Foreign ownership rules across the GCC: a country-by-country breakdown

Five of the six GCC countries permit 100 % foreign ownership in most non-strategic sectors. Kuwait is the exception, capping standard structures at 49 % foreign equity without case-by-case government approval. The reforms that enabled full foreig

UAE LLC vs sole establishment vs branch: what’s the difference?

The UAE offers three main company structures: LLC, sole establishment, and branch office. An LLC is the default for most foreign-owned businesses with limited liability.

100 % foreign ownership in the UAE: how the 2021 reform changed everything

The UAE’s Commercial Companies Law reform of 2021, extended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025, allows foreign founders to hold 100% of most mainland businesses without a local sponsor.