German DWS Group Establishes UAE Operations
- 25.07.2025
- Posted by: Uwe Hohmann
- Categories: Company Setup, Dubai, Europe
DWS Group, Germany’s largest asset manager with EUR 1.01 trillion under management, has just announced that it is opening its first Middle East office in the UAE. This represents another clear signal that established German companies are recognizing the value the UAE offers for regional expansion.
Strengthening UAE-German Business Relations
When major German financial institutions, such as DWS, establish regional headquarters in the UAE, it reinforces the growing economic partnership between our countries. Germany is already one of the UAE’s key European trading partners, and these high-profile expansions signal confidence in the long-term relationship. Each major German company that establishes itself here creates a bridge for smaller businesses to follow, making the path easier for mid-sized German companies considering their own expansion.
Why German Companies Keep Choosing the UAE
Over the past 20 years, we have assisted hundreds of companies from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in relocating to the UAE. The UAE provides something unique for DACH businesses: a perfect location between Europe and Asia, a regulatory environment that works, tax advantages that make a real difference to your bottom line, and increasingly, a business community where German precision and planning are understood and valued. When we started helping German companies establish here almost two decades ago, it often felt like we were explaining an opportunity that wasn’t widely understood. Today, business owners are not asking if the UAE makes sense. They are asking when to make the move.
What Holds Companies Back and Why Waiting Has Costs
In our experience, German business owners who hesitate about expanding into the UAE usually have concerns about complexity or timing. The complexity concern is understandable but often overestimated. The UAE’s business setup process is actually quite straightforward when handled properly. The bigger risk is trying to do it without proper guidance and having to restructure later. Timing is the more challenging issue. Many business owners wait for the “perfect moment” to expand internationally, but perfect moments rarely exist in business. While companies debate timing, opportunities pass by.
Why the Current Environment Favors Expansion
The current environment presents several advantages for German companies considering expansion in the UAE. The regulatory landscape is mature and stable, banking relationships are easier to establish, professional services infrastructure is sophisticated, and the German business community here provides networking and support that didn’t exist years ago. Most importantly, the UAE’s market positioning becomes more valuable each year. As global trade patterns shift and new markets emerge, having operations here provides flexibility that purely European setups cannot match.
Impact on Existing DACH Businesses
For German, Austrian, and Swiss companies already operating in the UAE, DWS’s arrival brings tangible benefits. Major financial institutions create deeper capital markets, more sophisticated banking services, and expanded networking opportunities.
Existing DACH businesses often find that having prestigious German names in the market enhances their credibility with local partners and clients. It validates their decision to establish here and usually opens doors that might have been harder to access before. The growing German business community also means better access to German-speaking professionals, suppliers, and service providers.
Comprehensive UAE Business Solutions
With nearly 20 years of experience helping German, Austrian, and Swiss companies establish successful operations in the UAE, TME Services understands both the opportunities and the practical steps required to realize them.
Our German-speaking team has guided hundreds of businesses through the setup process, ensuring they get it right from the start and avoid the costly restructuring that can occur when companies attempt expansion without proper guidance.
Our comprehensive services are designed to support you every step of your business journey in the UAE:
- Company Formation: We guide you through all aspects of setting up your company, whether in a free zone or on the mainland, ensuring you choose the best option for your business.
- Visa and Emirates ID Services: We streamline the process of securing visas and Emirates IDs for you and your employees, allowing you to focus on your business operations.
- Accounting: Our team ensures your business stays compliant with local financial regulations, which is crucial for maintaining good standing in Dubai’s business community.
- Tax: We help manage Dubai’s tax environment, ensuring your business remains compliant while optimizing your tax position.
- Business Consulting: Leveraging our deep understanding of Dubai’s market, we provide valuable insights and help you develop effective strategies to succeed.
Visit our services page to learn more about everything we do.
