Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI303
2005-01-18 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS -

Tags:  ETRD WTO TC 
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Diana T Fritz 12/05/2006 11:42:50 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00303

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: ECON
 INFO: DCM MEPI POL FCS P/M AMB

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB: MJSISON
DRAFTED: A/DCM: OJOHN
CLEARED: FCS:CREED

VZCZCADI919
RR RUEHC RUCNWTO
DE RUEHAD #0303 0181200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181200Z JAN 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7792
INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000303 

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO USTR
GENEVA FOR USTR ALICIAGENDIGE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD WTO TC
SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS -
UAE

Ref: 04 State 270998

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000303

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO USTR
GENEVA FOR USTR ALICIAGENDIGE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD WTO TC
SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS -
UAE

Ref: 04 State 270998


1. The UAE is an attractive place for U.S. businesses, but
the legal framework here favors local over foreign
investors. Post assesses that the overall level of openness
for services in the UAE is medium. In some cases, we have
assessed different sectors at different levels of openness.



2. Begin list:

--Legal services - 3
--Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services - 4
Taxation services - 3-4 (medium-high--No local taxes. Tax
advice for expatriates and UAE nationals investing in other
markets is provided by services operating in those markets.)
--Architectural services - 1
--Engineering and integrated engineering services - 1
--Urban planning and landscape architecture services - 1-2
(with the construction boom going on in the UAE, there is a
large potential market in both urban planning and in
landscape architecture. Actual demand from U.S. firms is
more limited.)
--Computer and related services -4
--Research and development services - 5
--Real estate services - 4 (low)
--Rental/Leasing Services - 5 (low)
--Advertising services - 3
--Market research and public opinion polling services - 4
--Management consulting services - 2 (medium-high)
--Technical testing and analysis services (including energy)
- 2
--Services incidental to agriculture, hunting and forestry
and fishing - 5
--Services incidental to mining - 5
--Energy services - 1 (medium-high--Energy resources are
owned by the individual emirates. Emirates have allowed
partial ownership of both upstream and downstream oil and
gas facilities. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has begun to
privatize its power generation capacity and has announced
its intention to privatize power distribution.)
--Placement and supply services of personnel - 4-5
--Investigation and security - 1
--Related scientific and technical consulting services -4
--Maintenance and repair of equipment - 2-3 (especially in
energy sector and in the high tech defense sector.)
--Building cleaning services - 5
--Photographic Services - 5
--Packaging services - 5
--Printing, Publishing - 5
--Convention services - 2 (low)
--Courier Services -- 2
--Telecommunication services - 3 (low-- The UAE is in the
process of breaking up its monopoly telecommunications
service provider Etisalat, but new entrants to the market
are likely to need a local partner. There is a market for
providing services to Etisalat.)
--Audiovisual services - 5
--Construction and related engineering 1 (medium-high--
There is currently a construction boom in the UAE,
especially in the emirate of Dubai, but increasingly in the
emirate of Abu Dhabi. There is a great deal of interest and
competition from international construction and engineering
firms in this sector.)
--Distribution Services - 3
--Educational services - 2
--Environmental services -1
--Insurance services - 4 (low-medium)
--Banking and other financial services - 2 (medium -- The
Abu Dhabi Investment Fund, which manages the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi's overseas assets, contracts with private fund
managers and banks to manage part of its overseas assets.)
--Tourism and travel related services - 2-3 (There are
opportunities to manage hotels in the UAE. The UAE
Commercial Companies Law requires joint venture partnerships
to be 51% Emirati owned.)
--Recreation and sporting services - 3
--Medical services - 1 (medium-high -- The UAE hires a large
number of foreign medical professionals. To set up a
practice, a foreign medical professional needs a local
partner. The emirate of Dubai, however, is setting up Dubai
Healthcare City, which will be considered a "free zone" with
respect to ownership requirements. In addition, several
U.S. hospitals are providing tele-medicine as well as
consultation services in the UAE. )