The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZ Council) held its 18th meeting to discuss strategic initiatives that support Dubai-based startups and SMEs in coordination with business accelerators.
The aim of the meeting was to boost Dubai’s status as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment and innovation. It was headed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Free Zones Council.
With their registered AED135 billion in foreign trade in Q1 2021, approximately 38% of Dubai’s total foreign trade, Sheikh Ahmed lauded the role of Dubai’s free zones in creating a trade corridor with global markets and attracting foreign direct investments to Dubai.
Sheikh Ahmed emphasised that the highly flexible environment that Dubai’s free zones, created through its value-added and incentivised initiatives, has proven its exceptional economic model and noted that the free zones competitiveness had gained the confidence of the global business community.
DFZ Council members highlighted that the recent decisions taken by the UAE Cabinet, namely resolution No16 of 2020 concerning the determination of the positive list of economic sectors and activities eligible for foreign direct investment and percentage of their ownership, boost the ease of setting up and doing business in the country. The decisions also create a surge of attractive opportunities for talent, expertise, and innovative ideas from around the globe.
Sheikh Ahmed said: “The decision coincides with Dubai’s preparations to host Expo 2020 Dubai, the largest global event of its kind, as it will have a strong positive impact on attracting foreign direct investment. Our economy presents a real example in boosting the global business community’s confidence to invest due to its flexible and secure business environment, the advanced and world-class infrastructure, and high quality of life that allows global talents and investors to consider it home.
“Our unique initiatives are the result of the future-proof vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a stable economy that adds value to investors. The leadership’s goal to enhance the economic, political, and social security in the UAE as well as the nation’s swift response to crises is expected to yield a significant return on investment.”
DFZ Council members also reviewed the Business Accelerator Unit initiative, which coordinates meetings with relevant entities, companies, and investors, to evaluate challenges and propose innovative solutions that support a diversified, sustainable economy. In contribution to achieving the fastest economic recovery globally, they refer to local and international success stories across business sectors and innovate action plans to accelerate business establishment and development across different stages of the value chain.
Dubai SME representatives also presented the Promising Startups Platform initiative in detail, aiming to attract startups to Dubai, especially those developing unique, sustainable economy concepts, in collaboration with an integrated network from 15 countries.
During the meeting, DFZ Council members also reviewed the developments of the unified record that aims to integrate open data using the latest artificial intelligence systems in offering government services. They also reviewed the list of participating government entities.
DFZ Council members mulled over an initiative to link free zone employees with the Unified Registry of Dubai Government Employees, which was recently created to be the sole official source of information on Dubai Government employee data and a classification system to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data.
