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Foreign enterprises wishing to conduct business in the U.A.E. may do so either by establishing a formal, permanent presence in the U.A.E., or by using a commercial agent. There are several methods pursuant to which a foreign entity may be licensed on a permanent basis in the U.A.E, including:
- Incorporating a Limited Liability Company ("L.L.C.");
- Establishing a Branch office or Representative office;
- Establishing a wholly owned entity in one of the U.A.E. Free Trade Zones.
By establishing a presence under one of these methods, a foreign entity is permitted to engage in all activities as licensed in the U.A.E. While the scope of activities that may be conducted through these vehicles can include contracting, providing services and possibly manufacturing, foreign entities operating pursuant to these alternatives may engage only in those activities licensed by the relevant U.A.E. authorities.
Such foreign entities also will remain subject to the relevant restrictions that reserve certain activities, such as commercial agency activities, for wholly U.A.E. owned enterprises.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:
Foreign investors are permitted to hold an equity ownership in U.A.E. companies as long as 51% of the equity is held at all times by U.A.E. nationals. The preferred company form for foreign investors is the Limited Liability Company ("LLC") due to, among other factors, its flexible management structure, and protection of minority shareholders. The L.L.C. requires a minimum of two and a maximum of 50 members and in all cases must have a minimum of 51% U.A.E. ownership. The minimum capitalization is Dh150,000. Management of the L.L.C. is vested in the "managers" (up to five natural persons).
BRANCH OR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE:
Through either a liaison office or a branch office, foreign entities may establish a presence with significantly less U.A.E participation than is required to establish a Limited Liability Company. Foreign companies are permitted to establish wholly owned branches and representative offices in the U.A.E.; however, these offices are limited in the activities they may conduct within the U.A.E. (Article 314 of the Commercial Companies Law).
The primary difference between a representative office and a branch office is that a representative office theoretically is limited to gathering information and soliciting orders and projects to be performed by the company's head office. In this regard, representative offices also are limited in the number of employees they may sponsor (typically three or four). In essence, a representative office acts merely serves as an administrative and marketing center for the foreign company. By contrast, a branch office is a full-fledged business, permitted to perform contracts or conduct other activities as specified in its license.
A foreign entity must appoint a U.A.E. national "service agent" for the branch or representative office. A service agency should not be confused with a commercial agency discussed below. The service agent is not permitted to own equity in or participate in the substantive management of the representative or branch office. In practice, a foreign entity typically contracts with the service agent to provide specific services such as assisting in communications with government departments (e.g., facilitating visas for foreign company personnel) or undertaking other administrative matters. The compensation of the service agent is a purely contractual matter between the service agent and the foreign entity, usually measured by the level of services provided or in some instances by the level of activity or turnover of the branch or liaison office.
Due to the interaction between the U.A.E. federal government and the government of the particular Emirate in which the branch office is to be located (e.g., Abu Dhabi or Dubai), it should be noted that registration entails submitting a number of applications and obtaining a number of approvals from several government departments. After the application is approved by the government of the Emirate where the branch is to be established, the approval of the federal government approval is then required.
COMMERCIAL AGENCY:
Foreign investors may decide to have an agent represent their interests in the U.A.E. instead of establishing a permanent presence. The U.A.E. Commercial Agencies Law (Federal Law No. 18 of 1981, as amended by Federal Law No. 14 of 1988) regulates and governs the appointment of commercial agents, sales representatives, and distributors in the U.A.E. This law defines a commercial agency as any arrangement whereby a foreign company is represented by an agent to "distribute, sell, offer, or provide goods or services within the UAE for a commission or profit". (Article 1 of the Commercial Agencies Law). The Commercial Code (Federal Law No. 18 of 1993) augments the Commercial Agencies Law and establishes the regulatory framework for the various types of commercial agencies permitted under the law. The most common type of agency is the contracts agency, whereby the agent undertakes "on a permanent basis and in a specific area of activity, the instigation and negotiation of the conclusion of deals, to the advantage of the principal and in return for payment". (Article 217 of the Commercial Code). Distributor contracts are treated like contracts agencies when they involve one agent as the sole distributor. (Article 227 of the Commercial Code).
The primary requirements and characteristics of commercial agencies are:
- Commercial agents must be U.A.E. nationals or companies incorporated in the U.A.E. and owned entirely by U.A.E. nationals.
- Commercial agents must be registered with the U.A.E. Ministry of Economy and Commerce to engage in commercial agency activities.
- The agency agreement must be registered in order for the agent to avail himself of the protections afforded under the law and to have the agency relationship recognized under U.A.E. law.
- Commercial agents are entitled to an exclusive territory encompassing at least one Emirate for the specified products (Article 5(1) of the Commercial Agencies Law).
- Unless otherwise agreed, commercial agents are entitled to receive commissions on sales of the products in their designated territory irrespective of whether such sales are made by or through the agent (Article 7 of the Commercial Agencies Law).
- Commercial agents are entitled to prevent products subject to their agency from being imported into the U.A.E. if the agent is not the consignee.
- Commercial agents are entitled to receive compensation from the principal if the agency is terminated without substantial justification or if the agency is not renewed by the foreign principal, and the agent may be able to preclude the foreign party from appointing a replacement agent in such circumstance.
The Commercial Agency Law provides for compensation of the agents terminated without due cause only if the agency agreement has been registered with the federal Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MOEC). Many U.A.E. commercial agents will insist on a registered arrangement in order to avail themselves of the protection of the Commercial Agencies Law. Notwithstanding whether the agency agreement is registered and therefore subject to the protections provided in the Commercial Agency Law, foreign entities should note that the Commercial Code also may affect the relative rights and duties of the parties as noted above. In summary, foreign parties should consider carefully the application of the Commercial Agency Law and the Commercial Code in drafting any agreement to engage a U.A.E. party to perform any type of marketing, sales or other "commercial" activity in the U.A.E.
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