Gulf 'free zones' compete for business

If you want to start a business in the Gulf, you need a local partner, unless you're in a 'free zone'.

These industrial and commercial areas allow foreign companies to cut through red tape and have full control of their operations.

There are dozens of 'free zones' in the region, so does the free zone you choose boil down simply to a matter of cost and convenience, or are there other factors at play?

Jonathan Frewin reports.