Expanding Your Business into the United Arab Emirates

For quite some time, U.S. companies eyeing international expansion have identified the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a prime destination for a variety of compelling reasons.

The UAE is composed of seven distinct regions known as "Emirates," which include:

  1. Abu Dhabi
  2. Ajman
  3. Dubai
  4. Fujairah
  5. Ras al-Khaimah
  6. Sharjah
  7. Umm al-Quwain

Faisal Amin, a Client Services Associate at Globalization Partners, suggests that most organizations seeking to employ sales professionals in the UAE tend to concentrate their efforts on the emirates of Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

The UAE is renowned for its business-friendly environment. Businesses can thrive by operating within one of the nation's many "free-trade zones." These zones offer special tax incentives, customs privileges, and unique import regulations governed by their dedicated frameworks. Remarkably, Dubai alone boasts over 20 free-trade zones.

Establishing a permanent business presence in the UAE can be accomplished through one of two options:

  1. Forming joint partnerships within the mainland UAE.
  2. Operating within a free-trade zone.

Here's an interesting tidbit: The workweek spans from Sunday through Thursday in the UAE, with the weekend comprising Friday and Saturday. This arrangement necessitates careful planning when managing remote employees in this country.