Dubai Reduces Government Service Fees To Support Businesses - 2021

Dubai Reduces Government Service Fees to Support Businesses – 2021

Dubai has recently reduced or cancelled fees for 88 government services to minimize the financial pressures on businesses that are operating within the Emirate. The initiative aims to lower living costs, support investors and improve the business environment in Dubai. The decision was approved by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The initiative also authorises heads of government entities to take decisions to reduce or waive any payments other than fees imposed for its services and products, once an approval is obtained from the Department of Finance in Dubai. Cancellation or reduction of the payments has to be formalised by the enactment of legislation and its publication in the official gazette. Executive Council Resolution Number 19 of 2021 will come into effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette.

Major Fee Waivers – Dubai Government Entities

The Department of Economic Development (DED) Dubai will reduce fees for issuing and renewing licenses of business centres and issuing of licenses for providing government services, among others.

Dubai Tourism will stop charging fees for tourism permits and replacement of lost tourism permits, tourism permits for people under 16 years and permits for fashion shows.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will waive fees for issuing no-objection letters for transfer of traffic files, permits for closing roads for major construction work and fees relating to recreational bikes etc.

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has mentioned that they will waive some fees related to residency visas, including the processing of residency visas for applicants outside the country, the issuance of employment residency visas, urgent renewals of residency visas and residency visa transfers from a government entity to the Authority and few other fee waivers. 

Dubai Municipality will remove fees relating to permits for labour supplies rooms, re-issuance of cheques, urgent medical certificates and renewal of occupational health cards. They will also reduce fees to renew annual representative office licenses and replacement of lost certificates and licenses.

While these are the major initiatives, several other government entities based in Dubai have also started to reduce or cancel fees to support the businesses operating in the Emirate.

Read: UAE Economic Activities to Recover in 2021

Investment Opportunities in Dubai – UAE

UAE based investors are confident in the government’s commitment in providing an effective environment for their businesses to grow in terms of infrastructure, safety, subsidies and other waivers. The initiative by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed to reduce or cancel government related fees will help have a huge contribution towards the ease of starting and managing a business for new business owners, entrepreneurs and investors. The UAE government has also provided a clear path to acquiring citizenship for international investors who excel at investing in key sectors. With an eye to the future and upcoming EXPO 2020, the Dubai government is implementing strategies that focus on inclusive growth, with a particular attention on expanding opportunities for younger generations.


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Author: Waqas Siddiqui
I am passionate about supporting businesses in successfully expanding in the UAE and Gulf region. I can be reached at waqas@researchkonnection.com for research inquiries.