Asmaa Eldesoky
Asmaa is an associate of the regional law firm, BREMER, and part of the firm's Antitrust & Merger Control team. She advises international corporates and PE firms on merger control, antitrust as well as FDI matters including investment protection and general corporate matters in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the larger Middle East. She works in English and Arabic languages.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2022
Experience
- BREMER Law Firm (2023 - Present)
Qualifications
- Public Law diploma (2023)
- Bachelor of Law LL.B (2022)
Education
- Ain Shams University
2 Contributions by Asmaa Eldesoky
PRACTICE NOTES
Lebanon: Foreign Investment—No General FDI Screening; Incentives, Sector-Specific Restrictions, Real Estate Limits and Licensing (Investment Law 2001)
1. What is the applicable legislation?
Lebanon has no standalone law on foreign direct investment (FDI). Rather, rules relevant to foreign investment are set out in the Investment Law 360/2001 (Investment Law 2001), which applies equally to overseas and local investors. The Investment Law 2001 functions as an investment promotion framework offering incentives to invest in Lebanon. It does not create supervisory bodies or impose limits on foreign investment. Any such limitations arise under other statutes, notably the Law on the Lebanese Code of Commerce 304/1942 (Code of Commerce 1942), the Law on Publications 1962, the Gun Laws of Lebanon 137/1959 (as amended), and the Law on Foreign Acquisition of Real Property 296/2001.
2. Which government or other body (or bodies) reviews foreign investments?
Foreign investment in Lebanon is in general handled by the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), created pursuant to the Investment Law 2001. IDAL operates under the Ministry of Economy and Trade, which supervises its work and ensures alignment with Lebanon’s wider economic policy. IDAL does not have a mandate to screen foreign investors on strategic or security grounds...
Competition
PRACTICE NOTES
Qatar foreign investment control: 2019–2020 reforms, GCC treatment, sectoral 100% ownership, free zone exclusions, QIPA approvals, mandatory suspension, penalties, confidentiality, and merger control interface
1. What is the applicable legislation?
Qatar’s foreign direct investment (FDI) framework shifted in 2019/2020, aligning with the nation’s wider economic goals. For years it was highly restrictive. Under Foreign Investment Law 13/2000, non-Qataris were required to channel all investments via a Qatari entity, partnering with local nationals who had to own at least 51% of the vehicle. Although foreigners could petition the Minister of Commerce and Industry to raise their stake to 100%, approvals were seldom issued. The new Foreign Investment Law 1/2019 (FDI Law 2019) and its Executive Regulations, Resolution 44/2020 (Executive Regulations 2020), eased these ownership limits. From the FDI Law’s introduction, foreign investors may hold up to 100% of a Qatari private company operating in specified sectors, such as agriculture, selected industrial activities, health care, education, tourism, certain activities in the energy sector, mining, business consultancy, technical consultancy, information technology, cultural, sports, and entertainment. Beyond these areas, foreign participation remains capped at 49%. Furthermore, foreigners may generally only hold 49% in...
Competition
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