Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has introduced the ‘Dubai Unified Licence’ (DUL) for all businesses in Dubai, aiming to simplify various business processes through a single commercial identification system.
The DUL is provided to existing and newly established businesses with either mainland or free zone licenses. In collaboration with the Dubai Free Zones Council, this initiative consolidates all economic establishments into a unified digital registry for better data management, collation, and sharing.
Its primary goal is to standardise and streamline Dubai’s business procedures according to global best practices, consistently maintaining updated company records within the registry.
“Seamlessly integrating with Dubai’s advanced digital technology infrastructure, it harnesses our smart city capabilities to drive business growth and strengthen Dubai’s position among the world’s top three global cities,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
The DUL significantly simplifies setup and operational procedures for businesses, reducing the time required to manage operations. This streamlined process enhances Dubai’s attractiveness as a business-friendly destination, particularly appealing to international investors and entrepreneurs.
The unified digital platform ensures increased transparency and accessibility to business-related information, contributing to Dubai’s reputation as a trustworthy investment destination. These improvements align with Dubai’s ambition to be among the top global cities for business and investment.
Businesses undergo validation, verification, and screening to receive their unique digital identity.
“The successful completion of the ‘Dubai Unified Licence’ initiative is a testament to the teamwork and constructive cooperation among the Dubai Free Zones Council, the Free Zones Authorities in Dubai and the DET team,” said Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Secretary-General of the Dubai Free Zones Council. “It has established a model for synergising efforts across various specialities, achieving a unified licence system in record time.”
Over 50,000 licenses have been issued by DET to date, with plans for more to cover all registered companies in Dubai.
DET collaborated closely with the Dubai Free Zones Council to implement the DUL initiative seamlessly. This partnership ensured comprehensive business facilitation across Dubai.
The DUL allows easy access to company information and facilitates data sharing between government entities, the private sector, and service providers. It reinforces compliance with national AML/CFT strategies, ensuring the UAE’s economic integrity and the global financial system.
Key features of the DUL include:
- Access to verified data.
- Simplified issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
- Provision of unified business information.
The system aims to facilitate future bank account openings for Dubai-based companies.
“Implementing the DUL simplifies and streamlines consent-driven data interchange and transactions between companies, service providers and government establishments,” said Ahmad Khalifa Al Qaizi Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Business Licence Corporation. “It will enhance the customer experience and expedite commercial transactions for businesses dealing with public and private entities.
Businesses can utilise their unique DUL QR Codes on-premises and online platforms instead of traditional trade licenses. These QR Codes allow easy retrieval of company information for government entities, service providers, suppliers, and customers.
DET’s Dubai Business Licence Corporation will manage the DUL system, overseeing its operation, development, and supervision. The Dubai Free Zones Council will collaborate with each free zone to regularly update license data and contact information.
