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United Arab Emirates × Government & Regulatory Affairs
Licences, approvals and dealing with regulators. In the United Arab Emirates, that means local law, local regulators and local practice, handled by a qualified professional who practises there.
On request
No WONE Global Partner holds this yet. Send us your requirement: WONE Global confirms whether a vetted Associate firm can act, tells you who it is and checks for conflicts before any work begins.
Bring a requirement →Dubai · Wednesday 4 November
00:54
Local time
What the rules say in the United Arab Emirates
From the United Arab Emirates market guide: the points that matter most for government & regulatory affairs, each with the source it was checked against.
Full guide · Source-checked research100% of statements checked against a source133 checked against an official source9 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed
Foreign investors need approval from the relevant federal authority to carry on activities of strategic impact, which under Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2021 include security, defence and military activities; banks, exchange houses, finance companies and insurance; currency printing; telecommunications; and Hajj and Umrah services.
Mainland activities. The list summarised in the source may not be complete; Dubai's guidance refers to seven strategic-impact sectors. Emirates may also keep their own lists of restricted activities.Chambers and Partners (Hadef & Partners) · checked 2026-10-18An employer may not recruit or employ a worker without first obtaining a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Mainland employers under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Free zone permit procedures were not reviewed here.UAE Legislation Platform · checked 2026-10-18A foreign investor needs a company licence from the relevant federal or emirate authority for a mainland business, or from the free zone authority for a free zone business.
Emirate economic departments (for example in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) issue mainland trade licences; each free zone authority licenses entities in its zone.Chambers and Partners (Hadef & Partners) · checked 2026-10-18Sector regulators, including those for banking, insurance, aviation, real estate development and higher education, may impose licensing requirements or ownership limits in addition to the trade licence.
Mainland; free zones and the financial free zones have their own regulators for regulated activities.Chambers and Partners (Habib Al Mulla & Partners) · checked 2026-10-18Abu Dhabi's economic department identified 1,105 commercial and industrial activities open to full foreign ownership, and Dubai opened more than 1,000 activities while excluding strategic-impact activities in seven sectors.
Emirate-level lists for mainland companies. Lists are updated by each emirate's economic department and may have changed since publication.UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-18Fisheries-related services require 100% UAE national ownership.
Mainland. Other activities may be reserved at emirate level.Chambers and Partners (Habib Al Mulla & Partners) · checked 2026-10-18Free zone companies have generally benefited from customs exemptions but cannot trade directly in the mainland market unless they establish an onshore presence.
Non-financial free zones. Free zone rules and mainland distribution arrangements vary.Chambers and Partners (Habib Al Mulla & Partners) · checked 2026-10-18Imports and exports of plants, plant products and related consignments are controlled under the Federal Law concerning Agricultural Quarantine.
Federal; applies at all UAE entry points. Issued in 1979, in force from 1 July 1979, last updated 13 January 1992 according to the legislation platform.UAE Legislation Platform · checked 2026-10-18Read the full guide: Entry, investment and company formation · Employment, payroll and mobility · Licensing, regulated sectors and incentives · Customs, trade agreements and product rules · Data protection, cyber and digital compliance · M&A, competition and restructuring
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WONE Global Partners in the United Arab Emirates
No named lead for Government & Regulatory Affairs yet — these WONE Global professionals already work in the United Arab Emirates and can bring the right local colleague in.
Dubai · United Arab EmiratesWONE Global Partner · United Arab Emirates
Dr Hajra Nazir is qualified Professional Doctorate (PD) in Business Advisory & Compliance with prestigious organizations in the field of Corporate Advisory, Business Administration, Law, Commerce, Applied Economics etc.…
Dubai · United Arab EmiratesWONE Global Partner · United Arab Emirates
Armed with two decades of rich experience spanning across diverse industries and verticals, I have garnered the trust and admiration of many valued relationships. Audit & Assurance, Consulting, Risk Advisory and Tax pra…
Dubai · United Arab EmiratesWONE Global Partner · United Arab Emirates
Qualified accounts professional with progressive years of experience in the field of accounting, finalization, budgeting, forecasting, business analysis, cash flow management, together good knowledge of auditing and fin…
Dubai · United Arab EmiratesWONE Global Partner · United Arab Emirates
Comprehensive experience in directing and controlling activities including strategic planning, feasibility studies restructuring and turnaround of Business activities, evaluating Business proposals, etc Experience in se…
Also in the United Arab Emirates
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