DCCI issues new rules on membership for all firms

Dubai: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has tightened its membership rules and made them mandatory for all businesses, except for self-employed professionals, according to the latest official gazette notification.

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, DCCI chairman, has issued decision No 22 for 2006 amending the executive rules of DCCI regulation law.

The new regulations come at a time when the DCCI is planning to introduce a credit rating system for the private sector, enhance corporate ethics and seeking means to enhance corporate governance in the emirate.

Historically, the free zone-registered companies have been exempted from DCCI membership. However, the new law does not clarify the issue if they remain largely out of the DCCI's jurisdiction.

The DCCI currently has more than 76,000 members, about 80 per cent of which are SMEs.

The new law stipulates that every commercial company, regardless of its activity, must be a member of the DCCI.

This applies to all licensed companies and individuals to practice any commercial, service, industrial, recreational, property, tourism, financial or investment activities.

If the member practices his activities through more than one branch in the emirate, each branch must be registered at the DCCI.

Physicians and lawyers as well as individuals who practice educational, social and personal activities on a non-commercial bases are excluded from membership of the DCCI.