The Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector of Dubai Economy issued 2,523 new licences since the beginning of March 2020. Among the new licences issued, 58% were professional (1,900), and 39.3% commercial with (590), and together the licences helped create created 6,713 jobs.

The figures recorded by the ‘Business Map’ digital platform of Dubai Economy confirms the effective support given by Dubai Economy to reinforcing Dubai as a global centre of finance and business. The figures also demonstrate the strong co-ordination between the government and the private sector, and the latter’s role in achieving the vision of the UAE, and Dubai, to excel in all fields.

The BRL sector focuses on encouraging the setting up of new companies and is committed to strengthening relations with entrepreneurs as well as enhancing awareness business development and doing business in Dubai.

Overall, 18,037 business registration and licensing transactions were recorded since the beginning of March 2020, and 76% (13,629) of the total transactions were through the outsourced centres of Dubai Economy, which demonstrates their vital role in delivering value-added services to the public.

License Renewal accounted for 6,672 transactions so far this month, while 3,367 (50%) transactions were related to Auto Renewal via text messages. Trade Name Reservation accounted for 3,343 transactions, and the number of Initial Approvals reached 2,989. The numbers point to Dubai’s growing appeal as a business centre and the increasing business confidence in the strength of the local economy.

The BRL sector issued 96 instant licenses since the beginning of March 2020. The Instant License, which won the ‘Flag’ of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Programme for Smart Government 2019, is issued in a single step without the need for either the Memorandum of Association or an existing location for the first year. On the other hand, the number of DED Trader licences, which allow to conduct business activities on websites and social media channels, reached 179.

Deira accounted for the largest share (1,503) in terms of the location of the licences distributed, followed by Bur Dubai (1,019), and Hatta (1). The top sub-regions were: Al Garhoud, Burj Khalifa, Oud Al Muteena 3, Al Nahda 1, Al Khabaisi, Oud Metha, Trade Centre 1, Umm Ramool, Al Fahidi, and Port Saeed.

Real estate, leasing & business services accounted for 54.3% of the economic activities licensed since the beginning of March 2020, followed by: Trade & repair services (21.7%), Building & construction (9.7%), Community & personal services (6.3%), Transport, storage & communications (3%), Manufacturing (2.8%), Hotels group (1.8%), Financial brokerage (0.8%), Contracting group (0.6%), Education (0.3%), Health & labour (0.3%), Agriculture (0.3%) and Electricity, gas and water (0.1%).

Dubai Economy works closely with the private sector to maintain a dynamic business environment as well as improve ease of doing business and meet investor aspirations. The goal is to achieve a quantum leap in the business environment and economic performance of Dubai, thus attracting further regional and international enterprises to the emirate.

The Business Map (www.dubaibusinessmap.ae) seeks to reflect the economic realities in Dubai by providing vital data on each license category including their numbers and distribution as well as investor trends on a monthly basis. It also includes an interactive guide explaining the geographic distribution and concentration of major business activities and the rate of urban growth in terms of expanding neighbourhoods and business licences.