Global giant Visa will open its regional HQ in Dubai in 2021. The digital payments firm will build its new headquarters in the heart of Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai Media City (DMC) and will cover 100,000 square feet.

Chinese gaming giant Tencent Games has also chosen DIC as a base for its regional operations, because of its dynamic environment, vibrant knowledge community and cluster of innovation-driven tech businesses.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is already home to 17 of the world’s top 20 banks and financial services firms, five of the top 10 global insurance and reinsurance leaders, and many prominent asset management companies.

The emirate’s thriving logistics industry, dynamic market, innovative outlook and competitive environment are all key factors in making Dubai a strong choice when expanding or opening your business.

Dubai’s free zones have been purposely designed to provide an efficient and supportive, offering 100% foreign ownership, tax-free policies, full repatriation of profits, low-cost set up and renewal structures.

Dubai’s free zone model has shown the adaptability to serve Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft and Cisco. Free zones are one of its most successful diversification initiatives to date, demonstrating how agility can be applied to maximum effect within a dynamic business environment.

The city’s free zones offer completely scalable business models, with no need for a local sponsor or agent. They offer dedicated areas for segmented industries, contributing to their growing role as innovation cradles aiding R&D to tap into cutting-edge knowledge to launch next generation products and services. The UAE is home to 45 free zones, the majority of which are in Dubai.

The city boasts a robust regulatory framework through four jurisdictions: the Dubai Courts; DIFC Courts; and two arbitration centres, the DIFC LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration) and the DIAC (Dubai International Arbitration Centre).

The regulatory and legislative framework in Dubai is further reinforced by the city’s micro-focus on public-private partnerships, enabling a two-way dialogue on policies to ease doing business. DFSA offers an Innovation Testing License, allowing firms to test their concepts within the DIFC. Launched in 2017, the firms can apply via the regulator’s annual ITL Cohort.

The city’s significant investment in both physical and digital infrastructure is designed to enable seamless trade of products, services and knowledge; it also underpins the ability to engage in cross-border collaboration and information sharing to solve global challenges and empower innovative-thinkers across every industry.

The readiness of infrastructure also enables increased operational efficiencies, enhanced employee productivity and expedited go-to-market and service delivery capabilities, all of which are integral to achieve scale and growth. Also, a multicultural workforce with easy recruitment procedures means company’s can begin operation faster and with fewer complications.

What’s more, 25-year lease options, warehouse facilities, the availability of areas for production and assembly, research and development, testing and manufacturing make Dubai attractive for new businesses as well as more established companies.