The Executive Council of Dubai, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, adopted the strategy of e-commerce in the Emirate of Dubai. The meeting also discussed a number of topics on the agenda. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “The UAE in general and the Emirate of Dubai in particular are among the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the Middle East and North Africa, as a result of the adoption of the best policies, strategic plans and smart government initiatives that have embraced digital transformation. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has succeeded in increasing investor confidence in the sector and the opportunities for its growth and development.

'Dubai is a platform for the world's largest e-commerce companies, due to the emirate's flexible business and investment environment, government integration with the private sector, its logistical advantages and its strategic location that facilitates global trade.' The strategy of e-commerce in the Emirate of Dubai was prepared by the Dubai Free Zones Council, in cooperation with the Dubai Chamber, the Dubai Department of Economic Development and Dubai Customs, to establish the emirate as a global platform for e-commerce, based on its importance in driving growth and supporting the policies of economic diversification, through stimulating companies E-commerce to establish e-distribution centers in Dubai, encourage cloud services companies to establish data centers in Dubai, attract leading companies in this field, and create a suitable environment for talent, and provide a leading model to accelerate the pace of growth of e-commerce.

The strategy aims to enhance Dubai's position as a global logistics platform for the region, with e-commerce reaching AED 12 billion in GDP through 2023 through a number of stimulating initiatives, reviewing fees and requirements. , By accelerating the transition to a global digital platform, and the establishment of an integrated and appropriate system for regional trade.

It seeks to develop an integrated system, which contributes to attract foreign direct investment in the e-commerce sector, to ensure the sector contributes to the increase of foreign direct investment flows to Dubai, which recorded exceptional growth during the first half of 2019, with the capital of investment projects announced in that period to AED 46.6 billion, a growth of 135% compared to the same period last year. The e-commerce strategy aims to increase Dubai's share of local and regional e-commerce distribution to AED 24 billion by 2022 by reducing the overall cost of e-commerce operations by 20%, which includes the costs of returned goods, warehousing, customs duties, value added and transport.

Crown Prince of Dubai:

• «Dubai today is a platform for the largest e-commerce companies in the world due to the flexible business environment and investment».

Plan targets

■ Increase the regional and global share of e-commerce companies operating in Dubai to AED 24 billion.

■ Increase the volume of e-commerce to 12 billion dirhams in the local economy.

■ 20% reduction in the total cost of e-commerce operations.