UAE issued new law to regulate public-private partnerships. Apart from establishing the overall structure for collaborations between federal government agencies and the private sector, the legislation also promotes businesses' involvement in strategic and developmental initiatives and augments their financial contributions to federal government programmes with "social and economic economic value." The Ministry of Finance states that the new law would guarantee the community "world-class services at the best value."
Additionally, it seeks to certify and teach UAE federal entity staff in project management and operation. Projects that "offer an added value for public funds; minimise financial and operational risks on the government; transform the management of some infrastructure projects and public services; and enhance the competitiveness of projects in local, regional, and global markets" will be given priority under the law, which will expedite their implementation.
The law is applicable to any partnership project that is proposed by a government entity and is fully or substantially funded by the private sector. It went into effect on December 1, 2023. The Partnership Projects Manual lists a number of exclusions, including partnerships formed prior to the law's enforcement date, projects with a value below the manual's specified cap, projects involving the privatisation of public assets and services, supply and procurement contracts pertaining to national security as listed in the manual, and federal entities, sectors, and projects that are exempt due to decisions made by the UAE Cabinet.
