Practice

Investments

Inbound investment legal advice for the UAE; structuring, ownership and regulatory exposure treated as a single question.

The Firm advises investors, institutions and family offices bringing capital into the United Arab Emirates, including private equity and venture capital investors structuring a transaction from initial investment through to exit. Our UAE inbound investment legal advice treats structuring, ownership and regulatory exposure as a single question rather than three. This is distinct from our funds practice, which forms and administers investment vehicles for fund managers, rather than advising the investor’s own entry.

We advise on the choice between mainland, free zone and financial-centre structures, on foreign ownership as it applies to a proposed activity, and on legal due diligence for a UAE target, reconciling onshore UAE law with the common-law frameworks of the DIFC and ADGM throughout. Where an investment involves a DFSA or FSRA-regulated entity, we advise on the regulatory perimeter alongside the underlying transaction.

A senior member of the team is involved from the first structuring conversation through to completion, drawing on the wider team’s disputes, funds and real estate experience where a transaction calls for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions on investing into the UAE.

There are several routes into the UAE market — mainland, free zone and financial-centre structures — each with different ownership, licensing and operating consequences. The right route depends on the sector and the investor’s objectives. We advise on choosing and establishing the appropriate structure for a specific investment.

Foreign ownership rules vary by sector, activity and structure, and have changed significantly in recent years. We advise on how the current position applies to a specific proposed investment, and on structuring around any restrictions that remain.

Due diligence on a UAE target looks different depending on whether it sits onshore, in the DIFC, or in ADGM. We scope diligence to the target’s actual footprint and verify findings against the correct registry or regulator in each case.

The DIFC operates a dedicated family office framework, subject to asset and governance requirements set by the DFSA. We advise families on whether this framework suits their circumstances and handle establishment end to end.

It depends on the structure and activity, and the position has changed materially in recent years. We advise on whether a proposed investment falls within a category requiring local involvement, and if so, on structuring that relationship to protect the investor’s position.

Related Practices

To discuss a matter in confidence, contact the firm.