Investment Policy Monitor
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the quarterly Investment Policy Monitor (since 2009) and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2011, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2000 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for growth and development.
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Note: the policy measures are identified through a systematic review of government and business intelligence sources. Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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- United Arab Emirates - Opens to 100 per cent foreign ownership in most sectors
United Arab Emirates
Opens to 100 per cent foreign ownership in most sectors
02 Jan 2022On 27 November 2021, the Government approved a wide-ranging reform of its legal system affecting more than 40 laws. The reforms come during the UAE’s “Year of the 50th” and are intended to keep pace with its developmental aspirations.
The amendments aim to develop the legal regime in various sectors, including investment, trade and industry, as well as company operation, regulation and protection of industrial property, copyright, trademarks, commercial register, electronic transactions, trust services, factoring, and residency.
In particular, through amendments to the Commercial Companies Law (coming into effect on January 2, 2022), the Government will allow investors and entrepreneurs to establish 100 per cent foreign-owned companies in almost all sectors, except activities deemed to be “strategic”. Historically, foreigner’s ownership was capped at only 49% while the remaining 51% would mandatorily belong to a UAE national according to Federal Law no. 2/2015 and the previous companies’ law, which regulated commercial companies.
The reform also allows branches of licensed foreign companies to transform into UAE commercial firms and eliminates nationality requirements for members of the companies’ boards of directors.
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Type:
- Entry and establishment (Ownership and control)
- Treatment and operation (Company laws and corporate governance, Intellectual property regulation)
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Industry:
- Not industry specific
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Sources:
- mondaq, United Arab Emirates: Foreign Investors' New Era In Dubai, https://www.mondaq.com/inward-foreign-investment/1154456/foreign-investors39-new-era-in-dubai, 26 Jan 2022
- thenationalnews, UAE's new legal reforms to usher in more FDI and support SMEs, experts say, https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2021/11/30/uaes-new-legal-reforms-to-usher-in-more-fdi-and-support-smes-experts-say/, 15 Dec 2021
- gulfnews, President approves largest legislative reforms in UAE’s history, https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/president-approves-largest-legislative-reforms-in-uaes-history-1.84000340, 27 Nov 2021
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the quarterly Investment Policy Monitor (since 2009) and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2011, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2000 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for growth and development.
-
Note: the policy measures are identified through a systematic review of government and business intelligence sources. Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Share





Latest publications
