Over 20,000 requirements to set up businesses in Abu Dhabi have been cancelled as part of an ongoing procedural overhaul led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
Having grown to a total of 26 participating local and federal partner entities, the reductions exercise first unveiled in August and amounting to 71 percent of the total 28,788 requirements previously in place, aims to facilitate investment and make doing business in the emirate easier.
The cancellations of requirements effectively align the emirate’s regulatory environment with economic growth priorities and span various sectors such as healthcare, transportation, food and agriculture, public health, and environment, ADDED said in a statement.
ADDED said it will continue to capitalise on further collaborations with other government entities as it focuses on building an “open and efficient integrated business environment” as part of plans to position the emirate as a preferred place to do business, both regionally and globally.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport’s (DMT) public health sector reduced requirements by 95 percent from 9,654 to 511 covering 1215 activities, while its transport sector reduced requirements by 78 percent from 523 to 115.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) reduced by 74 percent from 6,587 to 1,716 requirements covering 288 activities while the Abu Dhabi Sports Council reduced by 91 percent from 949 to 82 covering 58 activities and the Department of Health reduced by 56 percent from 1512 to 672 covering 84 activities.
Abu Dhabi Police reduced by 79 percent from 387 to 80 while the Securities and Commodities Authority reduced by 40 percent from 1160 to 700 requirements.
ADDED said it has also reduced its licensing requirements. Total requirements for 118 business activities regulated by ADDED were reduced from 709 to 162, a 77 percent drop.
Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of the Department, said: “The Government of Abu Dhabi’s decision to reduce the combined commercial activities’ licenses requirements demonstrates its readiness to take practical steps wherever necessary to promote the emirate’s competitiveness regionally and globally.”
He added: “We are telling the world that Abu Dhabi will continuously seek to enhance its regulations, systems, and services making up the ecosystem necessary for any businesses and investors to thrive.”
Sameh Al Qubaisi – executive director of ADDED’s Executive Affairs Office, said: “Abu Dhabi’s multi-pronged economic diversification strategy is aimed at developing a globally competitive business environment for all.
“Our ongoing efforts toward facilitating an optimal business-friendly marketplace are testament to our goal of attracting innovative global talents from all sectors and industries, thus reinforcing a strong knowledge-based economy.”
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