Dubai sees 25% growth in new business licences

Dubai continues to see steady growth in new companies setting up shop.

A total of 45,653 business licences were issued in the first half of 2022, which is a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), 55 per cent of the new permits were professional and 45 per cent were commercial with the Bur Dubai area accounting for the largest share (31,604), followed by Deira (14,022), and Hatta (27).

The top sub-regions were: Al Fahidi, Burj Khalifa, Al Marrar, Port Saeed, Dubai Investment Park 1, Naif, Al Quoz 3, Trade Centre 1, Al Barsha 1, and Jebel Ali Industrial 1.

Sole Establishment firms topped the list of new licences during H1 2022 (30 per cent), followed by civil companies (25 per cent), and limited liability companies (22 per cent).

"The latest figures released by the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector at the DET in Dubai underline the success of measures taken to ensure business continuity and provide the option of full ownership to foreign investors," said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of DET.

"The new data also reflects Dubai’s dynamic entrepreneurial landscape, its globally competitive offerings for businesses and the confidence that local, regional and global investors have in its growth prospects," he added.

The BRL sector also reported that 14,654 Instant Licences were issued during the first half of 2022.

The instant licence is issued within five minutes on invest.dubai.ae platform.

#Dubai issued 45,653 new business licences in the first half (H1) of 2022, a growth of 25% compared to H1 2021 when 36,647 licenses were issued. https://t.co/8jONekmvgY pic.twitter.com/GKdUrq8cxi

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 19, 2022