The Middle East and Africa offer vast opportunities, yet their complex market regulations and entry barriers also present challenges. To help companies accurately grasp these opportunities and effectively mitigate risks, Chance Bridge partnered with UAE-based ADG Legal to co-host 'Doing Business in the Middle East and Africa'. This seminar provided in-depth analysis of investment trends, market prospects, and compliance strategies for the Middle East and Africa.
The seminar featured distinguished legal and banking experts who provided in-depth insights into the business opportunities, investment policies, and regulatory environments. A key focus was placed on analyzing the investment legal frameworks and financial support systems in two pivotal markets: the UAE and Saudi Arabia. From compliance strategies to financial solutions, the event delivered comprehensive guidance to help Chinese enterprises expand overseas and capitalize on market opportunities while effectively mitigating cross-border risks. The session attracted many entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Ms Zhu Ning, managing partner of Chance Bridge Law Firm, delivered a welcome address at the seminar, expressing her warmest welcome and sincere gratitude to all the distinguished experts, corporate representatives and partners in attendance. She introduced the senior partner team from ADG Legal, highlighting their extensive practical experience in key markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Navigating Business Expansion into the Middle East and Africa: Opportunities and Critical Insights
At the seminar, three distinguished partners from ADG Legal—Mohammed Al Dahbashi, Peter Gray, and Peter Davies—served as keynote speakers, providing in-depth analysis of the investment potential and business opportunities in the Middle East and Africa, with a particular focus on various investment models in the UAE. The trade relationship between the UAE and China is among the strongest in the region, and China remains the UAE’s largest trading partner. The UAE plays a crucial role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), serving as a logistics and trade hub for the Middle East and Africa. Investment flows between both nations have grown significantly, and key areas of collaboration include AI, renewable energy, and infrastructure. To address the diverse investment needs of enterprises, the three experts comprehensively outlined various paths for conducting business in the UAE. They provided detailed analysis of different establishment models, including forming onshore companies under local regulations and setting up entities within free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ). These strategic insights offered valuable guidance for companies planning to expand into the Middle East and Africa.
Practical Challenges and Solutions for Global Business Expansion
Ms Ziyi Wang from International Business Department at Bank of Ningbo, Beijing Branch, analyzed the practical challenges faced by Chinese enterprises in global expansion from a banking perspective and proposed targeted solutions. To support Chinese companies in achieving high-quality overseas development, Bank of Ningbo has launched its "Overseas Services" one-stop platform, curating premium professional institutions—including law firms, consulting agencies, and other service providers—to deliver end-to-end solutions for overseas investment and international finance. Ms Wang addressed the entire business investment cycle, focusing in particular on as corporate structure planning, regulatory filing advisory, tax and financial management. The Bank of Ningbo provides six financial services for enterprises going abroad, including overseas bank account opening, cross-border settlement solutions, cash management services, foreign exchange risk hedging, financing and personal financial services.
Doing Business in the Middle East: Investment Landscape and Compliance Framework
Mr Yongzhong Zou, Partner at Chance Bridge law firm, provided a professional analysis of the investment landscape and foreign investment legal frameworks in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted that the UAE, as a crucial trade hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, has made significant strides in economic diversification and actively encourages foreign participation in cutting-edge technology sectors. Mr Zou elaborated on the UAE's foreign investment (market access framework), comparing the advantages of onshore investments versus offshore options, and emphasized the appeal of free zones as preferred destinations for foreign capital. Regarding Saudi Arabia, Mr Zou elaborated on its economic diversification progress under its Vision 2030 initiative and the relaxation measures for foreign investment restrictions. He particularly highlighted that the newly enacted Investment Law has abolished the foreign investment licensing system, providing foreign investors with more streamlined and equitable registration procedures. Additionally, he introduced Saudi Arabia's Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Program and preferential policies in special economic zones, offering valuable guidance for Chinese enterprises considering investment in the Saudi Arabia.
Cross-Border Securities and Financial Markets
Capital markets is one of the core areas of expertise of Chance Bridge. In cross-border equity financing, Chance Bridge has provided comprehensive legal services in connection with all aspects of cross-border legal services such as overseas listing, securities issuance and refinancing, cross-border M&A, overseas ESOP, equity structure setup, transaction scheme design, etc. Such services cover companies from a broad range of industries including big data, semiconductors, IT, medicine/medical equipment/medical institutions, education and training, military, real estate, cultural media/film and television, machinery manufacturing/processing, light industry/papermaking, chemicals/pesticides, non-ferrous metals, transportation, home appliances, energy, electronic equipment, electrical equipment, energy management, and environmental protection.
With deep and comprehensive understanding of international financial trading practices and domestic and foreign financial laws and regulations, our team consistently provides clients with practical legal solutions. Team members are particularly skilled at leveraging the resources of our global network and combining domestic and foreign laws, regulations, and regulatory requirements, to help clients to operate in accurate, efficient, and compliant manner, tailored to their business characteristics, business models and actual needs.
Cross-Border Investment
Cross-border investment, financing, mergers and acquisitions are among the earliest and most active business areas of Chance Bridge and we have a team focused on this area. All team members have studied overseas and have a deep understanding of China’s laws, markets, and culture along with those of many key overseas markets. We have years of experience in providing cross-border legal services, especially in capital markets, banking and finance, government regulation, infrastructure, and engineering construction. This enables our firm to thoroughly understand the demands and working habits of foreign and Chinese enterprises, and effectively communicate to them the possible legal risks in mergers and acquisitions transactions. At the same time, we can assist clients in effectively communicating with counterparties and organically cooperating with other service agencies to provide clients with a full range of legal services.
Cross-Border Compliance
The International Trade and Compliance Team of Chance Bridge is one of the earliest Chinese legal teams to engage in WTO, international trade, and compliance services. It primarily represents the Chinese government, industry associations and import-export companies in responding to overseas litigation, including anti-dumping, countervailing, anti-circumvention, trade compliance, import-export control, economic sanctions and WTO disputes.
Our services cover a wide range of countries and regions, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Eurasian Economic Union, Malaysia, Turkey, etc. We have expertise in various industries such as electric vehicles, steel products, photovoltaic industry, non-metallic products, chemical fibres and textiles, light industry, chemical raw materials and products, electromechanical products, food, agricultural products, rubber products, plastic products, furniture and specialised equipment.
Through years of practice, our team has established close and fruitful relationships with investigative agencies, government agencies, industry organisations, and foreign lawyers in many countries and regions. With a bespoke professional division of labour and close teamwork, the International Trade and Compliance Team is capable of providing high-quality international legal services to enterprises.
Cross-border Dispute Resolution
Dispute resolution is a core practice area of Chance Bridge, and our team of litigation and arbitration specialists excel in terms of cross-border dispute resolution matters. Our litigation team is able to provide full services in English, French, German, Japanese and other foreign languages and can draw upon our global network of partner law firms around the world to provide related support at all stages of the litigation and arbitration process.
We have extensive experience providing legal services for numerous large multinational companies in cross-border cases and developed exceptional capabilities in key categories of complex litigation in connection with sophisticated transactions.