The increase in licenses relates to a higher level of interest in commercial and professional activities among businessmen and investors in Dubai. Commercial licenses accounted for 72 per cent of the total licenses issued last month, followed by professional (26%), industrial and tourism (1% each) licenses.

The total number of licenses amended in July 2012 was 5,493, compared to 4,991 in July 2011, an increase of 10 per cent, while the total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 45,933, compared to 41,700 in July 2011, an increase of 10 per cent.

The number of reserved trade names reached 5,021 in July 2012, a 22 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2011, while the number of initial approvals reached 2,325, a 19 per cent increase year on year.

The total number of commercial activities licensed in July 2012 was 3,496, with General trade leading the list of the top 10 licensed activities with (192 licences) followed by Dyes & paints (122 licenses), Carpentry and flooring (117), Tiling of floors and walls (113), and Sanitary extensions & wares (108).

The number of professional activities licensed in July 2011 reached 1,030. Residences and building cleaning services led the list of the top 10 licensed activities in this category with 54 licences, Restaurants (39), Sewing (36), and Sewing and embroidery (31) were the other leading activities in this category.

In the tourism sector, Inbound tourism was the leader with nine licenses followed by Travel agent and tourism (5). In the industrial activities segment, Cardboard rolls and tubes led the list of licensed activities with two licences followed by Prefabricated buildings and their parts, Meat products, Poultry products, and Elevators with one licence each of the total industrial activities (31).