Markets
Seven jurisdictions, each with its own rules on ownership, agency, certification and licensing. We treat them separately because they are separate.
Coverage
Our partners hold their positions in these markets rather than servicing them from outside, which is what allows a meeting to be arranged at the level it needs to be.
Saudi Arabia · United Arab Emirates · Bahrain · Qatar · Kuwait · Oman
Requirements differ materially between these states — on foreign ownership, agency appointment, halal certification and sponsorship. A distributor arrangement that works in one is often unavailable or unwise in another. We treat them as six markets, not one, and will say plainly when a client's plan suits three of them and not the rest.
Bangkok · Phuket · Koh Samui · Krabi · Chiang Mai · Eastern Economic Corridor
Property and hospitality mandates concentrate in the southern resort markets; supply, manufacturing and trading mandates in Bangkok and the Eastern Seaboard. Foreign participation is governed by the Foreign Business Act, land and condominium legislation and, where incentives apply, the Board of Investment. We establish which framework governs a transaction before a client commits capital to it.
Orientation
A general orientation only. Position varies by state, by activity and over time; we confirm the current requirement for each transaction rather than relying on a summary.
| Matter | GCC states | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Company ownership | Several states now permit full foreign ownership across most activities; others retain local partner or agent requirements in defined sectors. | The Foreign Business Act restricts majority foreign ownership in many service activities. BOI promotion and treaty routes are the common exceptions. |
| Agency and distribution | Commercial agency registration gives a registered agent considerable protection in several states, and appointments can be difficult to unwind. | No equivalent statutory agency protection. Distribution is governed by the contract the parties agree. |
| Property | Freehold is available to foreign buyers in designated areas in several states, with conditions varying by emirate or governorate. | Foreign nationals cannot own land. Condominium freehold is available subject to a foreign-ownership quota per building; long leasehold is widely used. |
| Halal certification | Each state recognises a specific list of approved certifying bodies. Acceptance is not automatically transferable between states. | Export certification runs through the Thai authorities and the recognised national Islamic body, and must then be matched to the destination state's list. |
| Working week | Sunday to Thursday in most states; the UAE works Monday to Friday. | Monday to Friday. |