The UAE's new companies law, expected to come out in 2010

The UAE's new companies law, which is expected to come out in 2010, will relax foreign ownership restrictions but will stop short of allowing 100 percent ownership, an Abu Dhabi government official said on Tuesday.

Mohammed Omar Abdulla, undersecretary of Abu Dhabi's department of economic development, made the remarks at a panel discussion.

"The new companies law in the UAE will make a relaxation in foreign ownership," he said. "It will not be up to 100 percent, it will be more than 49 percent."

Abdullah added that Abu Dhabi plans to set up a dedicated investment agency to attract foreign investment.

"In line with our five-year strategic plan, the department is working towards setting up a dedicated investment agency to serve the needs of international investors," said Abdullah .

The new agency will begin operations by the end of 2010 and will identify areas of opportunities to attract foreign investments, he added.

"International investors have a crucial role to play bringing in expertise, technology and best global practices," he told the conference.

Abdullah also said the Ministry of Economy was preparing the final draft of a new UAE companies law which will come out this year. The law will relax foreign ownership rules but stops short of allowing 100 percent ownership, he said. (Reuters)