UAE trade policies do not allow foreign ownership.

[Jara sang]

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/1645.pdf

Significant Barriers to U.S. Exports

The UAE maintains non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in the form of restrictive agency, sponsorship, and distributorship requirements. In order to do business in the UAE outside of one of the free zones, a foreign business in most cases must have a UAE national sponsor, agent or distributor. Once chosen, sponsors, agents, or distributors have exclusive rights. They cannot be replaced without their agreement. Government tendering is not conducted according to generally accepted international standards. Retendering is the norm. To bid on federal projects, a supplier or contractor must be either a UAE national or a company in which at least 51 percent of the share capital is owned by UAE nationals. Federal tenders are required to be accompanied by a bid bond in the form of an unconditional bank guarantee for five percent of the value of the bid.

Except for companies located in one of the free zones, at least 51 percent of a business establishment must be owned by a UAE national. A business engaged in importing and distributing a product must be either a 100 percent UAE owned agency/distributorship or a 51 percent UAE/49 percent foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC). Subsidies for manufacturing firms are only available to those with at least 51 percent local ownership.

The laws and regulations governing foreign investment in the UAE are evolving. There is no national treatment for investors in the UAE. Non-GCC nationals cannot own land; only one stock is currently open to foreign investors and is capped at 20 percent total foreign ownership, although limited participation by foreigners in a few mutual funds is permitted. There have been no significant investment disputes over the past few years involving U.S. orother foreign investors. Claims resolution is generally not a problem, because foreign companiestend not to press claims, believing that to do so might jeopardize future business activity in the UAE.

[KittyWampus]

1. Oh, this is interesting!

[smtpgirl]

3. there are members here that believe that

the US has inalienalbe rights to own anything on the planet.

You have stated my case

[smtpgirl]

2. again

I stated that in another thread, maybe I should post with you

[Jara sang]

4. sure, the more the merrier