Sharjah Economic Development Department issues and renews 26137 trade licenses in first half of 2008

The number of licenses issued and renewed in 2008 thus far is 26137, while the number for the first half of last year was 23170

The SEDD continues to flourish, boosting the private sector's contribution to the rapidly growing economic activities across the trading, service and industrial sectors by offering a host of incentives and facilities for the creation of an investor-friendly climate, thus attracting increasing number of investors.

Statistics show that the department has issued 3657 new licenses between 1 January and 30 June, 2008.

These licenses were divided into three categories: Commercial licenses amounted to 1606 of the total number of licenses issued, professional licenses to 1979, and industrial licenses to 72, for 17.9% growth in the number of new licenses issued in first half of 2008, compared to the 3102 new licenses issued in the corresponding period in 2007.

'The total number licenses issued and renewed for the first half of this year is 26137, 50.4% of which were commercial licenses, 46.7% professional and 2.9% industrial, recorded as 13161, 12199 and 772 licenses respectively, in addition to 5 vocational licenses,'

according to SEDD General Manager, H.E Ali Bin Salem Al Mahmoud.

Al Mahmoud added that the lion's share of these licenses was allotted to the city of Sharjah, with 15425 licenses, accounting for 59% of the total number of licenses, followed by 6587 licenses for the industrial area, 1660 licenses for Al Dhaid, 1361 license for Khorfakkan and 1104 license for Kelba, accounting for 25.2%, 6.4%, 5.2% and 4.2%, respectively.