Mubasher - Abu Dhabi: Active commercial licenses in the UAE's free zones recorded a growth of 28% during the year, with the issuance of 48.5 thousand new licenses, bringing the total number of licenses to 224.5 thousand licenses by the end of February 2025, compared to 176 thousand licenses during the same period in 2024 .

According to data released by the National Economic Registry, free zones accounted for 23% of the total active commercial licenses in the country by the end of last month.

The data also showed that the number of licenses in free zones witnessed an increase of more than 150% over the past four years, after it amounted to about 90,000 licenses in 2021 .

The Emirate of Dubai continued its leadership in attracting investments, as its free zones accounted for 54% of the total commercial licenses in the country’s free zones.

The number of active licenses in Dubai reached 121.3 thousand licenses by the end of February 2025, an increase of 2,300 new licenses in one month compared to last January.

It also recorded an annual growth of 26%, with the addition of 25,000 new licenses compared to February 2024, which witnessed the registration of 97,000 licenses .

Several areas in Dubai topped the list of destinations most attractive to commercial licenses, most notably Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Meydan, Dubai South, Jebel Ali (Jafza), Dubai Development Authority, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Dubai World Trade Centre, which witnessed remarkable activity in attracting companies and entrepreneurs in various sectors .