The “Trader” license, launched by the Dubai Economic Registration and Licensing Sector in 2017, to enable online business and social media platforms, is seeing increasing interest from startups in Dubai.
During the first quarter of this year, 943 new "merchant" licenses were issued, with a growth of 179%, compared to the same period last year. Moreover, 102 licenses were issued last April, bringing the total number of “merchant” licenses issued by Dubai Economy so far to 5353 licenses, reflecting the growing momentum of e-shopping in the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement issued by Dubai Economy, yesterday.
Positive growth
The “Trader” license contributes to supporting the positive growth of e-commerce in the Emirates, and encouraging increasing numbers of consumers to shop online. It also enables companies to face the challenges during the exceptional circumstances and repercussions of the corona’s pandemic, especially as it is an approved regulatory framework from the Dubai economy, To establish and lead businesses online and ensure their sustainability.
The “Trader” license provided new opportunities for many innovative activities and emerging sectors, by finding reliable solutions for ambitious startups and young entrepreneurs, and the facilities necessary to conduct business legally to enter the market, test their new products and services by offering them to consumers, and stimulating them to expand.
The "Information Technology" group, which includes 17 activities, topped the list of groups in the "Merchant" license, issued from January to March 2020, followed by "fashion and fashion" with 33 activities, and then "personal and commercial services" with 13 activities, while the group " Concerts »on eight activities, and« food preparation »on seven activities.
87 groups
The total number of groups included in the "merchant" license reaches 87 diverse groups, while 10 activities can be added to one license, provided that they are consistent within the activity category, and the activity "Training Services for Lifestyle Development" tops the list of activities licensed since the license was launched, followed by activity " Marketing services through social media channels, "" project management services "," marketing management ", and" electronic portals ".
business women
The "merchant" license has gained great interest among businesswomen, and has acquired 60% of the licenses issued so far, which confirms its role in enabling women entrepreneurs to take advantage of innovative channels to launch their projects successfully. This innovative solution provided by Dubai Economy has enabled companies to face the challenges arising from the current conditions, and to achieve maximum benefit from them for the sake of sustainability and business continuity.
Dubai Economy seeks through the license to organize and facilitate the process of doing business electronically, in addition to enabling companies to communicate with customers and promote growth alike.
No violations or closures
The Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Sector in the Dubai Economy has stated that it has implemented a new inspection campaign for stores and commercial establishments, which is permitted to practice its activities during the current phase of the plan to reopen markets in the emirate.
He stressed that the inspection campaign did not result in any violations or closings of shops or commercial establishments, while only 14 facilities were alerted, due to the lack of physical distance stickers.
He pointed out that the absence of any violations or closings, confirms the size of commercial establishments' commitment to precautionary measures to limit the spread of the Corona virus (Covid-19), such as wearing masks and physical spacing, opening measurement rooms, and not performing unauthorized promotional offers In the stage of reopening the markets, indicating that the total stores that met the requirements and precautionary measures reached 474 stores.
During the process of inspection in open markets, the number of shops that met the conditions and precautionary measures reached 394 stores, without closing, violating or alerting any shop.
The inspection campaign focused on the stores located in Naif, Satwa, Al-Riffa, Al-Daghaya, Abu Hail, Al-Rashidiya, Al-Qusais, Al-Karama, Muhaisnah, Gold Market, Freej Al-Murar.
The fieldwork team also searched four commercial centers in the Deira area, and the inspection resulted in 14 warnings of the absence of physical distance stickers, and the absence of any violations, while the number of stores that met the requirements and precautionary measures reached 80 stores.
Dubai - Emirates today
Dubai Chamber membership
The “Merchant” license is granted membership in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry for commercial activities and other benefits, including banking facilities, obtaining the customer’s customs code to facilitate import and export through dubaitrade.ae, temporary employment services, participation in exhibitions, conferences and training workshops, and displaying products in Consumer selling points, saving workspace.
60%
Of the licenses issued by businesswomen.
The group "Information Technology" topped the list of groups in the "dealer" license.