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In effectCabinet Resolution

UAE Company Formation / Licensing LawCabinet Resolution No. 9 of 2012 Regarding Permitting gulf companies to open branches thereof in the United Arab Emirates

UAE Cabinet Resolution·Cabinet Resolution No. 9 of 2012

قرار مجلس الوزراء بالسماح للشركات الخليجية بفتح فروع لها في الإمارات العربية المتحدة

Authoritative Arabic version per the official UAE Legislation portal

Issued Date
April 26, 2012
Effective from
June 1, 2012
Articles
3
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026

Plain-language summary

Permits Gulf Cooperation Council companies registered in GCC countries to establish branches in the United Arab Emirates subject to specified conditions and reg…

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

Article-level text

Key Articles

3 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article 1 The Gulf companies shall be allowed to open its branches in the United Arab Emirates according to the following conditions: 1. The Company shall be registered in one of the GCC countries, and shall be practice an economic activity which are open for GCC nationals to practice in the Emirates. 2. The Company shall be fully owned by the citizens of the GCC countries. 3. A period of no less than three years shall lapse on the registration of the company desiring to open its branches in the Emirates. This period may be reduced by a Resolution of the Minister of Economy. 4. The person deputized by the Company to run the branch shall be a GCC citizen, and an exemption of this condition may be permitted by a Resolution of the Minister of Economy.

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    Cabinet Resolution of 2012 Regarding Permitting gulf companies to open branches thereof in the United Arab Emirates 2

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article 2 The license granted to the Company shall be cancelled in the event of finding out the existence of a foreign partner in the Company or if the Company breached one of the stipulated conditions in the previous Article.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article 3 All competent authorities shall execute this Resolution, each according to its responsibilities, such Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and it shall come into force from the following day of the date of its publication. Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum The Prime Minister Issued by Us: On: 5 Jumada Al Thani 1433 Hijri Corresponding to: 26 April 201

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

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