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In effectFederal Law

UAE Banking / Finance LawFederal Law No. (2) of 1989 for Allowing the Citizens of GCC Countries to Practice the Whole or Retail Trade in the Country

UAE Federal Law·Federal Law No. (2) of 1989

قانون اتحادي بشأن السماح لمواطني دول مجلس التعاون بممارسة تجارتي التجزئة والجملة في الدولة

Authoritative Arabic version per the official UAE Legislation portal

Issued Date
August 15, 1989
Effective from
March 1, 1989
Articles
4
Last synced
Sep 14, 2026
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Plain-language summary

  • Allows citizens of GCC countries to own and operate wholesale and retail businesses in the UAE.
  • GCC citizens can establish trading companies without requiring a local UAE citizen as a partner.
  • Applies to nationals of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE.
  • Grants GCC traders the same commercial rights and protections as UAE citizens in trade activities.
  • Simplifies business registration and licensing procedures for eligible GCC nationals.

Permits GCC nationals to own and operate wholesale and retail trading businesses in the UAE without requiring a local partner, granting them equal commercial ri…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

4 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) GCC nationals, whether natural or juridical persons, shall be permitted to practice retail and wholesale trade in the State in accordance with the rules and controls of which a resolution by the Cabinet shall be issued.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) Repealed by Federal Law No. (3) of 2015.

    -- 1 of 2 --

    Federal Law No. (2) of 1989 for Allowing the Citizens of GCC Countries to Practice the Whole or Retail Trade in the Country. 2

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) Repealed by Federal Law No. (3) of 2015.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force as of 1.3.1987 in respect of retail trade and as of 1.3.1990 in respect of wholesale trade. Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates Issued by us in the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi On: 14 / Muharram / 1410 Hijri. Corresponding to: 15 / August / 1989

    -- 2 of 2 --

Note: The Arabic text of this legislation is the authoritative version as per the official UAE Legislation portal.

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