Dubai: The number of licences in Sharjah grew by 4 per cent in the first half of this year, according to a statement on Monday citing the licenses report by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD).
The number of issued and renewed licences reached 33,192 in the first six months of 2015.
The highest number of licences was in March, which was up 15 per cent to 6,238.
According to the statement, there were 30,009 renewal procedures in the first half. Most of the licence renewals were done in March, with 5,604 renewal transactions, up 16 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
The commercial licences were the most active in Sharjah, accounting for 64 per cent of the total, followed by 32 per cent for occupational licences, 3 per cent for industrial licences, and 1 per cent for “Eitimad” domestic licences.
However, “Eitimad” licences saw the highest growth rate in the first half of 2015 at 50 per cent compared to last year, followed by the commercial and industrial licences at 6 per cent.
Fahad Al Khamiri, director of Registration and Licensing Department at SEDD, stated that the report indicates that there is an increase in investment in existing enterprises in Sharjah.
The data in the report also reflects the confidence of business sectors of the investment opportunities available in the emirate and the country, SEDD said in the statement.
Sultan Abdullah Bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, chairman of SEDD, pointed out that the department is working on facilitating its services and procedures in order to ease the business registration procedures and licence issuance on investors and dealers, which allows them to carry on their own businesses during a short period of time.
The department also seeks to help and support investors by coordinating with other local and federal government departments.