Dubai transitions from hub to headquarters status for energy companies

Dubai transitions from hub to headquarters status for energy companies

Energy has emerged as one of the few cross-border sectors to traverse the complexities of geopolitics, economics, and the green agenda while retaining a meaningful impact on businesses and consumers.

Its far-reaching effects have meant a more public debate surrounding the energy transition, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the decision-making strategies of OPEC, and more recently, the future of the petro-dollar.

From the perspective of the energy sector, shifting geopolitics has at least provided one topic on which almost all companies can agree — the importance of where to incorporate.

Historically, many prominent players opted to be closer to their energy source or nearest financial centre, resulting in the US, the UK, Switzerland, and Singapore becoming regional centres, with some even offering tax incentives.

DMCC positions itself at the center

With increasing volatility and the uncertainty of balancing future sustainability with current supply and demand, many businesses have been forced to take a broader view of the global landscape and understand which countries can provide the corporate staples of a clear and transparent legal and regulatory framework, favourable taxation, political and economic stability, market access, infrastructure, and logistics.

As a long-favoured regional centre for some of the world’s largest companies, Dubai has grown to be