The UAE system is characterized by the existence of a favourable tax regime aimed at drawing foreign investments to the country. The local tax year goes from 1 January to 31 December. In general up to now no value added tax, nor withholding tax have been provided. Taxation on business activities will soon be introduced…
The UAE’s healthcare industry is undergoing huge developments in the whole Gulf region. In 2015, interchange between Italy and the UAE confirmed a positive trend in healthcare, marking various records, including the import / export of medical products which achieved a turnover of approximately 74 million dollars and a 16% annual growth rate. With the…
In the wake of the important success of Arab Health 2016, one of the main healthcare/pharmaceutical fairs in the world, held in Dubai in late January, the United Arab Emirates’ healthcare industry is going through a huge development phase throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council area. According to the recent data presented by the Chairman of…
Even though the federal system involves the existence of different options for the protection of intellectual property in the United Arab Emirates ‒which are different for each single Emirate‒ there are four main general ways of achieving it: customs protection, administrative protection, civil protection and, finally, criminal protection. At the administrative level, the DED (Departments…
The numerous infringements concerning intellectual property and the growing number of counterfeit goods in the United Arab Emirates have led the legislators to regulate the protection of intellectual property in the Gulf countries. As provided by the Trademarks Law currently in force in the UAE, anyone who registers a trademark will be considered the exclusive…
Labour law in the UAE is regulated by Federal Law no. 8 of 1980 (as amended – federal laws no. 24/81, 15/85 and 12/86). The law applies both to UAE and to foreign workers. A further source is the individual employment contract which may be temporary or permanent with limited duration, not exceeding four years,…
In order to stimulate international trade within the territory of the UAE, a number of zones have been created for the promotion of exports and the opening of the national economy to the outside world. Currently, within the territory of the UAE there are more than 36 free zones, 25 of which are active in…
Italian companies intending to set up a company in the UAE have two options: 1) the establishment of a company in the Mainland; 2) the establishment of a company in the Free Zones. Despite foreign companies prefer to set up their activities in the free zones, since such option does not require the presence of…
As already mentioned, an Italian company intending to market its products in the UAE, may initially consider using agents. It is important to bear in mind that in the UAE market the activity of commercial agency can only be exercised by local citizens, as provided in Article 2 of the Commercial Agency Law, which states:…
As already mentioned in our previous newsletters, Italian companies intending to market their products in the United Arab Emirates, may initially consider using intermediaries – a very frequent option in international practice – such as agents, distributors and franchisees. In general terms, the rules governing agency relationships are included in Federal Law 18/1981 (Commercial Agency…