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Dubai / WAM
The auto-renewal service launched by the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL), sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai, has seen a 34 percent increase in the number of total renewed licences (115,700) during the first ten months of 2018.
The latest BRL report showed that the percentage of auto-renewal transactions accounted for 46.9 percent during the last quarter of 2018 compared to 14.9 percent during the first quarter of the same year.
Among the licences issued, 74 percent were commercial, 22 percent professional, and two percent related to tourism and industrial, each.
“Business licences can be renewed in two simple steps, and in less than two minutes. Business owners can send a text message with their trade licence number to be renewed to “6969”, and they will receive a “payment voucher”. They can then complete the payment through any of the payment channels provided in the text message. They can also log on to the Dubai DED website or download the “DED Business” App, which they can also access as a one-time visitor only,” said Abdulaziz Bin Hathboor, Director of Customer Relation Division, BRL sector.
“The Auto-Renewal service has helped business licence owners in Dubai in saving their time and efforts, and focussing more on developing their business by leveraging the advantages of the emirate as a hub for competitive and sustainable growth,” he added.
DED offers a number of payment channels for transactions related to auto-renewals, such as online through eServices, the “DED Business” App and E-Dirham G2, or cash and cheque payments through authorised banks and outsourced service centres. Direct debit from the licence owner’s account through participating banks is also an option.
“Auto-Renewal has proven to be of immense value to businesses in Dubai while also expediting the transformation of Dubai into a smart city. It is a great addition not only to the competitiveness of Dubai but is also aimed at promoting happiness across all communities in Dubai,” Bin Hathboor noted.
The auto renewal service allows business licence owners to renew their licences for more than one year and a maximum of four years provided that the lease is valid.
If the licence renewal is for more than a year, the number of years must be added in the text message, for example, licence number, number of years, etc.). Further, the location of the company must be the same as the previous year.