The Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as the ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No. (13) of 2024 regarding the unified digital window for company establishment in the Emirate of Dubai. This initiative aims to create a favorable investment environment that supports economic growth in the Emirate by ensuring the integration of licensing efforts, whether by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism or the authorities overseeing special development areas and free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre, as well as relevant entities involved in establishing and licensing companies. The decree aims to enable companies to carry out their economic activities smoothly by developing a unified digital window that enhances the investor's experience in the Emirate, providing specific channels for searching for information and obtaining licenses and other services related to their economic activities easily.
The decree, which applies to all economic activities conducted in Dubai, is aimed at regulating the issuance of licenses, permits, and approvals in Dubai according to clear and simplified rules and procedures that support the investor's journey. It also addresses the obstacles that investors may encounter when establishing companies or conducting economic activities in the Emirate and enhances coordination, electronic linkage, and the unification of efforts between the licensing authority and the relevant body regarding the issuance of licenses, permits, and approvals, while supporting the digital transformation process in Dubai to ensure no duplication occurs and provide services that add value exceeding investors’ needs and expectations during their economic activities in Dubai.
Furthermore, the decree supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 in line with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision to establish Dubai as a global capital of the digital economy and a significant player in the global digital ecosystem.
In a related development, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued Council Decision No. (5) of 2024, adopting principles to facilitate the investor journey in the Emirate of Dubai, which will be applicable from the date the decree comes into effect for all licenses, permits, and approvals related to economic activity in the Emirate, issued by the licensing authority and the relevant entities according to their jurisdiction.
The decision mandates the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the authorities overseeing the special development areas, free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the relevant entities, including federal and local governmental bodies responsible for regulating, supervising, and monitoring the conduct of economic activities in Dubai, to facilitate the investor's journey in Dubai and take the necessary measures. It also requires them to adhere to principles covering the completion of transactions through the digital window "Invest in Dubai," unified digital data registration, immediate licensing, adopting an “Acknowledgment and Commitment” model to be signed by the investor, immediate license renewal, a one-step fee payment process, and flexibility in conducting economic activities by easing the necessary requirements for license issuance, and unifying and updating procedures, rules, requirements, and conditions.
Decree No. (13) of 2024 stipulates that applications for obtaining, renewing, modifying, and canceling licenses, as well as all requests related to issuing permits and approvals concerning economic activities in Dubai—including special development areas and free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre—be submitted through the unified digital window "Invest in Dubai," according to the procedures, requirements, conditions, and timeframes specified in the "Guide," which is an electronic document outlining the required actions, conditions, requirements, and deadlines, along with the fees to be paid for issuing, renewing, canceling, and modifying licenses, as well as permits and approvals.
According to the decree, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is responsible for operating, managing, supervising, and developing the digital window "Invest in Dubai," in coordination with licensing authorities and relevant entities, organizing the process of obtaining licenses, permits, approvals, and related applications through the digital window, and establishing and updating a unified database containing all information related to licenses and economic activities under its supervision, in accordance with the applicable legislation in the Emirate of Dubai.
The Department is also responsible for coordinating and collaborating with licensing authorities and relevant entities, establishing electronic linkages between their systems and the digital window, collecting prescribed fees, fines, guarantees, and any other financial dues owed to those entities, and remitting them, while operating and developing the digital window based on the technical standards and guidelines set by the Dubai Digital Authority. The decree specifies that the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, in coordination with the relevant bodies, shall prepare a guide that must include the procedures, requirements, and necessary timeframes for issuing, renewing, canceling, and modifying licenses, permits, approvals, and all requests related to conducting economic activities in the areas overseen by the department, ensuring adherence to the applicable legislation in the Emirate of Dubai, the principles of the investor journey approved by the Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and the objectives of this decree.
His Highness, the Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, shall issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of this decree, and any text in any other legislation shall be repealed to the extent it contradicts the provisions of this decree, which shall be published in the official gazette and come into effect from the date of publication.
