UAE revises legal age for starting businesses

The minimum age limit to run a business in the UAE has been revised to 18 years.

In a recent media briefing, Abdullah Al Saleh, undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy (MoE), said the move is aimed to "support and develop the country's business environment".

Previously the legal age limit was set at 21 years.

Here's what the new Commercial Transactions Law says:

• It reduces the age of legal capacity to practice business to 18 years
• The law establishes a legal reference for commercial transactions for banking institutions to stimulate investment and give businesses wider scope for growth and competition
• It offers support to Islamic banking in the country and establishes it as one of the main drivers of growth
• The law amends the provisions related to the regulation and establishment of financial markets and makes it mandatory to obtain the necessary licenses in accordance with the legislation regulating securities in the country
• It offers support to businesses related to the technology sector and commercial activities related to the digital fields