Dubai's market is very open and easy to enter, and there is no foreign exchange control. The import tax here is generally 4%, and the telecommunications facilities are first-class, providing services for the booming financial industry and service industry. Energy is also abundant. Even tap water, a long-standing problem that troubled the Arab world in the past, is now solved by desalination.
The transportation infrastructure can be compared with any developed place in the world. Dubai International Airport, as the hub of sea-air conversion, takes off and lands nearly 300 flights every day, reaching about 130 destinations. 1985 this country has established its own international airline, Emirates, which has maintained impressive performance since its establishment.
In terms of shipping, the world's major routes exceeding 125 include Rashid Port and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Jebel Ali Port is the largest artificial port in the world, with 65 berths and a span of 15km. There is a tax-free zone around the port, and foreign-funded enterprises in the zone can own 100% of the ownership, and are exempt from corporate tax and personal tax. In addition, there are no restrictions on the repatriation of profits. There is also the only Lloyd's certified cold storage in the Middle East.
There are many famous brands here, such as Aiwa, Brother, Casio, Nokia and Sony. 15 Hong Kong-funded companies have started to operate here. At Dubai International Airport, a new duty-free zone for light industry has been put into use. Dubai's retail, entertainment and tourism industries are growing strongly, and its image has been enhanced through ambitious promotional activities. Amazing gifts such as luxury cars and gold bars, as well as city-wide discount promotions, are the characteristics of Dubai's annual shopping festival. The shopping festival turned the whole city into a theme park. 1998 alone, its great success attracted more than 2 million tourists and brought more than 10 billion dollars in consumption.
70% of Dubai's imports are re-exported to other countries, usually neighboring Islamic countries. Iran is the largest export destination, with Afghanistan and Azerbaijan ranking fourth and sixth respectively. People may prefer to see these markets still under the control of Dubai's business community.