Dubai experiences 22% growth in commercial licencing business H1 2022

Regarding free zone license, the license renewal service was the most requested service, with 527 transactions from January to June 2022. (File/Reuters)
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Updated 16 August 2022
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Dubai experiences 22% growth in commercial licencing business H1 2022

  • Department seeks to elevate Dubai’s position as a preferred global investment destination

DUBAI: The Department of Planning and Development in Dubai, Trakhees, completed approximately 16,000 transactions through its Licencing Department during the first half of 2022, Emirates News Agency reported.

This figure represents a 22 percent growth increase over the same period last year.

Trakhees is the regulatory arm of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation of Dubai.

Its Licencing Department provides corporate licensing services to local and free zones, as well as government agencies, such as the issuance of work permits, establishment cards, and no-objection certificates.

Trakhees CEO Abdulla Belhoul explained that the department experienced significant growth in all services supplied by the Licencing Department in the commercial licensing sectors in its private development areas.

Belhoul stated that Trakhees is eager to promote economic growth and strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading sustainable hub to support the global economic sector.

He also pointed out the eagerness of Trakhees to realize Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of supporting the economy and elevating Dubai’s position as a preferred global investment destination.

Furthermore, Trakhees seeks to enhance its services in order to keep up with the aspirations of the UAE’s business leaders and investors.

“To reassure the support of the Department of Planning and Development — Trakhees towards providing the required services for projects and small and medium enterprises according to the highest standards, the department received 1,029 transactions to reserve a new trade name, at the level of local and free zone licences, during the first half of 2022 in private development areas that fall under the supervision of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation,” Belhoul added.

According to official statistics released by the Licencing Department, demand for local licensing services by customers increased to 7,067 transactions in the first half of this year.

The local license renewal service ranked first with 3,426 transactions, followed by local license amendments with 1,063 transactions.

Booking a new trade name resulted in 951 transactions, followed by 627 transactions for new local licenses.

Respectively, International City ranked first with 203 local licensing transactions, followed by Jumeirah Village Circle in second place, Palm Jumeirah, Dragon Market, and finally Palm Deira.

The statistics showed an increase in the number of government services transactions during the first half of 2022. This was accompanied by an increase in the number of work permits issued by the department, reaching 3,440 approved in Dubai, followed by 1,270 transactions related to permit renewal.

Regarding free zone license, the license renewal service was the most requested service, with 527 transactions from January to June 2022 . This was followed by 185 commercial permits and 78 transactions for reserving a trade name under the category of free zone licenses.

According to Belhoul, Trakhees seeks to facilitate requesting and obtaining various commercial licenses by implementing a package of procedures and improvements in its unified electronic system for issuing commercial licenses.

Additionally, the department aims to adopt a culture of excellence in performance to ensure customer satisfaction by shortening the time it takes to obtain these services.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,251 

Updated 12 February 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,251 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Thursday, gaining 84.27 points, or 0.75 percent, to close at 11,251.81. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.38 billion ($1.43 billion), as 188 of the stocks advanced and 67 retreated.    

Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 157.22 points, or 0.67 percent, to close at 23,643.74. This comes as 44 of the stocks advanced while 32 retreated.    

The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 10.88 points, or 0.72 percent, to close at 1,517.43.     

The best-performing stock of the day was Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co., whose share price surged 9.96 percent to SR5.30.   

Other top performers included Ataa Educational Co., whose share price rose 9.94 percent to SR57.50, as well as Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co., whose share price surged 5.74 percent to SR7.55. 

Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. recorded the most significant drop, falling 5.93 percent to SR220.50. 

Abdullah Saad Mohammed Abo Moati for Bookstores Co. also saw its stock prices fall 2.77 percent to SR43.56. 

Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co. also saw its stock prices decline 2.30 percent to SR2.55. 

On the announcement front, Multi Business Group Co. reported its annual financial results for the year ended Dec. 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR352,172 during the year, down 98 percent from the previous year. 

The company attributed the decline primarily to a 2 percent drop in building contracting revenues and a 73 percent decrease in gross profit.  

Multi Business Group Co. ended the session at SR9.90, down 1 percent. 

Hamad Mohammed Bin Saedan Real Estate Co. announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Awwal Bank to enhance collaboration in financing solutions, advance real estate development projects, and expand access to customer financing programs. 

Hamad Mohammed Bin Saedan Real Estate Co. ended the session at SR6.67, up 1.21 percent.