vital link in the global trade network, connecting eastern and western markets with North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. 

As DP World’s flagship, it is the largest seaport in the Middle East and ranks among the top 10 container ports of the world. The port’s container handling capacity has grown from 18 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) to 22.4 million TEU. Jebel Ali Port has been voted “Best Seaport – Middle East” for 24 consecutive years.

1979

Year of Opening

67

Available Berths

14,950,000 TEU

Annual Container Volume

More Reasons to Invest in Dubai

Growing Mega-Clusters 

The clusters established in Dubai empower businesses to shape the future of Dubai’s industry. 

Free zones in the UAE are a derivation of ‘Clusters’ or ‘Special Economic Zones’ operated across the world. 

Free zones have been set up to promote international investment, by offering tax concessions, 100% ownership, and customs duty benefits to expatriate investors. 

Each Free zone is designed around one or more industry categories offers to companies within those categories to promote a specific industry.  Most of the free zones in Dubai broadly offer trading, services, and industrial licenses to investors looking to set up their businesses. 

AED

2.1%

The trade volume of UAE free zones grew to $169 billion in 2019 from $166 billion in 2018.

Ministry of Finance 

AED

53.5%

Of UAE’s total non-oil trade in 2019 originates from free zones.

Ministry of Finance 

Adaptive Immigration Systems

As the city with the largest foreign labour force, Dubai recently announced ‘Golden Visa’ initiative, a long-term visa granting permanent residency benefits to investors, entrepreneurs, specialist talent, researchers, and outstanding students. The aim is to create an attractive investment environment in the UAE, which further encourages business development and draws in new talent.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced that 6,800 investors and residents, worth an estimated Dh100 billion, and from 70 countries, were chosen to receive the visa. This initiative reaffirms the country’s position as a global incubator. 

Throughout history, the UAE has opened its doors to millions of people looking to pursue their dreams and better their lives. The Golden Card is our way to welcome all those seeking to be a part of the UAE’s success story and making it a second home

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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Global Financial Hub

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has consistently ranked amongst the top 15 global financial centres in the last 5 years, thus, further strengthening the position of Dubai as a centre for investment. 

Set up in 2004, the DIFC lies in a strategic location midway between the global financial hubs of London and New York in the west and Singapore and Hong Kong in the east. Dubai is ranked 1st globally in FDI projects and is the 4th largest global hub for investment. The DFM has implemented a spate of reforms in the recent past to deepen the capital markets, covering a range of financial instruments. 

As a key outcome of these efforts, coupled with Dubai’s vision to grow the Islamic economy; the Nasdaq Dubai has now emerged as the global sukuk capital of the world, boasting of the highest value of listed sukuks amongst all the leading Islamic capital centres of the world.

#7

Financial Card Transactions

IMD WCY

#2

Fintech (in MENA)

Global Fintech Index

178

Companies Listed on Dubai Financial market

DCO Analysis

US$ 89.18 billion

Market Capitalisation of Dubai Financial market

DCO Analysis

US$ 100 million

FinTech Funding

DCO Analysis

296

FinTech Start-ups

DCO Analysis

Futuristic Space Programs

The UAE launched the National Space Programme as part of the UAE’s ambitious space programme of reaching Mars by 2021 and building the first settlement there by 2117. 

As part of National Space Strategy 2030, the UAE seeks to be a pioneer in the field of space by focusing on space services, local capacities and technologies, manufacturing, R&D, collaboration, investments, and a regulatory framework to realise these goals. UAE strives to achieve its targets in the next 10 years through 71 initiatives, providing investors with an attractive investment opportunity in space programs.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

Founded in 2006, The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre is home to the UAE National Space Programme. The Centre builds and operates earth observation satellites, offering imaging and data analysis services to clients around the world. The Centre launched DubaiSat-1, DubaiSat-2, and recently launched KhalifaSat on 29 October 2018 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. KhalifaSat was developed 100% in the UAE by a team of highly qualified Emirati engineers.

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Mohamed Bin rashid Space Center, Dubai

Emirates Mars Mission

The ‘Hope Probe’ will be the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers when it reaches the red planet's orbit in 2021. 

It will help answer key questions about the global Martian atmosphere and the loss of hydrogen and oxygen gases into space over the span of one.

Following a journey of several months, the probe is expected to enter the Red Planet’s orbit in 2021, coinciding with the Golden Jubilee of the Union

UAE Astronaut Program

The program saw the launch of Hazzaa AlMansoori, first Emirati Astronaut, to the International Space Station on a scientific mission on 25th September 2019. 

The aim of the programme to prepare an Emirati astronaut corps for scientific space exploration missions, creating a culture of scientific endeavor and motivating the youth to pursue space science and technology.

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Mars 2117 Programme

Mars 2117 Programme aims to build the knowledge and
scientific capabilities that will enable the UAE to build
Mars Science City and explore Mars to address the
challenges of food, water and energy security on Earth. 

Behind the development of the Mars 2117 Programme, is a vision to build a human colony on Mars. In line with Mars 2117 Strategy, Mars Science City will comprise laboratories that will stimulate the red planet’s terrain and harsh environment for food, energy and water, agricultural testing and studies

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