Dubai, which has emerged in the past decade as the Gulf's leading economic and trading hub, holds the top position worldwide for population and employment growth, at 5.8 per cent and 8.3 per cent per annum respectively, according to a report by global property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle.

Free-trade zones in the United Arab Emirates are areas that have a special tax, customs and import regime, and are governed by their own framework of regulations (with the exception of UAE criminal law).