Country Intelligence Hub
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates' infrastructure market combines federal frameworks for investment, tax, arbitration and financial regulation with distinct Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirate-level structures for public-private partnerships and land administration. Abu Dhabi's single-buyer power and water model (via EWEC) and Dubai's vertically integrated utility (DEWA) anchor a substantial independent power and water project pipeline, alongside major rail, port, aviation and waste-to-energy programmes. The active pipeline is concentrated primarily in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, spanning solar and nuclear power, desalination, container-port concessions, metro and national rail expansion, and large-scale public-private partnership programmes.
Latest Developments
- Project · 5 September 2026Dubai Metro Blue Line reaches 26% completion
Dubai Metro Blue Line construction reached 26% completion as of early September 2026, progressing toward its targeted 9 September 2029 opening.
- Project · 15 August 2026Dubai targets Dh55bn in further contract awards by end-2026 for Al Maktoum International Airport expansion
Dubai officials confirmed Dh13bn in contracts already awarded for the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) expansion in 2026, with a further Dh55bn targeted for award by end-2026 — distinct from the programme's total $34.8bn investment figure.
- Project · 15 July 2026EWEC and Masdar close $6.1bn financing for integrated solar-plus-storage project
EWEC and Masdar reached financial close on $6.1bn ($5.1bn debt + $1bn equity) financing for the 5.2GW solar + 19GWh BESS round-the-clock renewable project — among the largest-ever financings for an integrated renewable-plus-storage project.
Infrastructure
- ISTP2 — Al Wathba 2 & Al Ain (Allahamah) Independent Sewage Treatment PlantsTransaction · Wastewater Infrastructure, Water Infrastructure · Operational
- Barakah Nuclear Energy PlantProject · Nuclear Energy, Energy · Operational
- Zayed International Airport (Midfield Terminal)Project · Airport Infrastructure, Aviation Infrastructure · Operational
- Abu Dhabi AED 55 Billion PPP Pipeline ProgrammeProgramme · Strategic Infrastructure · Pipeline / Development
Infrastructure Sectors
- Energy Infrastructure
- Energy
- Solar Energy
- Airport Infrastructure
Key Organizations
Market Participants
17 market participants tracked in United Arab Emirates. Company profiles, capabilities and market presence are available in the Market Participants directory, included with the Business plan.
Open the Market Participants directory →Legal & Regulatory Framework
A compact map of the legal topics InfraLex tracks for United Arab Emirates. Each card links to the full instrument list for that topic.
Foreign Investment
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 19 of 2018 (Foreign Direct Investment Law)
1 instrument
Companies & Corporate
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 (Commercial Companies Law), as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025
1 instrument
Competition
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023 (Regulating Competition), with Cabinet Decision No. 3 of 2025 (notification thresholds)
1 instrument
PPP / Concessions
Multiple frameworks
2 instruments
Public Procurement
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2023 (Regulating the Government Procurement)
3 instruments
Land / Real Estate / Land Use
Multiple frameworks
2 instruments
Environmental / Permitting
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 (Reduction of Climate Change Effects)
1 instrument
Tax
Multiple frameworks
3 instruments
Banking & Finance
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 (Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business)
2 instruments
Security / Collateral
Primary frameworkFederal Law No. 4 of 2020 (Security over Movable Property), with its 2021 Executive Regulations (Collateral Registry)
2 instruments
Foreign Exchange / Capital Controls
1 instrument
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Primary frameworkFederal Law No. 6 of 2018 (Arbitration), as amended by Federal Law No. 15 of 2023
1 instrument
Insolvency / Bankruptcy
Primary frameworkFederal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023 (Financial and Bankruptcy)
2 instruments