LARGE REGIONAL HQs

LARGE REGIONAL HQ

Dubai is a city of the future that has, for decades, attracted all kinds of companies to trade through. As the city’s infrastructure and business-friendly ecosystem has developed, Dubai has become an increasingly appealing place for large multinationals to base their regional headquarters.

Through a combination of a solid regulatory framework and stable risk environment, mixed with an innovation mindset and a large pool of talent, not to mention a whole host of premium office locations, Dubai has cultivated a well-deserved reputation as being a prestigious choice for large multinationals. As more and more corporations have chosen Dubai as a regional base, the cluster effects of having the biggest players in an industry together in one city has further enhanced the city’s standing as a regional power house.

196 of the 500 largest companies on the 'Fortune 500' list have a dedicated office in the Middle East and Africa to service the region. Research company Infomineo found that 138 of these companies (70 percent) had chosen Dubai for their MEA headquarters. With its ports and airports serving as some of the most active gateways into the region for business, commerce and tourism, it’s not hard to see why. As every business leader knows, it’s imperative to be close to where the decision-makers are, and with over 90 percent of the top regional CEOs of global companies based out of the UAE, Dubai is an advantageous place to be. A city built on an ambitious vision of the future is a natural home for large companies looking to expand their footprint in the region.

AN EASY AND RELIABLE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS

When it comes to being an accommodating place for large corporations to operate, Dubai has a business-friendly mindset and streamlined regulatory and financial framework that helps companies get things done quickly and effectively. The UAE ranked first in the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking this year in the Middle East & North Africa, first in the ease at which to start a business, first in the ease of getting an electricity connection, first when it comes to getting construction permits, first when it comes to enforcing contracts and second in registering a property.

In an environment of increasing geo-political uncertainty, Dubai continues to be the rock of political, economic and social stability in the region. Such stability promotes business resilience over the long-term and Dubai continuously tries to anticipate, prepare for and proactively mitigate the sources of risk to ensure a high level of confidence for investors. Large multinational corporations also cite Dubai’s population and GDP growth, fast-growing capital markets, and a perceived absence of systemic corruption as positive factors contributing to the city’s attractiveness to foreign investors.

PRESTIGIOUS, SECTOR-SPECIFIC OFFICE SOLUTIONS

One of the most challenging aspects for any large multinational opening a regional base is finding the right office space and location within their chosen city. In Dubai, high-end office space is abundant and there are several locations around the city that provide the ‘wow’ factor required for any large corporation looking for the perfect place for its Middle Eastern headquarters. Some of the most state-of-the-art office spaces are located in one of Dubai’s several Free Zones, and many of these Free Zones cater in specific ways to certain industries, providing custom facilities and services to the companies based there.

Free Zones like Dubai International Financial Centre (Financial Services), Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Aviation), Dubai South ( Logistics and e-Commerce), Dubai Healthcare City (Healthcare) and Dubai Internet City (Information and Communication Technology) to name but a few, offer premium, sector-specific advantages for companies in those industries. Being based in one of these sector-specific hubs can let large multinationals utilize the strong network ecosystem that the city has cultivated as a regional hub for those sectors. This is where many of the largest and most successful companies in the world choose to base themselves in Dubai, to make the most of the infrastructure and network, as well as the prestigious reputation and premium facilities that Dubai has to offer.

ACCESS TO TALENT

Attracting a skilled and effective workforce is one of the main concerns of ambitious businesses large and small, and that’s why Dubai prides itself at ensuring that it is a magnet for talent in the region. A collaborative mechanism between government, business and academia enables Dubai’s talent pool to meet private sector requirements. Dubai proactively identifies human capital needs in diverse domains and then attracts and develops high-quality talent at a competitive cost. Intelligence and foresight prepares the city to meet future needs and there is a 40% increase in knowledge workers targeted by 2021.

STANDARD OF LIVING

As a diverse globalized population, Dubai is home to a happy, creative and empowered people. The city continuously works to improve the quality of living standards and degree of social well-being to create a more positive and productive environment that attracts and retains people necessary for business and innovation to flourish.

This is something that Dubai takes seriously. The Happiness Agenda was introduced to systematically improve the lives of the people living here with an aim to make Dubai the happiest city on earth. In 2016 a Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing was appointed to oversee the city’s plans, programs and policies to achieve a happier society. The thinking is, that by promoting education, personal development, and a healthy lifestyle, people will be better equipped to play an active role in all aspects of the society and economy. In 2019, the World Happiness Report ranked Dubai the 9th happiest country in the world out of 156 countries.

With year-round sunshine, tax-free salary, region-leading dining and entertainment options, as well as a large range of premium housing available, Dubai consistently ranks as one of the most attractive cities in the Middle East when it comes to standard of living. A happy society lays the groundwork for a happy and productive workforce.