Licenses issued by DED in April 2012 rises 26% to 1,459

Licenses issued by DED in April 2012 rises 26% to 1,459 Dubai, 20 May, 2012: The number of trade licenses issued by the Department of Economic Development (DED) in April 2012 reached 1,459, an increase of 26 per cent over the same period in 2011. The commercial sector accounted for the highest increase in number of licenses (29%) followed by the professional (24%) and tourism (18%) sectors, compared to April 2011. The increase in licenses relates to a higher level of interest in commercial and professional activities among businessmen and investors in Dubai. Commercial licenses accounted for 74 per cent of the total licenses issued last month, followed by professional (24%), industrial and tourism (1% each) licenses. The total number of licenses amended in April 2012 was 5,251, a 10 per cent increase over the same period in 2011, while the total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 47,082, compared to 39,934 in April 2011, an increase of 18 per cent. The number of reserved trade names reached 5,714 in April 2012, a 58 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2011, while the number of initial approvals reached 2,688, a 47 per cent increase year on year.