DED Dubai eases licence renewal, payment of fees and fines

New package allows for the payment through convenient instalments within 12 months

The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has launched a package to make it much easier for businesses to clear fines and renew their licences. The package will allow businesses to pay their fees and fines in easy instalments, freeze their trade licence for a year and seek an amicable settlement with DED on commercial violations.

The service package is part of a plan to enable businesses overcome obstacles and benefit from credit that would allow them maintain competitiveness. DED recently exempted companies and business establishments in Dubai from all fines and granted them until the end of 2018 to renew their licences.

Mohammad Al Shehi, Deputy CEO, Corporate Support Services sector at DED, said: “The Department of Economic Development is committed to enhancing competitiveness in Dubai through extending value-added services that help business owners continue their activity and sustain their business. Eliminating all obstacles faced by companies is important to develop the economy and create a competitive environment conducive to investment in Dubai.”

The licensee can benefit from the instalment if fines and fees have accumulated for more than a year. Investors can temporarily freeze doing business while retaining their licence.

The waiver applies to fines issued before April 14, 2018 and for fines issued after this date, licensees can take advantage of the offer of amicable settlement and pay in instalments. The licensee requesting amicable settlement must not have benefited from any other exemptions following the first fine issued after April 14, 2018. As such licence holders are entitled to a 50 per cent reduction in the basic value of penalties issued for the first violation.