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Thriving business community
Through its progressive and dynamic ecosystem, the emirate is empowering companies to flourish and succeed.
Investment potential for business
Dubai has proven a solid proposition for investors and companies through a robust legal structure, pro-business regulatory environment, and strong corporate governance. Its laws and regulations are transparent, agile and designed to preserve the rights of organisations and individuals.
What’s more, Dubai’s global trade continues to boom.
What’s more, Dubai’s global trade continues to boom.
US$ 330 billion
Non-oil trade
Dubai’s external non-oil trade in 2018 is valued at around a third of a trillion dollars.
30+
Free zones
Dubai is home to more than 30 free zones
US$145 billion
Trade in free zones
The city’s free trade zones account for almost US$145 billion.
170 new companies open in Jumeirah Lake Towers at the DMCC Free zone every month.
Free Zones
Dubai’s trade-friendly environment pioneered free zones have 100% foreign ownership, tax-free policies, low-cost set up and renewal structures. This has led to businesses of all sizes, from publicly listed entities to start-ups, attempting to capitalise on Dubai’s strategic position as the gateway to economies across Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
200,000
Registered companies
Dubai free zones attract 56% of the world’s Fortune 500 companies and more than 200,000 registered companies.
1/3
MENA investors
Dubai has seen a large influx of SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises) and boasts one third of all MENA investors and 19 venture capitalists – the highest in the region.
Ease of doing business
The UAE is the leading country in the Arab world in ‘Ease of Doing Business’, according to the World Bank’s latest rankings. Dubai was ranked 8th in the February 2020 Global Financial Centres Index, and 6th worldwide in terms of reputation.
This reflects not just ease of setting up, but its established trade and industry networks and multi-sectoral efforts that have been made to increase efficiency.
This reflects not just ease of setting up, but its established trade and industry networks and multi-sectoral efforts that have been made to increase efficiency.
Initiatives for success
Smart Dubai Office has launched over 130 initiatives in partnership with government and private sector entities. Some key initiatives include the Dubai Data Initiative, the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, the Happiness Agenda, the Dubai A.I. Roadmap and the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which are all aimed at making business more efficient, effective and less time intensive.
4,692
Instant licenses
Over 4500 Instant Licenses were issued since the launch of the service three years ago until 2020. Mentioned by the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector in Dubai Economy
73.5%
Commercial licenses
3,448 of Instant Licenses issued up to 2020 were commercial.
26.5%
Professional licenses
1,244 of Instant Licenses issued up to 2020 were in the professional category.
Smartest city in 2021
Dubai has an ambitious goal to be the world’s smartest city by 2021. And savvy businesses realise the region has become an international magnet for tech-based businesses. According to the latest Smart Cities Index, Dubai is now one of the world’s top five cities using tech to improve residents’ lives.
GITEX Dubai
AI and IoT
The emirate is leveraging emerging technologies and initiatives such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to make business more personalised, seamless, and impactful.
The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it. Dubai is built for business within a safe and secure environment that continues to bring companies from all continents to its shores.
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