Understand the policies, laws and regulations shaping business across China and the UAE.
Business registration · Investment · Taxation · Customs · Trade · Financial regulation · Employment · Visas · Free-zone policies. Every update identifies the issuing authority, jurisdiction, publication date, effective date and official source.
The United Arab Emirates continues to attract migrating ultra-wealthy individuals, family offices, and institutional capital despite regional geopolitical tensions, according to private banking executives cited by The National and UA.NEWS. Wealth managers attribute this sustained inflow to structural advantages including zero personal income tax, long-term residency visas, and dedicated family office frameworks in DIFC and ADGM. Major international banks including HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, and DBS Bank are expanding their wealth management teams across the country to accommodate rising demand.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that global diplomatic pressure has yielded restrictions on Iranian aviation and banking networks. The UAE has suspended all flights by Iranian airlines and blocked transactions via Bank Melli branches, while smaller Iranian carriers continue operating routes to China. Turkey and Oman have also halted flights from Mahan Air, and Turkey revoked Bank Mellat's operating license.
Under UAE employment regulations, employers in mainland Dubai can enforce non-compete clauses only if contracts define the specific geographic location, role type, and legitimate business interest, with restrictions capped at a maximum of two years. If a dispute reaches the judiciary, the burden of proving actual financial damage rests on the employer, and claims must be filed within one year of detecting a breach. The law also establishes specific statutory exemptions, including terminations during probation or where financial compensation is agreed upon.
Mainland UAE employment regulations prohibit terminating workers without valid cause and define dismissals following valid complaints to authorities as arbitrary. Workers can submit grievances to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and proceed to court if mediation fails. Court-ordered arbitrary dismissal compensation is legally capped at a maximum of three months' salary.
Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
United Arab Emirates
Final rule
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