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The United Arab Emirates: In the Gulf Cooperation Council, authorising 100 percent foreign ownership of companies.

Princess Tarfa

The decision by the United Arab Emirates to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of companies which seem radical, but similar rules exist in the other six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The programme includes granting 10-year visas to specialists in medicine, science, and research, aiming to increase foreign investment in the Arab world's second-largest economy.

Other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are also hoping to draw and retain foreign nationals. In 2016, Saudi Arabia revealed a five-year plan to introduce a green card-like programme to help reduce the kingdom's dependence solely on oil. Employers will be able to pay to recruit foreign employees in excess of the official quota under this scheme. Qatar, which had been cut off from trade and diplomatic relations by a Saudi-led group of countries last year, confirmed that it plans to introduce permanent residency to attract investors and skilled staff throughout the world.

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