Setting up a business in Dubai

Hi! Anyone here knows if the local partner that is required in setting up a business really needs to be the native Dubai citizen ("nationals") or the local partner can be anyone that has a resident visa?

It has to be an Emirati. But you can set up your own business without a local partner in the free zones such as Tecom (Media City, Internet City, Knowledge Village), Jebel Ali Free Zone etc etc.