Insight type: Article

This article outlines 10 essential legal considerations for individuals or companies entering or doing business in the UAE, addressing key questions like “What are the legal factors of the UAE?” and “What is required to start a business in the UAE?” Backed by the expertise of ALN’s Dubai office, Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota, this guide equips you with the insights needed to thrive in the UAE’s competitive market.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant regulatory challenges, particularly in regions such as Africa, where existing frameworks often lag in technological developments. As AI reshapes traditional paradigms, the current international human rights framework reveals conceptual gaps, raising critical questions about whether existing policies should be amended or if new, specific frameworks are required.

As Africa’s economic integration accelerates through various initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, businesses expanding across borders face a paradox: unprecedented opportunities shadowed by evolving risks that demand sophisticated responses. From East Africa’s fintech innovation hubs to West Africa’s resource economies and Southern Africa’s industrial centres, four interconnected risk categories are reshaping how multinational organisations approach continental expansion.

In 2050, Africa’s cities will look nothing like they do today. Projections show the continent’s urban population tripling, with nearly two-thirds of Africans living in towns and cities. Seventeen of those will be “mega-cities” with populations above 10 million, placing Lagos, Kinshasa, and Cairo alongside the world’s largest metropolitan areas. Nigeria’s urban population alone is expected to reach 250 million, the fourth largest globally, while Egypt will rank in the top ten with 147 million.

For investors, this demographic transformation should not be viewed as a looming crisis of overcrowding and strained infrastructure. It is, in fact, the single largest growth opportunity of the century. The question is not whether Africa will urbanise, but how investors and governments choose to manage and monetise this transformation.

Africa’s economic landscape is dominated by SMEs, which constitute 75% to 90% of businesses, according to the World Economic Forum. These enterprises drive growth, innovation, and employment, yet limited access to financing constrains their ability to scale and contribute fully to development. Against this backdrop, private debt emerges as a promising solution to bridge the continent’s massive financing gap.

Kenya has long positioned itself as a premier investment destination in Africa, leveraging its strategic location, advanced financial sector, and a progressive business environment to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) funds investing in Kenyan lenders or businesses that provide goods and services to Kenyan consumers have played a pivotal role in financing critical sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial services.

Tanzania presents unique opportunities for Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) investors, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure. However, navigating the legal and regulatory landscape regarding foreign land ownership is a critical consideration for investors looking to enter the Tanzanian market.