Protection and Promotion of Investments

Catalysing Investment and Economic Growth

The United Arab Emirates has signed over 100 Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with key trade and investment partners worldwide to support its long-term development goals and attract foreign investment. These agreements aim to create a stable and transparent legal environment for investors, encouraging cross-border investments and economic growth.

Bilateral investment treaties establish the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one country or state in another. They protect investors and their investments from political and legal risks, while promoting confidence in the investment climate.

These agreements aim to:
  • Protect investments from all non-commercial risks like nationalisation, expropriation, sequestration and freezing.
  • Allow the establishment of investments and licensing such investments.
  • Confirm the free transfer of profits and other returns in a freely transferable currency.
  • Granting national treatment in accordance with the laws enforced in the country, and the most favoured nation treatment, with respect to management, maintenance and expansion of investments.
  • Fair and prompt compensation for the investor in the case of expropriation of his investment for the purpose of public interest, in accordance with the law and without discrimination. The compensation should amount to the fair market value on the investment before the expropriation.
  • Set the dispute settlement procedures between the investor and the country through amicable solution or local courts or international arbitration
List of BITs signed by the UAE