Instant Licence (Halan) is issued instantly to the UAE or GCC investors without the lease contract or contract of establishment.

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

DED-Ajman announced a package of new digital services available on its website and smart application 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to make it easier and convenient for customers under the prevailing circumstances in the world.

These services include the issuance of “Commercial Mobile Vehicle license”, “Instant Licence (Halan)”, “Electronic Trading (E trader) Licence” and “Business Centre Licence” as well as the “authentication of smart contracts for service agent and business companies,” “renewal for more than a year”, “ temporary suspension licence based on owner request (Freeze Licence)”, and “Cancellation based on the authority of Ajman DED (administrative cancellation)”. The services were launched as part of DED’s efforts to shift to digital transformation on one part and in order to diminish the number of visits to service centres and maintain the physical distance recommended by the WHO to curb the spread of Coronavirus on the other part.

Ali Eissa Al Nuaimi, Director General of DED said, “We proceed with digital transformation strategy and work with our partners to provide services in strict accordance with the highest international practices. We urge all customers to avail of our services online and through our smart application and complete their services online throughout the year and particularly during this period, where the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation announced the cessation of receipt of customers in Tasheel Centres from today until further notice, as part of precautionary measures taken by the UAE to preserve public health.”

“Our leadership closely monitors the economic changes in the world, considers the impacts on business community and seeks to alleviate them and help them continue their business. As an example, the leadership recently launched a number of catalytic initiatives such as Taaziz Programme which enables members to avail of privileges, such as allocating 10 per cent of total contracts made by the local government entities to support SME owners, giving priority to their bids if the increase or decrease in financial offers does not exceed 5 per cent of the best offers, and other facilities. It is also possible to affiliate to the Program and get the service online,” he added.

For his part, Saud Sultan Al Shamri, Director of Commercial Registration Department said: “We are pleased to provide our customers with comfortable means to enable them complete their transactions in ease and smooth manner and with a minimum of time and effort. We also provide the privilege to follow up transactions throughout their stages without the need for them to visit DED or service centres, and we welcome any customer inquiries or remarks through the DED official channels and via the Government Call Centre on 80070.”

It is noteworthy to mention that Instant Licence (Halan) is issued instantly to UAE or GCC investors without the lease contract or contract of establishment being required for the first year and for economic activities that do not require external approvals. Provided that MOA and lease contract are submitted upon renewal. The trade name, preliminary approval and licence issuance take place in one procedure, and is valid for legal forms like sole proprietorships, LLCs, and single owner LLC companies.

Electronic Trading (E trader) licence is available for national investors and sole proprietorships for only activities that do not require external approvals, with a view to encouraging UAE nationals based in the emirate to conduct business online or through social media. The contract of establishment is excluded in the licence on condition that the applicant has a place of residence in emirate of Ajman and an address (as owner or tenant) or with any first-degree relatives according to the rules in force.

Further, Business Center Licence gives opportunity to nationals, residents and foreigners as well and can be obtained for all legal forms to invest in business centers in the emirate.

Renewal for more than a year gives the opportunity to renew the economic license for additional years rather than one year. The economic license for more than a year is renewed depending on the term of lease contract and for a maximum of 4 years, helping investors save time.

As for the temporary suspension licence based on owner’s request (Freeze License), it enables investors to temporarily suspend the economic license for a maximum of 3 years. It also aims to facilitate business and enable investors to freeze their licenses on temporary basis to reorganise or manage their business in the light of their circumstances and in an organised framework. The Licence should be, however, valid at the time of submission of the freezing request and all fines and penalties are paid prior to submission.