Abu Dhabi unveils initiatives to boost business, tourism

ABU DHABI / WAM

The Abu Dhabi Government, under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has reinforced its commitment to the private sector’s development, launching nine new initiatives.
At the Abu Dhabi Government Private Sector forum attended by HH Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Adviser, who oversaw the development of the new programmes in his capacity as Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee, nine initiatives for businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and SMEs, were revealed in line with Abu Dhabi’s vision to become one of the best places in the world to do business, invest, live, work and visit.
Celebrating six months of the three-year Abu Dhabi
Development Accelerator Programme, Ghadan 21, in action since officially commencing at the start of 2019, the Private Sector Forum, hosted more than 200 leaders from the public and
private sectors.
The announcements culminated in the launch of a major step forward in opening doors to doing business and investing in the Emirate via the ‘Abu Dhabi Instant Licence’. The Instant Licence makes applying to conduct commercial activity in Abu Dhabi simpler than ever before.
All licence applications are now streamlined through a digital portal and consolidated into broader licencing categories offering businesses greater flexibility. The easy-to-use system is fast, efficient, and accessible to all.
Approvals are processed instantly online and licence holders in most sectors may begin conducting their business activities immediately.
“Building a sustainable, globally-competitive knowledge-based economy requires a solid partnership between the private and public sector. The Government of Abu Dhabi is fully committed to enabling the private sector by providing a supportive business environment, creating new public-private partnership opportunities and enhancing the ease of doing business,” said Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
“The latest Ghadan 21 initiatives and Abu Dhabi Instant Licence are vital private sector accelerators as they are focused on speed, flexibility, and simplicity – reducing operating costs, introducing new investment opportunities and establishing innovative licensing frameworks. They are initiatives that will help drive forward our goal to increase the private sector’s contribution to Abu Dhabi’s GDP from the current 32 percent to 37 percent by 2021,” he explained.