Other BriefingsUnderstanding the Dubai Unified Licence: Scope and Benefits
The Dubai Unified Licence streamlines business operations in the emirate, offering a digital platform that serves as a reliable repository of information. It provides easy access for the general public, suppliers, and service providers to view the license details of businesses operating in Dubai, spanning both mainland and free zones, thereby expediting processes and fostering trust.
By Melissa Cyrill
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched a unique commercial identification provided to all businesses in the emirate to streamline business processes. The Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) is issued to existing and newly established businesses operating with either a mainland or a free zone licence.
Enforced under Law No. 6 of 2023, the DUL initiative assigns a distinct identification number to every business in Dubai – existing and newly set up – irrespective of whether they possess a mainland or free zone license. This requirement guarantees that businesses across different categories, including commercial, industrial, and professional, will ultimately be issued a DUL, with implementation progressing gradually over time.
The initiative shall consolidate all economic establishments in Dubai and the emirate’s free zones into a single platform for data management, collation and sharing.
The DUL, equipped with a QR code, will function as the standardized business identity. Although currently optional for enterprises, it is crucial to recognize that DULs will soon be obligatory for government bodies and service providers like telecommunications, utilities, and banks. This initiative seeks to synchronize Dubai’s business protocols with international standards, guaranteeing that company records, including license particulars and data, are uniformly updated, and maintained within the registry.
Furthermore, DUL streamlines the ‘Know Your Customer’ process for banks by granting access to company data, ensuring a smoother account opening procedure. Moreover, it benefits business owners by providing unified, documented information on existing businesses in Dubai, including those in free zones, thus creating comprehensive records for future reference.
The Dubai Business Licence Corporation, under DET, will be responsible for overseeing the operation, management, development, and supervision of the DUL system. Additionally, the Dubai Free Zones Council will collaborate with each free zone to ensure regular communication with their respective license holders, collecting updated license data and contact information.
A streamlined approach
The ‘Dubai Unified Licence’, a key initiative within the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, exemplifies our dedication to facilitating ease of doing business, promoting transparency, and embracing digital-first practices. Seamlessly integrating with Dubai’s advanced digital technology infrastructure, it harnesses our smart city capabilities to drive business growth and strengthen Dubai’s position among the world’s top three global cities. – His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy, and Tourism
By simplifying the setup and operational procedures for businesses, DUL enhances efficiency and reduces the time required for companies to establish and manage their operations.
The streamlined process contributes to bolstering Dubai’s competitiveness as a business-friendly destination. DET said such efficiency will boost the city’s attractiveness to foreign investors and entrepreneurs seeking a hassle-free business environment – further cementing Dubai’s status as the Middle East business hub.
Furthermore, the unified digital platform ensures greater transparency and ease of access to business-related information, which will enhance the emirate’s appeal as a dynamic and trustworthy investment destination.
Consequently, these features collectively strengthen Dubai’s position on the global economic stage, aligning perfectly with its aspiration to be recognised as one of the top three cities worldwide for business and investment.
As part of the procedure, new companies undergo thorough validation, verification, and screening to receive their unique digital identity. As of December 11, 2023, the DET had issued over 50,000 licenses, with plans to issue more in the coming period, covering all registered companies in the mainland and free zones.
FAQs
What is the difference between a licence number and the Dubai Unified Licence (DUL)?
A licence number is a distinctive code issued by the licensing authority, whereas a DUL serves as a unique company identifier (ID) utilized across all sectors of Dubai, encompassing both mainland and free zones. Consider DUL as the primary ID for businesses in Dubai, facilitating effortless access to information for the public and service providers alike.
How will the DUL be rolled out?
The DUL was launched in 2023 and will be rolled out in multiple stages. All licensed businesses will be issued a DUL and an associated QR code.
You will know if you are among these businesses as you will receive an email and SMS with your DUL and a unique page link to access and download your QR code.
DULs will be issued to all remaining companies in subsequent phases.
How should businesses use the DUL?
The Dubai Unified Licence acts as the primary business identity in Dubai. Utilizing the associated QR code effectively involves:
- Displaying the DUL QR code prominently at business premises for easy access to company information.
- Integrating the DUL QR code into official websites to improve user experience and communication.
- Using the DUL QR code on social media profiles to increase business visibility.
- Ensuring the DUL QR code is mobile-friendly for convenient access.
- Educating the audience about the importance of the DUL QR code to build trust.
- Promoting QR code usage to enhance brand visibility and establish credibility in the Dubai market.
What advantages does the DUL offer to businesses?
The Dubai Unified License facilitates seamless and efficient data exchange and transactions between businesses and service providers, including government entities, through the allocation of unique identification numbers to mainland and free zone businesses.
With the DUL in place, businesses can anticipate enhanced customer experience and accelerated business transactions, as:
- NOCs and permit issuances for economic activities by government regulators are unified and simplified.
- Establishing business branches between free zones and mainland becomes more straightforward.
- Transfer of businesses between free zones and mainland is facilitated by unified and verified data accessibility.
- Service providers are equipped with standardized methods to digitally access company information and offer value-added services, such as utility companies.
- Banks gain access to company KYC data for account opening and financing purposes.
- Future business owners stand to benefit from access to unified and verified information about their existing businesses in the emirate.
Summary
The Dubai Unified Licence facilitates easy access to company information for government entities, service providers and the public. Businesses are allocated a licence number specific to the mainland or free zone authority of their incorporation, promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
With a digital repository and consent capability, the DUL enables instant data sharing between government entities, the private sector and service providers. Similarly, the DUL reinforces the compliance framework outlined in the national AML/CFT strategy, ensuring the integrity of the UAE economy and the global financial system.
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