Curtis Partner, John Balouziyeh, Authors New Guide to Investing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC

Curtis is pleased to announce the publication of Foreign Investment in Saudi Arabia and the GCC States, a guide to investing in the GCC region authored by Curtis partner, John Balouziyeh.

The handbook gives an overview of international trade, corporate governance, investment treaties, environmental law, human rights and international arbitration in the Middle East’s most significant economies.

Published by Thomson Reuters, the book is praised by former U.K. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir John Jenkins, as “an essential guide to any foreign investor navigating the rapidly changing economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. It explains in clear terms the complex legal, cultural and social frameworks of the GCC states, whose economies are governed increasingly by law and regulation, rather than custom and tradition.”

Orlando Vidal, former Head of Compliance and Investigations for multiple international law firms in the Middle East, commends the book as “an indispensable guide for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of and exciting opportunities in foreign investment in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. This book offers unparalleled insights into the region’s evolving legal landscape, making it a must-have for investors, legal professionals, and policymakers alike.”

The GCC states – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – have in recent years become magnets for foreign investment. In order to promote economic transformation and diversification, the GCC states have embarked on a range of projects in the infrastructure, transportation, urban planning and renewable energy sectors, backed by funding from extensive reserves of natural resources.

The book helps foreign investors and their legal counsel navigate the GCC’s regulatory landscape and mitigate risk and uncertainty, helping them grasp investment opportunities. It expounds on the legislative framework for foreign investment in the GCC states, neatly illustrating the interaction between Islamic law and legislation. The book covers bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, international arbitration, trade and investment framework agreements, regional dispute settlement tribunals and legislation governing business organizations, agencies, capital markets, government procurement and taxation. It also highlights emerging topics in foreign investment, including environmental law, sanctions, labor rights, renewable energy and human rights.

The book is available through Thomson Reuters, Wildy and Sweet & Maxwell.

Please click here to download the book’s front matter, including the Introduction and Sir John Jenkins’ Foreword.

For more information, contact the author, John Balouziyeh, directly at Curtis Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP.