Page 213 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - JULY 2025

7/29/25, 4:07 PM UAE family businesses boost economy
continuity, diversification into advanced sectors, and smooth leadership transitions within family-run
firms.

Also Read: UAE marks first Union Pledge Day honouring legacy, growth and global vision

To reinforce this framework, the Ministry introduced four ministerial resolutions, establishing a unified

registry for family companies. The registry now includes over 15 firms and outlines governance
practices such as family business charters, share buy-back policies, and multiple share classes—

offering these firms operational flexibility and legal clarity.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasised the nation’s commitment to

creating a globally competitive business ecosystem. “Family businesses are integral to our vision of a
future-ready economy,” he said in remarks to Emirates News Agency (WAM), referring to their

contribution to the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which targets a GDP increase to AED3 trillion by the
next decade.

Currently, family businesses contribute nearly 60% to the UAE’s GDP, employ 80% of the workforce,
and make up 90% of the private sector. In Abu Dhabi, they dominate several key sectors—accounting

for 80% of wholesale and trade, 70% of transportation, 60% of financial services, and half of the
construction industry.

On the global scale, family businesses are responsible for 70% of GDP and nearly 60% of
employment, underscoring their critical role in both regional and international economic landscapes.

-Agencies/WAM

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