ADDED reveals more details about reduced economic activities licensing fees for Abu Dhabi local and municipal authorities 

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) revealed that the Abu Dhabi government has decided to reduce the fees for economic activities in the emirate to AED 1,000. The decision included the reduction of the fees for establishing a commercial company and the documentation of incorporation contracts. The fees paid to service providers, and the waste producers' tariff paid to the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre - Tadweer, the activity fees, and the fees paid to the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority (ADCDA) for Certificate of Conformity as well as the membership fees of Abu Dhabi Chamber.

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has abolished the exemption of new economic licences from fees. The decision sets fees for municipalities for various services related to leasing contracts. These include the registration of economic lease contracts, establishing a municipal fee, and the waste disposal. The fees are collected annually by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development regardless of the contract value.

In detail, the decision has set AED 50 only for the municipal fee required for the authentication and registration of economic lease contracts, as well as service fees for the Department of Municipalities and Transport, provided the municipal fee shall be collected annually by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) regardless of the value of the contract. In addition to AED 50 for Abu Dhabi Chamber's membership fees, and the service providers fees shall be cancelled as well as waste producers' tariff for Abu Dhabi Centre for Waste Management. In addition to the cancellation of activities fees and Certificate of Conformity (COC) for Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority.

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, expressed the Abu Dhabi government's keenness to enhance the roles of government and semi-government authorities and enhance the incentives offered by them to the private sector companies and entities. As the private sector is considered the main driver of the Abu Dhabi local economic system.

Al Blooshi, also commended the efforts of all the government authorities in supporting the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) in the emirate.

Mohamed Helal Al Muhiri, General Director of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that "The reduction of government fees for commercial activities is considered a new initiative within the stimulating initiatives provided by the Abu Dhabi government to enable the private sector in the emirate", indicating that the collaboration of Abu Dhabi Chamber with many local government entities is a joint and integrated work that aims to achieve the comprehensive and sustainable development. As well as to motivate members and investors to set up and practice businesses in view of the economic incentives that promote the ease of doing business, in addition to maintaining its competitiveness at the regional and international levels. He also emphasized that the application of fees reduction will in turn help increase trust, transparency and mitigate the administrative burdens of investors, particularly entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As this will contribute to the continuity, growth and prosperity of businesses.

The Abu Dhabi government's new decision sets AED 790 for issuing an economic activity licence, including fees for all local authorities concerned with economic licensing, and AED 890 for licence renewal, only AED 10 for licensing procedures. In addition to AED 50 as a trade name issuance fee, AED 100 for adding an economic activity, and AED 500 as fees for adding an industrial product on the licence.