The Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA), an arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), has announced substantial growth in business licenses and compliance indicators within the emirate’s mainland and non-financial economic free zones during 2024. This growth underscores Abu Dhabi’s position as a key player in the business sector.
The emirate experienced a 16 percent rise in new economic licenses in its mainland, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a hub for local and international business and investment. This growth is boosted by the emirate’s business-friendly ecosystem and high standards of transparency and governance.
Growth in non-financial economic free zones
Moreover, Abu Dhabi recorded a 22 percent increase in active licenses within the non-financial economic free zones. The number of Real Beneficiary requests reached 47,291, demonstrating the effectiveness of initiatives implemented in recent years to boost compliance with local and international standards, thereby enhancing Abu Dhabi’s economic competitiveness.
Renewed licenses on the rise
ADRA reported a remarkable 27 percent increase in renewed licenses in the emirate’s mainland, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business and create promising opportunities. Active licenses rose by 9 percent compared to 2023.
Commitment to investors and entrepreneurs
His Excellency Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of ADRA, stated: “The high growth rates in economic licenses reaffirm Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness to investors and entrepreneurs to benefit from the emirate’s thriving economy and its promising opportunities. We remain committed to meeting the business sector’s needs by continuously enhancing a supportive and stimulating environment for growth and prosperity.”
Enhancements in license categories
“Over the past year, our initiatives to enhance ease of doing business, empower women, and expand economic activities have significantly increased certain license categories, such as Tajer Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Trader), freelancer, and the Mobdea. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to providing the ideal environment for entrepreneurs and investors, aligning with the emirate’s initiatives to accelerate growth and diversification, and continuously develop legislative and regulatory frameworks while advancing digital transformation.”
Growth of Mobdea licenses
The Mobdea licenses, aimed at empowering Emirati women to transform their creative passions into commercial ventures, grew from 1,456 lisences in 2023 to 2,503 in the previous year, representing a 72 percent increase. This growth is attributed to the emirate’s ongoing efforts to empower women in the economy, enabling them to operate their businesses without physical premises, covering more than 50 economic activities.
Freelancer licenses surge
Freelancer licenses also saw a significant rise, increasing from 1,013 in 2023 to 2,065 in 2024, reflecting a 104 percent growth. Among these, lisences issued to Emiratis surged by 371 percent, rising from 84 in 2023 to 396 in 2024. The growth rate for new lisences issued to other nationalities ranged from 20 percent to 107 percent. The Freelancer lisence allows UAE nationals and residents with specialized skills to engage in over 100 economic activities at minimal cost, driving a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
Tajer Abu Dhabi lisences expansion
The Tajer Abu Dhabi lisences grew by 20 percent, with 7,187 lisences issued last year compared to 5,989 in 2023. Recently, 12 new economic activities were added to this lisence category, enabling entrepreneurs, micro, small, and medium enterprises to start their businesses without the need for physical premises for the first three years. The number of economic activities covered under this lisence has expanded to over 1,200, compared to just 30 when it was first introduced in 2017.
