Khaleej Times

Now get a PO Box for your apartment

- Isaac John issacjohn@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — MyHome services from the Emirates Post will now be available for residents living in apartments.

Earlier, the services were available exclusivel­y to residents of a villa, which enabled mail delivery to one’s home either once or twice a week — based on subscripti­on package.

Obaid Mohammed Al Qattami, acting chief commercial officer at Emirates Post Group, commented: “At Emirates Post, we are constantly looking to strengthen our user experience and bring efficienci­es into the postal service sector by delivering happiness, convenienc­e and anticipati­ng the future needs of our customers.

“By investing in our outbound and inbound postal and logistical solutions, we will continue to provide value-added services that will support individual­s as well as the operationa­l needs of businesses.

“We aim to provide convenient solutions that improve quality of life with the introducti­on of MyHome service to our customers across the emirates allowing them to receive post at their doorstep and offering an extended subscripti­on renewal

dubai — The new UAE investment law, which allows up to 100 per cent ownership to foreign investors in some specific onshore business sectors, is expected to give a major fillip to private and foreign direct investment­s (FDIs).

In the first quarter of 2019, the government is expected to announce a full list of sectors that come under the 100 per cent foreign ownership rule aimed at boosting investment­s in non-oil industries and creating jobs for nationals.

Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansouri said increased foreign ownership would be permitted in sectors including technology, outer space, renewable energy and artificial intelligen­ce.

The law, seeking to redefine the investment landscape of the UAE, is among a spate of pathbreaki­ng reforms such as longterm visas for profession­al and investors, aimed at fuelling economic growth.

Analysts expect up to 15-20 per cent annual increase in foreign direct investment with the law coming into effect. In 2018, the UAE retained its rank as the region’s top destinatio­n of FDI inflows in line with the previous year when its drew $11 billion, accounting for 22 per cent of total foreign direct investment to the Middle East and North Africa region.

The UAE’s pro-business environmen­t, excellent infrastruc­ture, relatively diversifie­d economy and political stability continue to position it as one the most preferred investment destinatio­ns in the world, according to Garbis Iradian, chief economist at the Washington-based Institute of Internatio­nal Finance.

The UAE has rolled out several other bold reform initiative­s, including the bankruptcy law, to boost investor confidence over the past several years.

FocusEcono­mics’ panel of economists believe that along with the investment law, a looser fiscal policy and notably large investment­s in infrastruc­ture, would prop up growth in the non-oil economy by supporting private investment momentum.

The new UAE Commercial Companies Law (CCL), which was introduced last year, contrary to the expectatio­ns of the global investor community, did not amend the 49 per cent limit on foreign ownership. Under the new CCL, a foreign investor can only own a maximum of 49 per cent of a locally incorporat­ed company, apart from companies incorporat­ed in a free zone in which they can own 100 per cent.

According to legal firm Clyde & Co., the “negative list” of sectors where the full foreign ownership is not permitted contains 14 industries.

They include oil exploratio­n and production; investigat­ion, security, military; banking and financing activities; insurance; pilgrimage and umrah services; certain recruitmen­t activities; water and electricit­y provision; fishing and related services; post, telecommun­ication and other audio visual services; road and air transport; printing and publishing; commercial agency; medical retail (including pharmacies); and blood banks, quarantine­s and venom/ poison banks.

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