It seems to be business as usual in Abu Dhabi. A total of 2,448 new business licences were issued in the UAE capital in the second quarter.

The overall number of new commercial licences registered by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (Added) Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC) during the first half of 2016 has touched 4,787. The first quarter saw 2,339 licences issued while the second quarter had 2,448 licences, which brought the overall number of licences in the emirate of Abu Dhabi to 110,445 licences.

Khalifa bin Salem Al Mansouri, Added’s acting undersecretary, said: “The ongoing surge in the registration of new businesses despite the negative effects and crises in the global markets reflects the interest shown by local and foreign businessmen and investors in seizing economic opportunities in Abu Dhabi.”

Al Mansouri pointed out that within its strategy 2016-2020, the Added seeks to develop commercial activity by introducing the world’s best practices in doing business.

The initial results of the first half of this year in terms of commercial licensing reflects the ongoing demand by local and foreign businessmen in various commercial activities. This comes at a time when the Added has put in place procedures and facilities that aim to streamline the process of licensing for any commercial activity in Abu Dhabi.

The Abu Dhabi Business Centre bids to improve the emirate’s business environment and investment climate by improving the services it offers to businessmen and investors. Recently, the ADBC announced a 50 per cent reduction in the number of commercial licensing procedures, a similar reduction in the number of days required to start a business and a 30 per cent reduction in the average cost of issuing a commercial licence.

Meanwhile, work is under way to finalise a unified commercial licensing system in Abu Dhabi by next year.

Munif Al Mansoori, executive director of ADBC, said the centre has launched a number of initiatives in the past few months, including a fast-track renewal application, in addition to 14 licensing e-services.

These include booking, renewal and search of trade name, issuance, amendment and linking of commercial licence, commercial licensing inquiry service (ADBC information desk), the issuance of permits, certificates and announcements for commercial licences, licence inquiry through the portal of Abu Dhabi government, G2G commercial licence inquiries, GIS inquiries, the e-inspector, electronic connection with government agencies, commercial electronic directory, electronic archiving and fine payment.

The ADBC has completed electronic connectivity with 27 local and federal government agencies, which makes electronic licensing transactions amount to 92 per cent of the total, he said.

“As the electronic connection with all local and federal government bodies becomes operational in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, ADBC’s clients will be able to issue new licences within two to four working days,” added Al Mansouri.

The ADBC monitored the licensing trends for the second quarter. Commercial permits accounted for 4,587 new licences, followed by 215 occupational licences, 30 professional licences and three agricultural, fisheries and livestock licences.