Social and Economic Indicators
| United Arab Emirates: | Consist of 7 Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi (capital), Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujeirah |
| Location: | Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the south west corner of the Arabian Gulf |
| Area Dubai: | 3.885 km2 |
| Total Area UAE: | 83,600 km2 |
| Population Dubai: | 1,370,714 (December 2006) |
| Population UAE: | 4.7 mio (December 2006) |
| Density: | 352,8 inhabitants per km2 |
| Currency: | AED = Dhs = United Arab Dirham |
| GDP: | Total: USD 162 billion, per capita USD 49,700 |
| Living Standard: | High, very low crime rate |
| Time Zone: | GMT + 4 Std. |
| Language: | Official Language: Arabic, Widely spoken: English |
| Country Code: | (+971) |
Why Choose Dubai as an Investment Location?
The Dubai economy enjoys a competitive of cost, market and environmental advantages
That create an ideal and attractive investment climate for local and expatriate businesses
Alike. In fact, these advantages not only rank Dubai as the Arabian Gulf’s leading multi-
Purpose business centre and regional hug, but they place it at the forefront of the globe’s,
dynamic and emerging market economies.
Dubai, with its ancient commercial and seafaring traditions, has long been recognized as
The Middle East region’s leading trading hug and has emerged as its key re-export
Centre. In more recent years, the Emirate has become a major venue for a number of
Growing, profitable industries and activities such as:
Meetings, conferences, exhibitions, tourism
Corporate regional headquarters
Regional transport, distribution and logistics centre
Banking, finance and insurance
Business and industrial consulting
Information and communications Technology
Light and medium manufacturing
This all became possible due to Dubai’s warm, welcoming people, world class facilities
And infrastructure and farsighted, open and liberal economy policies. Finally, committed
To a progressive vision of itself, keen to diversify its economy and diminish its reliance
upon shrinking oil revenues, Dubai has begun to develop into the Arabian Gulf’s premier
international business centre. Consider the factors that contribute to this ongoing success
story.
Dubai’s key Advantages
I. Strategic Location
Dubai is a time zone bridge between the Far East and Europe on the East-West axis and
the CIS and Africa on the north-south axis. It is a gateway to a market that can be
characterized as:
Large – well established trading links exist with the greater than 1.5 billion people in the
Neighboring region covering the Gulf, Middle East/Eastern Mediterranean, CIS, Central
Asia, Africa and the Asian sub-continent,
Growing – Dubai’s total international trade has grown on average by over 11% per year
since 1988 and regional economic growth and liberalization should boost demand further,
Prosperous – a buoyant local economy strategically located in the midst of one of the
world’s richest and well endowed with ample supplies of cheap energy and primary
aluminum, also adjacent to major supplies of vital agro-export commodities,
Diversified – varied and significant import requirements generate opportunities for
product suppliers and re-exporters,
Accessible – served by over 120 shipping lines and linked via 85 airlines to over 130
global destinations,
Open – no exchange controls, quotas or trade barriers.
– Political and Economic Stability
– Open & Free Economic System
– World Class Infrastructure and Service Sector
– Competitive Cost Structure
International Companies setting up in Dubai can obtain significant cost advantages not
generally available internationally. The major factors are:
No foreign exchange controls
No trade barriers or quotas
Competitive import duties (5% with many exemptions)
Competitive labor costs – labor force is multi-lingual and skilled)
Competitive energy costs
Competitive real estate costs
Competitive financing costs and high levels of liquidity
No corporate profit or personal income taxes (Expect for oil companies and
branches of foreign banks)
– High Quality of Life, Excellent Living Conditions.
– Strong Local Commercial Tradition and Wide Choice of Potential Business
Partners.
– Extensive Foreign Trade Network & Major Achievement in Export and Re-Export
Performance
– Rapidly Developing Manufacturing sector Producing a Wide Range of High
Quality, Competitive Export Products.
