The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has launched ‘Happiness Lounges' in three of its service centres, creating an exceptional environment of high quality services and world-class efficiencies to customers visiting these centres for transactions related to business registration and licensing. The initiative follows the order of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to transform all service centres in government departments into centres for customer happiness in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. 

The DED Lounge in the Business Village, the VIT Lounge in Business Village, and the VIP Lounge in DED's Al Twar Centre branch will be the new Happiness Lounges. Omar Bushahab, CEO of the Business Registration & Licensing (BRL) sector, DED, said the new lounges reflect Dubai's business approach centred on customer happiness and positivity. 

"Through these Happiness Lounges we are highlighting our commitment to translating the vision of Dubai and spreading happiness among customers as well as employees who play a key role in delivering our services to the happiness and satisfaction of our customers. The Happiness Lounges also fit into the efforts to strengthen Dubai's position as an ideal destination for investment and business growth where ease of procedures enable businessmen and investors to focus on developing their businesses without wasting time on procedures," added Bushahab. 

Customers can use the two Happiness Lounges in the Business Village to complete a variety of DED's business registration and licensing transactions including: initial approvals, reserve trade name, amend articles of association, create new mail account, license renewal, update contact details, cancellations and modifications of licenses. The VIP Lounge in Al Twar lounge also offers fast and efficient services from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and Notary services, in addition to DED's business registration and licensing services. 

"The Business Registration & Licensing sector strives to improve performance and efficiencies as well as provide a distinguished service environment to ensure the happiness of the business community and meet their needs. It's part of DED's commitment to enhance competitiveness and promote sustainable economic development. Eliminating barriers and facilitating business registration and licensing will reflect positively on the economic environment in Dubai and enable UAE score higher in the Doing Business Report of the World Bank," said Bushahab. 

Omar Al Meheiri, Director of Development and Follow-up in BRL said DED is keen to bring in innovative mechanisms and international best practices to make customers happy. 

"We try to expand our service delivery channels and provide a single window for varied government transactions as part of providing an advanced business environment and enhancing our customer relations. Our focus is on offering the best solutions that meet the needs of various customer segments and keep them happy and satisfied," Al Meheiri explained, adding that BRL realises the importance of redoubling its efforts towards serving the public better and supporting the evolution of Dubai as a competitive place to do business in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

The Happiness Lounges form part of DED's continued efforts to strengthen a culture of happiness and satisfaction across its service channels. Recently, the Dubai Business Club, another novel initiative from DED became the first in the UAE to win a 6-Star rating for providing exceptional experience for customer happiness across all service channels. The club is successful in achieving a qualitative leap in raising service efficiency to global standards, offering services of more than six different government bodies under a single roof. 

Source: WAM