By: Mahmoud Gamal

Dubai – Mubasher: India and Pakistan topped Dubai’s major investors in new companies and startups established in the full-year 2018, official data showed.

Over the course of the previous year, the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai issued 20,467 new licences, and 248,769 business registration and licensing transactions were recorded in the 'Business Map' digital platform of DED in 2018, an increase of 4.6% a year earlier, according to Dubai Economy’s recent report.

Commercial licences acquired almost 63.2% of the total last year, while professional licences represented 43.5%.

The top five nationalities of new licencees in 2018 were Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Chinese, British and Saudis, consecutively.

Among the main regions, Bur Dubai had the highest share of new licences with a total of 11,435, followed by Deira and Hatta with 8,985 and 47, respectively.

However, the top sub-regions that made up 48.3% of all the transactions in 2018 were Burj Khalifa with 11.8%, Port Saeed 6%, Al Marrar 5.6%, Al Fahidi 4.3%, Naif 4.0%, Dubai World Trade Centre 1 3.7%, Al Garhoud 3.6%, Hor Al Anz East 2.6%, Al Karama 2.4%, Al Barsha 2.3% and Al Khubaisi 2%.

The previous data affirms Dubai’s ongoing ability to attract companies and investments as a destination for sustainable business growth.

The entity confirmed that it seeks to provide an attractive environment to investors and businessmen through issuing new licenses, supporting companies that intend to operate in the emirate.

Translated by: Kholoud Mohamed Hussein