United Arab Emirates

• Available Market Research
• Best Prospects in the ICT Market
• Chambers of Commerce
• Channels of Distribution
  • Agents / Distributors
  • Business to Business (B2B)
    • Airlines
    • Banks
    • Newspapers
    • US Subsidiaries
  • Consultants
    • Computer
    • Internet
  • E-Commerce
    • ASP
    • ETailer
    • Internet Service Providers
  • Educational
  • Governmental
  • Retailers
  • Telecommunications Systems Operators
  • Used / Reconditioned
  • VARS, ISVs, Resellers, System Integrators
    • Resellers

• Directories and Databases
• Duties, Tariffs & Taxes
• General Country Information
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Legal Issues
• Market Research
• Search Engines
• Trade Associations
• Trade Publications
• Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars
• Trade Statistics
• User Groups
• E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Available Market Research

Industry Sector Analyses are industry specific reports prepared either by US Commercial Service Staff or local market research contractors.   Typical reports include:

• A Market Overview
• Market Highlights and Best prospects
• Statistical Data
• Best Sales Prospects
• Competitive Analysis
• End-User Analysis
• Market Access (includes information on duties, taxes, standards etc.)
• Trade Promotion Opportunities
• Trade Publications
• Market Research Companies
• Trade Associations
• Agents, Distributors and Manufacturers

International Marketing Insights (IMI) contain industry specific information and are short, concise reports.

For a listing of available ISAs and / or IMIs, please click here.

This information is available free of charge to all US companies. 

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Best Prospects in the ICT Market

For further information about the UAE market, please consult the Country Commercial Guide.

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Chambers of Commerce

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Channels of Distribution

For further information of the definitions of the channels of distribution, please click here. The following are known ICT sales channels.   They may or may not be available in all markets.

Agents / Distributors

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Business to Business (B2B)

Airlines

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Banks

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Newspapers

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US Subsidiaries

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Consultants

Computer

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Internet

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E-Commerce

Application Service Providers

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ETailer

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Internet Service Providers

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Educational

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Governmental

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Retailers

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Leasing

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Telecommunications Systems Operators

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Used / Reconditioned

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VARS, ISVs, Resellers, System Integrators

Resellers

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Directories and Databases 

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Duties, Tariffs & Taxes

Current information on Tariffs and Taxes on Computer Hardware and Software can be found at: http://web.ita.doc.gov/.

Please visit http://www.dxbcustoms.gov.ae.

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General Country Information

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Intellectual Property Rights

Foreign and national banks have increased their activity in the mortgage market, expanding their services to foreigners as well as nationals due to the recent boom in freehold property. Foreign banks have entered the market on a smaller scale; the local Mashreq Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank are most heavily involved in new mortgage business, with banks such as Standard Chartered and HSBC providing mortgages on a case-by-case basis to established customers. Title to all land in Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate, resides in the ruler. Most construction, commercial and residential, is financed by a specialized agency of the government of Abu Dhabi, and commercial banks finance the remainder. Their collateral traditionally has been access to the rent stream of the building or the personal guarantee of the developer.

As part and parcel of its development into a regional trading center, the UAE government continues to lead the region in its commitment to protecting intellectual property rights (IPR). Anecdotal and statistical evidence confirms that that UAE government is enforcing new copyright, trademark, and patent laws passed in 2002 to protect U.S. intellectual property, and continues to demonstrate its commitment to the 2002 agreement providing TRIPs-plus levels of protection to U.S. pharmaceuticals.

The UAE government repealed previous copyright, trademark, and patent laws and issued improved legislation in 2002 in harmony with international standards and exceeding the UAE’s TRIPs obligations. The new copyright law, enacted in July 2002, is the product of a prolonged dialog between the UAE government and international organizations such as WIPO and the WTO. It grants protections to authors of creative works and expands the categories of protected works, to include computer programs, software, databases, and other digital works. Efforts to combat computer software piracy in the UAE have been successful. According to 2001 industry estimates, the rate of software piracy in the UAE is the lowest in the Middle East. The UAE is recognized as the regional leader in fighting computer software piracy.

The UAE’s new Trademark Law, also issued in July 2002, confirms that the UAE will follow the International Classification System and that one trademark can be registered in a number of classes. The new law provides that the owner of the registration shall enjoy exclusive rights to the use of the trademark as registered and can prevent others from using an identical or similar mark on similar, identical or related products and services if it causes confusion among consumers.

The UAE government published the official and final version in November 2002 of the long-awaited Patent Law. Specifically, the Patent Law provides for -- in accordance with the UAE’s TRIPs obligations -- national treatment for IP owners in other WTO Member States, both product and process patent protection, and enforcement of IPR whereby civil and criminal procedures and remedies may be employed.  In March 2002, the UAE Ministries of Health and Finance and Industry conveyed in writing their acceptance of PhRMA’s best and final offer under which 25 US patent protected, innovative products would be afforded 5-year data exclusivity protection.

Under the terms of the agreement which PhRMA and the UAE government accepted, all other US-patented drugs, whether pending registration or not, will be given data exclusivity protection in the UAE market equal to the patent term -- a commitment which is consistent with the UAE’s TRIPs obligations.  

In 2003, the UAE government sought to amend and expand the scope of landmark copyright, trademark and patent laws issued in 2002. Most notably, in 2004, the UAE Ministry of Information issued regulations under the 2002 Copyright Law allowing for specialized collecting societies. These societies are a practical way for sound recording companies to collect royalties on the broadcast and performance of copyrighted material. The UAE government also is considering legislation for data protection, privacy, and other IP-related issues.

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Legal Issues

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Market Research

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Search Engines

http://www.arabbay.com/	ArabBay.com - Search Engine For The Arab World
http://www.arabo.com	ArabO.com
http://www.nriworld.com/	Business search engines, EMail: info@nriworld.com
http://www.4arabs.com/	Countries: UAE: Arabic Search Engine: Directory of arabic and islamic sites
http://www.aiwakuwait.com/	The One & Only Complete Search Engine For & About Gulf Countries
http://search-engines.hypermart.net/	Search Engines and directories in Middle East.
http://www.uae-pages.com	U.A.E. Pages
http://www.arabji.com/UAE/	UAE Internet Guide - UAE's Portal, Search Engine, Directory

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Trade Associations

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Trade Publications

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Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars

Additional information on how to prepare for and select an international trade show can be found at

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User Groups

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E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Tel: 971-2-627 3666 x 14

Fax: 971-2-627 1377

Email: rula.omeish@mail.doc.gov 

US Embassy

6010 Abu Dhabi Place

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

US Embassy - Abu Dhabi

US Dept. of State (Abu Dhabi)

Washington, DC 20521-6010

Tel: 971-4-311 6111

Fax: 971-4-311 6140

E-mail address: anne.desouza@mail.doc.gov 

Industry Sectors: Computers/Peripherals (CPT)

OFFICE INFORMATION

STREET ADDRESS

U.S. Consulate General

6020 Dubai Place 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

U.S. MAILING ADDRESS

U.S. Consulate General - Dubai

US Dept. of State (Dubai)

Washington, DC 20521-6020

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Revised: November 08, 2008

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