DUBAI: Investors can set up new businesses and companies in the UAE in just 15 minutes now through the ‘Bashr’ online platform proposed by the TRA in partnerships with more than 50 federal and local governments.
According to Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Director General of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the process for setting up businesses will be quick and easy and will override any cumbersome procedures without any paperwork.
“The initiative operates on a comprehensive, nationwide scale, involving federal and local actions, thus reflecting the scale of partnership in the delivery of the same between various federal and local government entities, especially economic development departments in the UAE,” he said.
An agreement was signed with various federal and local governments at an event held in Dubai on Thursday.
-Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri | Director General of TRA
Mohammad Yousuf Al Khamis, director of the smart government national plan at TRA, told Gulf News that the aim is to increase UAE’s competitiveness in issuing licenses, finish the whole process within 15 minutes and establish the UAE as an ideal investment destination.
“This is a huge nationwide transformation project,” he said, adding that the service is available only in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Ajman as part of the initial roll-out but it will be available in other emirates in the next one month.
He said that investors who have a ‘UAE Pass’ account, username and password required for the service, will be able to get not only a trade licence but also apply for memberships in Chamber of Commerce, establishment card in the Federal Authority For Identity And Citizenship, and establishment card in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
According to Al Khamis, TRA was handled this particular project during the annual meetings of the UAE government that took place in September last year. During the meeting, he said that the TRA was tasked to deliver the project within a year.
From a customer perspective, he said that the online platform will be a one-stop-shop by offering a bundle of services.
The service will be made available for onshore companies in the first phase, but in future, it may be available for free zones, Al Khamis said.
“The platform will add more features such as open a bank account, get telephone and mobile lines, trade licence for non-UAE residents, and select the location of the person’s office in future. We have huge plans.” he said.
