Middle East
Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain is an Arabian island country located off the west coast of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East.
With highly developed communication and transportation facilities, Bahrain hosts many multinationals operating in the region, primarily via the development of financial services. Bahrain has the laxest tax regulations in the Persian Gulf. The building sector, which features numerous projects, is another driving force of activity.
Trade between France and Bahrain is traditionally subject to wide variations, being marked by regular aeronautic orders/deliveries from Bahraini players in the field of aviation. Imports into France consist mainly of refined petroleum and aluminum. The development of France’s economic potential remains closely linked to the participation of French players in major infrastructure projects in Bahrain.
In order to best meet the needs of its clients on the Bahraini market, Simon Associés has entered into a transnational agreement with Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates.
This firm is mainly involved in the following areas of business law : Arbitration/Mediation, Bank and Finance, Insolvency, Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, Restructuring, E-Commerce and Information Technology, Social, Family Businesses, Health, Insurance and Reinsurance, Intellectual Property, Joint Ventures, Litigation, Local and Foreign Investments, Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, Public Law, Real Estate, Construction and Development, Maritime Transport, Telecommunications and Media, and Trusts.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates covers 82,880 sq.kms. This country is bordered by the Sultanate of Oman to the east as well as by Saudi Arabia to the southwest and has a GDP of US$356 billion.
The United Arab Emirates is the second largest economy among the Gulf countries behind Saudi Arabia thanks to the world’s 7th largest gas reserves, allowing the country to become the 17th biggest gas producer. The UAE economy ranks among the most diversified in the Middle East.
For a number of years now, the United Arab Emirates has been an exceptional business partner for French companies and has emerged as the country’s main outlet in the Middle East in recent years. French exports have tripled in the space of ten years and now stabilized, despite a particularly competitive market.
In order to best meet the needs of its clients on the UAE market, Simon Associés has entered into an alliance in the form of a transnational agreement with the firm M/Advocates of Law (M/HQ), in association with the firm Ali Ibrahim Advocates & Legal Consultants, in Dubai.
The firm M/Advocates of Law operates in several areas of business law : counsel, litigation and negotiation of contracts with its UAE and international clientele.
Ali Ibrahim Advocates & Legal Consultants specializes in the following areas of business law : Civil Litigation, International and Domestic Commercial Arbitration, Corporate, Commercial and Shareholder Litigation, Construction, Retail/Franchise, and Labor.
Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran, located in southwestern Asia, is the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Iran is the world’s third largest producer of natural gas (with the world’s second largest reserves) and has the fourth largest oil reserves. The country is trying to diversify by investing in new sectors, including auto production, aerospace, petrochemicals and nuclear technology in a bid to attract foreign investment.
Imports from Iran to France reached €40 million, while exports in the other direction amounted to €490 million.
In order to best meet the needs of its clients on the Iranian market, Simon Associés has entered into an alliance in the form of a transnational agreement with the firm International Law.
International Law has developed specific expertise in intellectual property law as well as high technology law. International Law also brings its expertise in various fields of business law, such as corporate, arbitration, labor, energy and environmental law.
Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is located to the south of the Arabian Peninsula and is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the north, Saudi Arabia to the west, Yemen to the southwest, the Arabian Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman to the northeast.
Over 65% of Oman’s GDP comes from the oil sector. Tourism (in the region of Muscat and Salalah) and agriculture (around the city of Sohar, hometown of Sinbad the Sailor) complete the economic landscape of the Sultanate. The tourism sector is developing rapidly and takes the form of major infrastructure projects. As a result, the number of tourists is growing steadily year after year. Amenity and infrastructure projects are also developing in the field of transport and industry, with Oman paying particular attention to the diversification of its economy.
In order to best meet the needs of its clients on the Omani market, Simon Associés has entered into a transnational agreement with the Al Alawi & Co law firm.
Al Alawi & Co primarily intervenes in the following areas of business law : Corporate Law, Infrastructure, Banking and Finance, Marine Transportation, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Labor Law, and Immigration.
