Doing business in the United Arab Emirates

Key data

Ease of Doing Business in the United Arab Emirates
Summary of comprehensive annual data collated by the World Bank giving key indicators for business and economic conditions. Includes information on typical business procedures, showing time to complete and associated costs for each step.

Guides

UAE company registration
Comprehensive guide produced by Healy Consultants explaining company structures and business entity types, fees and timelines for incorporation, accounting and tax in this jurisdiction and comparisons with other countries in the region.

Overseas Business Risk - United Arab Emirates
Report from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office looking at potential risks for UK businesses operating in this country. Includes economic and political risks, human rights issues, bribery and corruption, terrorism threat, organised crime and intellectual property.

International Business Guides: UAE
HSBC, June 2023
The guide gives an overview of challenges and opportunities, society and culture, working practice and values, and business etiquette. It also includes information on labour, tax, FDI, infrastructure and cost of living.

MENA Country Report UAE 2018
Overview published by Atradius covering the country's most important business sectors, key indicators, political and economic summaries and outlook. Updated in July 2018.

Doing Business in the United Arab Emirates
A business guide from Baker & McKenzie which helps companies understand the economic, legal and regulatory structures of the UAE. Published in 2021.

Doing Business in the UAE
A guide from PKF International which provides an overview of the country, types of business entities, accounting, taxation and other useful information. Published in January 2015.

United Arab Emirates: Guide to Doing Business
Guide published by legal firm Lex Mundi in December 2015, providing an overview of the legal and business environment in the UAE.

Exporting

On our Exporting to the United Arab Emirates page you can find export guides, trade forecasts and economic and political updates.

Corporate governance

European Corporate Governance Institute
The European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) aims to provide 'a forum for debate and dialogue between academics, legislators and practitioners, focusing on major corporate governance issues and thereby promoting best practice'. The ECGI website also provides a directory of national Corporate Governance Codes, Principles & Recommendations.

Law and regulation

Doing Business law library
World Bank
Collection of business laws and regulations from economies around the world, linking to official government sources. Topics include company law, labour, tax and trade.

Doing business in… Country Q&A tool
Useful tool from Practical Law that allows users to compare summaries of key legal issues across several jurisdictions, including this country. Summaries cover:

• the legal system
• foreign investment
• business vehicles
• employment
• tax
• competition
• intellectual property
• marketing agreements
• e-commerce
• data protection
• product liability.

Forums and support networks

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
To encourage best practice, trade and investment.

Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry
To promote best practice, trade and investment.

Arab-British Chamber of Commerce
UK-based organisation supporting economic activity and trade between the UK and Arab League countries.

Middle East Association
UK-based organisation promoting commercial engagement with the Middle East and North Africa.

Articles and books in the Library collection

• Find articles and books in our collection on doing business in the United Arab Emirates

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.