Dubai to lower, waive off fees on govt services to boost growth

• Move aims to ease financial pressures faced by establishments and further raise Dubai’s attractiveness as a business and investment hub

• Dubai Crown Prince issued the order on waivers and reduction of fees for a total of 88 services provided by various entities of Dubai government

In order to give a fillip to economic activity in Dubai, its government will lower and in some cases completely waive off fees in 88 different categories, making it attractive as a business and investment hub.

According to local media reports, a total of 88 services provided by government entities in Dubai will offer waivers and reduction in fees as part of a series of initiatives undertaken to boost economic growth in the emirate.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, issued the Executive Council Resolution No. (19) 2021 on waivers and reductions of fees for a total of 88 services provided by various Dubai Government entities.

The move aims to ease financial pressures faced by businesses and further raise Dubai’s attractiveness as a business and investment hub.

The decision is part of a series of initiatives undertaken by the government to stimulate economic growth, promote competitiveness, lower living costs, improve the business environment and support investors.

Entities offering waivers & fees reductions:

>> The Dubai Maritime City Authority will waive some fees related to various types of residency visas including processing of residency visas for applicants outside the country, issuance of employment residency visas, urgent renewals of residency visas and residency visa transfers from a government entity to the Authority. Fees will also be be reduced on issuance and renewal of annual representative office licenses and replacement of lost certificates and licenses, among others.

>> Dubai Municipality will waive a number of fees related to permits for labor supplies rooms, re-issuance of cheques, urgent medical certificates and renewal of occupational health card, among others.

>> Fees that will be waived by Dubai Tourism include those for tourism permits and replacement of lost tourism permits, tourism permits for people under 16 years, and permits for fashion shows, among others.

>> Fees waived by RTA include those for issuing non-objection letters for transfer of traffic file, permits for closing roads for major construction works and fees related to recreational bikes, among others.

>> Dubai Land Department will waive fees related to replacement of broker cards for real estate agents, and amendment of information on real estate brokers, among others.

>> Dubai Courts will waive fees for obtaining certified copies of rulings of civil cases.

>> Dubai Economy will reduce fees related to issuing and renewing licenses of business centers, and issuance of licenses for providing government services, among others.

>> DHA has reduced the fees for medical fitness certificates for maritime activities.

The Resolution also authorizes heads of government entities to take decisions to reduce or waive any payments other than fees imposed for its services and products, subject to prior approval from the Department of Finance in Dubai.

Cancellation or reduction of such payments has to be formalized by the enactment of a legislation and its publication in the Official Gazette.

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