The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) issued 14,185 licences for various businesses in 2007.
This marked a 13 per cent increase over the number of licences issued in 2006, the department said in a statement.
A report published by DED’s Economic Studies Department stated that in 2007, the most number of licences were issued for commercial trading establishments – 11,344, followed by licences for professionals (2,408), tourism-related businesses (239) and industrial establishments (194).
DED also issued 637 Intlaq licences to UAE nationals for setting up small, home-based businesses.
Of all trade licences issued, 1,607 licences were for general trading, 1,206 were for watch and spare parts business, 1,130 for ready-made garments and 1,005 for gifts trade business.
Licence renewal recorded an impressive 138pc increase in 2007 to reach 65,888 licences as compared to 27,738 renewals in 2006. Modified licences recorded a 31pc increase over 2006, with 39,690 licences being modified.
The Intlaq programme which was launched in 1999 by the DED registered resounding success achieving a growth of 69pc in 2007 with 637 licences issued compared to 378 Intlaq licences in 2006. Under the Intliaq programme, commercial trading licences constituted 85pc of those issued.
Permanent as well as short-term commercial permits issued by the DED in 2007 recorded a 31pc increase to touch 4198 permits as compared to 3212 permits in 2006.
DED released 3,176 trademarks in 2007 compared to 2,131 trademarks during 2006 thus recording a 49pc increase. The short term permits registered a decrease of 31pc to 1,072 in 2007 as against the previous year.
DED issued 228 licences to foreign companies in 2007 recording a growth of 22pc over 2006. These include licences to companies from the UK, South Korea, Germany, India, Spain, USA and Japan, among other countries.
The report stated that 10,171 licences were issued in 2007 for the top ten economic activities registered by DED accounting for a 24pc share of the total licences issued. In 2006, these activities accounted for 9,165 licences and 25pc of the total licences.
The number of inspections undertaken by DED officers in 2007 reached 38,881. There was a drop in fines issued by DED demonstrating the increased awareness among businessmen and investors about DED’s rules and regulations.
Cases regarding trademark conflicts dropped by 29pc compared to 2006. Incidents related to consumer protection increased by 29pc over 2006. Remarkably, 95pc of the cases related to consumer protection that were presented in 2006 and 2007 were solved.
According to the report, the high quality work of DED employees during the year resulted in a 39pc increase in the speed at which transactions were processed.
'DED provides a varied and integrated bouquet of services ensuring that time and effort is saved by our clients and all their requirements are met effectively. The Report from the Economic Studies Department confirms the success of our initiatives and procedures, and affirms that investor interest in undertaking diverse businesses in Dubai continues to grow,” said Ali Ibrahim, deputy director general for executive affairs at DED.
“The department is strengthening efforts to attract further investment from abroad by maintaining and enhancing the excellent economic environment and providing incentives to investors, thus confirming Dubai's leading position as an economic powerhouse,' he said. – TradeArabia News Service