DED issues around 15,000 licences in H1

The Department of Economic Development in Dubai’s Business Registration and Licensing section issued 14,737 licences during the first half of the year.

Of the licences issued, 52 per cent were commercial, 45 per cent professional, 2 per cent tourism-related and 1 per cent related to industry, the DED said.

The “Business Map” digital platform of DED, designed to illustrate the economic ecosystem of Dubai, recorded 81 licences being issued daily during the first half of the year.

The Business Map showed that new business owners accounted for 88 per cent of the licences issued during the first half.

“Women increased their share among new business owners to 12 per cent, underlining Dubai’s importance as an ideal launch pad for all entrepreneurs and investors,” the DED said. The top 10 nationalities that secured licences were Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Egyptians, British, Saudis, Jordanians, Chinese, Filipinos and Sudanese.

The DED said Bur Dubai area accounted for the largest share at 7,584 of the new licences issued in the first half followed by Deira (7,135). The top subregions were: Burj Khalifa (1,747); Al Garhoud (1,284); Port Saeed (986); followed by Al Fahidi; Al Barsha 1; Dubai World Trade Centre 1; Al Marrar; Al Khubaisi; Naif and Oud Metha.

During the first six months, the DED said the number of Trade Name Reservations reached 22,456, while 17,798 Initial Approvals and 16,084 Licence Modifcations were granted.

The DED said it recorded 73,404 transactions for licence renewal in the first half of 2019, including 34,250 related to car renewal via text message, while BRL issued 1,149 instant licences. Of the total number of licences issued during the first six months, 7,392 were for Limited Liability Companies, 3,883 for Sole Proprietorship companies, and 2,686 for Civil Companies, the DED said.