Market focus: The Middle East

If you’re expanding your business operations into, across or out of the Middle East, Hawksford’s expertise and local knowledge can help make the process seamless

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Your Middle East business partner

At the heart of global trade routes and economic transformation, the Middle East continues to emerge as a dynamic hub for cross-border investment, innovation, and growth. Spanning diverse economies from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to the Levant and North Africa, the region offers a compelling mix of modern infrastructure, strategic location, and increasingly business-friendly policies.

17

The Middle East comprises 17 countries, providing diverse economies across the region

500m

With more than 500 million people, the Middle East boasts a growing and youthful population

$3.5tn

The Middle East has a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$3.5 trillion

$57bn

Foreign direct investment flows into the Middle East reached $57bn in 2023. A capital magnet for global investors

However, navigating the Middle East is not without its complexities. Regulatory frameworks vary widely across jurisdictions, free zones offer differing incentives, and local ownership rules or licensing requirements can pose challenges for foreign entrants. Language, cultural nuances, and differing legal systems further underscore the need for expert local guidance.

That’s where Hawksford can help. With our deep understanding of Middle Eastern markets, multilingual teams, and a strong network of in-region partners, we offer end-to-end support for businesses looking to establish, operate, or expand within the region. Whether you’re launching a regional HQ in Dubai or exploring investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, we can help ensure your operations remain compliant, efficient, and aligned with your strategic goals.

The Middle East opportunity

The Middle East presents a significant and evolving opportunity for international businesses. From the UAE’s advanced logistics infrastructure and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification push to Egypt’s emerging tech and manufacturing scene, the region is undergoing rapid economic transformation. This is largely driven by policy reforms, sovereign investments, and a growing appetite for innovation.

Sectors such as renewable energy, fintech, tourism, e-commerce, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing are seeing rapid expansion, supported by government-led initiatives to attract foreign capital and talent. Free zones and economic cities offer attractive tax regimes and simplified setups, while strategic positioning between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes the region a natural trade bridge.

With the right partner, businesses can unlock this potential with confidence. We help ambitious companies tap into Middle Eastern markets seamlessly, ensuring they remain ahead of compliance, cultural expectations, and regulatory change, while focusing on growth.

Advantages of doing business in the UAE

Here, Kunal Fabiani, Director, Global Solutions at Hawksford, looks at how the UAE in particular has undergone significant digital transformation, while highlighting the potential it presents for emerging technologies. He also addresses the ease of establishing foreign-owned companies and how the UAE provides access to other global regions. 

Client success stories

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“We’ve been working with Hawksford since 2012 when we decided to set up our own entities in Asia. The China team is very professional and helpful. They took care of every step of business formation, giving us advice and responding to our needs in a timely manner. With their ongoing support in accounting, tax, and corporate governance, we have been able to establish our presence in Asia and would continue to work with Hawksford as a trusted partner.”

Sophia Zhou, APAC Finance Controller, Moleskine China

boggi-logo

"Hawksford was able to help Boggi beyond its scope and has proven to be a key stakeholder of Boggi in Asia. In Singapore alone, Hawksford assisted Boggi in cultivating our connections with the most important landlords. This contribution allowed us to enter the Singapore market and open three stores.”

Paolo Selva, Boggi Milano

amann 300

“Hawksford’s Hong Kong team were true professionals and great people, supporting our operation here in Hong Kong, and providing us with tailored services for finance and administration which perfectly met our requirements. They handled our enquiries promptly and were always focused on delivering excellent solutions.”

Summy Lee, Head of Business Development, North/East Asia and Pacific, Amann Group

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"From the beginning, Hawksford took care of the essential business set-up, so that we could be up and running and operating successfully in a short timeframe. As a result of such a smooth entry into the UK, we have continued to use Hawksford for accounting services, financial statements, tax declarations and other general administrative services."

Anujin Baasanjav, Head Accountant, Gobi Cashmere UK

Rising to the challenge of international expansion

Gavin Wilkins, our Chief Commercial Officer, highlights the key challenges you might face when expanding into the Middle East and other international markets, including navigating local laws and regulations, overcoming language and cultural barriers, and the need for a clear strategy. He also outlines how our expertise and operations in the region can support you with Middle East market entry.  

Our Middle East memberships and partners

Contact our Middle East team