Catherine Workman
Partner, Head of Middle East
The UAE’s business landscape has evolved rapidly, as it transforms into a global investment powerhouse.
With rapid progression comes challenges. Many are global issues, a result of the spate of innovation which has played a critical role in changing the way that businesses operate. Whilst local challenges are nuances, arising from the UAE's emerging position as an innovator.
In any jurisdiction, it is commonplace to focus on shortcomings – over-regulation versus under-regulation. As a relatively new country, the UAE and its legal system is extremely agile; quickly reacting to changing business need. It is this agility that will prove instrumental in affirming the nation’s reputation as a leading global business hub.
This report highlights the results of a cross-sector survey and interviews with leading experts from the energy, financial services, infrastructure, real estate and technology sectors to better understand perceived barriers to success in the market.
We also recommend how businesses can navigate current challenges, and take full advantage of the opportunities that exist in this market.
Although a number of sector-specific issues were highlighted in the report, the survey revealed that ambiguous laws present their number one challenge across all sectors.
Despite these challenges the majority of respondents highlighted that the UAE represents the gold standard in terms of regulations, compared to other jurisdictions globally. This is an indication that that business confidence is strong and this will be instrumental in ensuring the UAE’s recovery post Covid-19.