BRWC IS H20 GOLD,GREAT DD. Key Facts Investmen
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Investment
Foreign investors are free to invest in the UAE and profits can be repatriated, together with the proceeds of sale and capital on liquidation.With some exceptions, which are explained below, to carry on business in the UAE a foreign entity will be required to establish an entity in the UAE. In this regard, investors generally have two options; establishment in mainland
UAE or establishment in one of the many economic Free Zones.
Investment is possible in all parts of the economy, except for:Real estate agency;Brokerage activities;Educational activities;Recruitment;Manpower.
Foreigners can own residential and commercial property in certain designated areas, including Free Zones.
Business ownership
There are several available vehicles through which a foreign investor may operate in the UAE. These are outlined in detail below.
Foreign businesses wishing to operate in mainland UAE through a limited liability company will be required to have a local shareholder holding at least 51% of the shares. There have been various indications over the years that the requirement of a locally held majority shareholding may be relaxed. However to date no definitive steps have been taken towards such relaxation, and this issue remains a key concern for foreign investors despite various practices developed to minimise the potential risk associated with the requirement.
A popular alternative is establishment in one of the many Free Zones, which permit 100% foreign ownership, although businesses established in a Free Zone are ostensibly prohibited from carrying out activities in mainland UAE.
Companies located in a Free Zone will be subject to the specific laws of that Free Zone along with the Federal laws of the UAE and the local laws of the relevant Emirate, where the relevant Free Zone’s laws are silent. The exception to this is Dubai International Financial Centre, which has its own set of laws and is not governed by the laws of the UAE other than the criminal laws.