DUBAI// Entrepreneurs will soon be able to open new businesses within hours of completing an online form as part of a policy to cut red tape and streamline the licensing process.
From May 15, businesspeople will be able to register their company and partners with the courts via an online memorandum of association.
This allows them to open their business for a 120-day grace period, within which time they can complete the rest of documentation work.
It was launched by Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (Ded) and Dubai Courts Tuesday and is part of the ongoing Dubai Smart Government initiative.
“At the moment it can take more than a week to get all the paperwork, attestation and inspections done before a business is allowed to open,” said Mohammed Alsaadi, chief executive of the Ded business registration and licensing sector.
“With this online service they can begin operating within hours after they complete the memorandum of association form.”
The details of partners are entered into the system using My ID – a government online portal – detailing user names and passwords on their individual accounts.
The Ejari number is then entered, which will generate a payment voucher, and the licence will appear on their smartphones once payment is complete.
“At the moment, all the partners of a business have to be together to file the documents. But this new system will allow them to do this from anywhere,” Mr Alsaadi said.
This will provide them with a 120-day licence to start their company while completing the other paper work. Completing the documents is mandatory for a business to continue operating.
This system does not apply to high-risk businesses where public health is an issue, such as restaurants, hospitals or clinics.
“These types of businesses will not be eligible for the new system as they will have to undergo municipality, civil defence and other checks to make sure they are safe,” Mr Alsaadi said.
“We are progressively bringing our service delivery on to a smart platform and have already launched smart applications such as Sallety, which is the first of its kind in the region,” said Sami Al Qamzi, Ded director general.
“Such initiatives also show that the private and public sectors can work together and align their strategies to ensure competitiveness and added value to customers.”
In addition, Ded has also launched a guidebook providing all the information required to launch a business in Dubai. It will soon be available on a smartphone app called Business in Dubai or via www.dubaided.gov.ae
nhanif@thenational.ae
