DED sees 9% increase in licenses

The Department of Economic Development (DED) witnessed a nine per cent increase in licenses issued in January compared to the same month of last year as economic activity in Dubai remained on an upward curve. While 1,310 licenses were issued in January 2012, 1,428 were issued in January 2013 reflecting increasing investor confidence in Dubai. The commercial sector saw a 69 per cent increase in the number of licenses, the highest among all sectors in January 2013, while the professional sector accounted for a 28 per cent rise, followed by the tourism and industrial sectors at two per cent and one per cent respectively. The total number of licenses amended in January 2013 was 5,937, while the total number of renewed licenses reached 8,085. The total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 48,806, compared to 44,376 in January 2012, an increase of 10 per cent. The number of trade names issued in January 2013 reached 5,809, up five per cent from January 2012 (5,539), and the number of initial approvals increased eight per cent to 2,525 from 2,347. The total number of commercial activities licensed in January 2013 was 3,515, with General trade leading the list of the top 10 licensed activities (184 licences) followed by Tiling of floors and walls (90 licenses), Carpentry and flooring (89), Dyes \'&\' paints (88), Readymade garments (81), Sanitary extensions \'&\' wares (80), Installation of suspended ceilings and light cut-outs (80), Computers and accessories (78), Computer systems and software (75), and Installation of air conditioning systems, ventilation and air purification (72). The number of professional activities licensed in January 2013 reached 944. Special-purpose facility activity led the list of the top 10 licensed activities in this category with 88 licences, followed by Cleaning services for buildings and residences (51), Restaurants (38), Consulting and management studies (27), Cafes (22), Transactions follow-up services (22), Printing and copying services (21), Business services (21), Beauty and personal care centre for ladies (21), and Ladies\' salons (20). In the tourism sector, Inbound tourism was the leader with 17 licenses, followed by Travel and tourism agent (3), Hotel management, Certified airline agent, Foreign tour operator, and Leasing of hotel apartments with one license each. In the industrial activities segment, Metal and welding workshop industry led the list of licensed activities followed by Plastic covers, Ice, Cocoa and confectionery, Tents and umbrellas, Paper, Packaging, Paper bags, Manufacturing of napkins and paper towels and Office paper products.