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Connecting Continents, Shaping Law
This month, our focus turns to Africa and Asia, two regions reshaping global growth and investment. From Egypt’s ongoing legal and economic reforms and the strengthening of UAE–Moroccan relations, to the rise of Korean investment across the Middle East, this issue highlights the developments driving change across these markets.
We also explore the UAE’s role as a bridge between regions – a hub for private wealth management, dispute resolution, and cross-border collaboration, connecting businesses and investors across Africa and Asia. The articles in this edition offer practical insights into how these shifts are influencing trade, regulation, and market confidence across the wider region.
2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.
Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.
The DIFC Authority has announced the public consultation of their Variable Capital Company Regulations (“Draft VCC Regulations”). The proposed regime offers a unique vehicle with flexible share capital structuring for proprietary investment activities, inspired by similar a solution available in Singapore or Mauritius. The public consultation period will end on 24 July 2025.
The Draft VCC Regulations are particularly designed for a wide range of investment and asset-holding structures, suitable for family assets investment portfolios and other proprietary investment purposes. The VCC regime and aims to add onto the existing protected cell companies and the incorporated cell companies’ framework, yet under a non-regulated environment, available to parties other than those providing regulated financial services.
The Draft VCC Regulations are intended to benefit a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including:
The key areas that the DIFC have indicated where the feedback would be particularly valuable include the overall suitability and potential consequences of introducing VCCs in the DIFC, the scope and appropriateness of qualifying requirements and eligible applicants, the adequacy of asset segregation, creditor and shareholder protections, and procedures for corporate actions, and officer liability.
The DIFC would welcome comments from the public by 24th July.
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