A growth in e-commerce businesses meant demand for Dubai's trader's licence increased in the first quarter of the year as consumer demand for online shopping surged during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dubai's Department of Economic Development issued its "DED Trader" licence to 943 new businesses during the first three months of 2020, an increase of 179 per cent from the same period last year, it said on Saturday.
The licence allows "businesses to address challenges during the prevailing nationwide alert against Covid-19 with an easily accessible window regulated by Dubai Economy to set up and drive online enterprises", the department said.
"Additionally, it enables business continuity and sustainability during Covid-19."
The licence was first issued by the department's Business Registration and Licensing section in 2017, allowing business activities online and across social networking accounts.
Dubai's government had imposed a series of measures restricting movement in efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Some restrictions on movement and commercial activities have been eased as part of a gradual reopening of the economy.
For example, shopping malls are now open but operating at 30 per cent capacity and Dubai residents can move freely between 6am and 10pm for the first time in more than three weeks.
With online shopping "gaining fresh momentum" in the UAE, 102 DED Trader licences were issued in April, and the total number of DED Trader permits now stands at 5,353.
Businesses in information technology were among the top applicants for the DED Trader licence in the first three months of the year.
They were followed by fashion, personal and trading services, event organisation and food preparation businesses.
The DED Trader permits gained traction with female entrepreneurs, with about 60 per cent of the licences issued to women so far, the department said.
The e-commerce licence is issued electronically and has drawn increasing interest from companies since its launch as it improves the ease of doing business online.
There was a 276 per cent increase in licences issued in the last quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
Opting for the DED Trader licence provides benefits including Dubai Chamber membership for the purposes of carrying out commercial activities, as well as bank facilities, temporary employment services, participation in exhibitions and conferences, access to training workshops and the provision of work space, the department said.
Online retailers are ramping up their product ranges to attract customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dubai has focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises during the crisis through a series of financial packages.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
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May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
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- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
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Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
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1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
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