Abu Dhabi Launches Unified Economic Licence

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has unveiled the unified economic licence in the emirate. This major initiative, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Free Zones Council, unifies procedures for registering economic licenses across the emirate and its free zones. This comes as part of the move to streamline business setup and reinforce governance and transparency. 

The initiative is expected to enhance Abu Dhabi's competitiveness as a business-friendly destination for entrepreneurs and investors. Notably, a standardised reference number for all licenses will be introduced, and it will be ensured that company data remains current within a newly integrated Abu Dhabi registry. Meanwhile, representatives from entities responsible for economic licence registration have formed a task force to ensure a smooth transition. 

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, said that free zones are essential for both economic diversification and attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) into important target industries. "We are working alongside our strategic partners and all other stakeholders to create the necessary framework and activate an efficient system that unifies all registration activities," Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi added.