In accordance with Art. 3 of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (55) of 2021, foreign investors seeking to participate in any of the strategic activities listed in Art. 2, including the telecommunications sector, are required to submit a licence application to the competent authority. For the telecommunications sector, the Public Authority for the Regulation of the Telecommunications Sector and Digital Government must approve the FDI licence applications and determine: (i) the proportion of national and/or foreign participation in the company’s capital; and (ii) where applicable, the proportion of national and/or foreign representation on the board of directors.

It is reported that foreign applicants are required to undertake patent registration in the United Arab Emirates through a registered Emirati patent attorney.

The United Arab Emirates is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

The United Arab Emirates has a copyright regime under the Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyrights and Neighboring Rights. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Arts. 22–24 list the exceptions, which include personal and educational uses. An individual may make a single copy for personal, non-commercial use, subject to statutory exclusions (works of fine and applied art in public places, architectural works permanently located in public places, and software/databases except as otherwise permitted). Short excerpts may be reproduced for criticism, discussion or information with proper attribution. Authorised organisations may prepare accessible-format copies for persons with disabilities on a non-profit basis. Current events uses are also permitted, such as reproducing or broadcasting extracts of published articles, speeches or lectures of public interest, provided the source and author are acknowledged.

It is reported that, despite notable progress in recent years in strengthening its intellectual property framework, the United Arab Emirates continues to face challenges in enforcing effective measures against online piracy. Rights holders have reported ongoing concerns, particularly urging the Telecommunication and Digital Regulatory Authority to cooperate with domain name registrars and other intermediaries to adopt stronger anti-infringement mechanisms. They have also called for enhanced action by customs authorities to prevent the importation of illegal decoders, as well as for additional restrictions on unauthorised free or subscription-based services that unlawfully retransmit television channels carrying copyright-protected content.

The United Arab Emirates has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

The United Arab Emirates is a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996, but is not a signatory of its 2015 expansion (ITA II).

In September 2024, the United Arab Emirates, implementing a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decision through Directive No. (2) of 2024, imposed definitive anti-dumping duties for a period of five years on imports of electrical connectors, switches, sockets, and plugs for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts (HS codes: 853669, 853650, 85444291, 85444221) originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China. These products are widely used in electrical installations and consumer electronics. The duties imposed range from 11.3% to 42%, depending on the exporting company.

According to Arts. 17–18 of Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2024 (Implementing Regulations of Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 and repealing Cabinet Resolution No. 4 of 2019), federal entities may use three procurement methods: (a) public tender, (b) limited tender, and (c) direct order or sole source. A public tender is mandatory when the estimated contract value exceeds the threshold specified in the Manual of Federal Government Procurement Procedures, and only registered and accepted suppliers are eligible to participate.
Art. 1 of the Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 defines a supplier as any natural or legal person that provides procurements in accordance with the provisions of this law and its executive regulations.
As specified in the Federal Government Procurement Procedures Manual (2025) for contracts valued at less than AED 250,000 (approx. USD 70,000), procuring entities may use direct procurement methods, such as purchase orders or simplified procedures, subject to compliance with the Manual and financial regulations. For contracts valued between AED 250,000 (approx. USD 70,000) and AED 5,000,000 (approx. USD 1.4 million), restricted or limited tendering procedures may be applied. For contracts exceeding AED 5,000,000 (approx. USD 1.4 million), procuring entities are required to use the public (open) tendering procedure.

According to Art. 22 of Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 concerning Procurement in the Federal Government, tender evaluation criteria may include a margin of preference for suppliers that generate public interest or added national value, for locally produced goods, or to stimulate the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in line with the implementing regulations.
Art. 13 of Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2024 on the Executive Regulation further strengthens SME participation by requiring federal agencies to allocate 10% of annual procurement expenditure to SMEs. In addition, SMEs receive a 10% increase in their final evaluation score during the award process. SMEs may also challenge tender requirements that unduly restrict their ability to compete, obliging the procurement unit to review such claims and propose adjustments where appropriate. Federal agencies are further authorised to introduce economic incentives in favour of SMEs, such as easing payment terms, providing advance payments, or other measures designed to enhance their competitiveness.

Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2024 on the Executive Regulation of Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 on Procurement in the Federal Government, which repeals Resolution No. (4) of 2019, maintains the requirement that suppliers must be registered and accepted in order to participate in federal procurement. However, unlike the previous framework, the obligation for suppliers to have at least one partner or service agent who is a UAE citizen has been removed, as has the exemption from registration fees previously granted to companies owned by national citizens, subsidised by SME funds, and established under federal or local statutes.
Art. 9 of Resolution No. 122 sets out the revised framework for supplier registration and acceptance.

According to Art. 28 of Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2024 on the Executive Regulation of Federal Law No. (11) of 2023 on Procurement in the Federal Government, bid evaluation criteria include consideration of the value generated under the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme.
The ICV framework is defined in Cabinet Resolution No. 72 of 2021 Regarding the National Content Program. Arts. 2–3 of this Resolution provide that the Programme applies to all procurement procedures and categories, including supply contracts and service execution by federal entities. The percentage of national content value is calculated on the basis of several criteria, including (i) spending on hiring, qualifying, and developing national human capabilities; (ii) investment in advanced technology, research, and development; and (iii) spending on job schedules existing in the State.

It is reported that, under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Unified Rules on Granting Priority in Government Procurements to National Products and Products of National Origin (1987), a 10% price preference is granted to products originating in other GCC member states over foreign products. Where the adjusted price of a foreign product equals or exceeds that of a national product, preference is given to the national product.

Lack of transparency in government tenders is reportedly a persistent concern among foreign stakeholders. In particular, foreign companies have highlighted deficiencies in the transparency of procurement procedures, along with difficulties related to delayed payments and the complexity of administrative requirements for obtaining remuneration.