Ministry of Economy
& Tourism

The UAE's trade policy under H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has shifted from multilateral-only engagement to a dynamic dual-track approach combining WTO commitments with an aggressive bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program. Since 2021, the UAE has signed CEPAs with India, Indonesia, Turkey, Israel, Georgia, Cambodia, and several other nations — collectively covering markets representing over 3 billion consumers.

These agreements go far beyond tariff elimination. They encompass mutual recognition of professional qualifications, digital trade facilitation (including e-invoicing and electronic certificates of origin), government procurement access, regulatory cooperation on standards, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The India CEPA alone is projected to increase bilateral trade from $60 billion to $100 billion within five years.

The Ministry has also established trade promotion offices in over 30 countries and launched the "UAE Traders" platform — a digital marketplace connecting UAE exporters with global buyers, with built-in trade finance facilitation through partner banks.

The UAE's investment policy framework is anchored by the Foreign Direct Investment Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 19 of 2018, amended 2020), which opened over 1,000 economic activities to 100% foreign ownership outside free zones. This was complemented by the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Dubai FDI — dedicated agencies offering bespoke incentive packages including land grants, subsidized utilities, and co-investment programs.

The Ministry of Economy's investment promotion strategy targets ten priority sectors: advanced technology, healthcare, education, agri-food, renewable energy, space, fintech, logistics, creative industries, and manufacturing. Each sector has a dedicated investment attraction team and sector-specific incentive structures.

Investor protection has been enhanced through the new Arbitration Law (aligned with UNCITRAL model law), strengthened commercial court procedures, and bilateral investment treaties with over 100 countries — providing robust legal safeguards that rank the UAE among the most protected investment jurisdictions globally.

Small and medium enterprises account for over 94% of companies operating in the UAE and contribute approximately 63% of non-oil GDP. The Ministry of Economy's National SME Program, launched in partnership with the Khalifa Fund and the Mohammed bin Rashid Fund for SMEs, provides a comprehensive support ecosystem encompassing low-interest financing (rates starting at 2%), mentorship networks, market access facilitation, and procurement preferences for government contracts.

The "Entrepreneurial Nation" initiative targets growing the number of SMEs from 350,000 to 1 million by 2030, with a focus on technology startups, women-led enterprises, and youth entrepreneurship. The UAE's startup ecosystem has attracted over $3 billion in venture capital since 2019, with hubs like Hub71 (Abu Dhabi), Dubai Future District, and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre providing co-working spaces, accelerator programs, and access to corporate partnerships.

Regulatory simplification includes the "Instant Licence" — a digital business license issued within five minutes — and the UAE Pass integration enabling entrepreneurs to complete all government interactions through a single digital identity. The Ministry has also reduced commercial licence fees by up to 50% for priority sectors.

The UAE has built one of the most advanced intellectual property protection regimes in the Middle East, governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyrights and Related Rights, the Trademarks Law, the Patents Law, and the Industrial Designs Law. The Ministry of Economy serves as the national IP registrar and enforcement authority, processing over 40,000 trademark applications annually.

The UAE's accession to key WIPO treaties — including the Madrid Protocol, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and the Hague Agreement — enables UAE-based innovators to secure international IP protection through streamlined filing procedures. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has personally championed stronger IP enforcement, resulting in the UAE's removal from the U.S. Trade Representative's Special 301 Watch List — a significant milestone reflecting international confidence in the nation's IP regime.

Specialized IP courts within DIFC and ADGM, combined with customs-level border enforcement measures and a dedicated IP rights department within the Ministry, provide multi-layered protection for patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrighted material — critical infrastructure for the knowledge-based economy the UAE aspires to build.