Abu Dhabi - Mubasher: The total number of active licenses in the UAE grew by 19 percent in 2024, reaching one million commercial licenses, compared to the end of 2023, when their number reached 800,000 .

According to recent data from the National Economic Registry, the number of new commercial licenses issued by various economic departments in the UAE during the year 2024 reached 150,000 licenses, thus bringing the total number of active commercial licenses in the country to about 950,000 licenses.

The Emirate of Dubai accounted for the largest share of the total active licenses in the UAE, at 48 percent, as the economic sectors in the emirate recorded about 80,000 new licenses, bringing the total to 451,000, a growth of 21.6 percent, compared to 371,000 licenses at the end of last year 2023.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi came in second place, with a share of 17 percent, as the emirate issued about 13,700 new licenses in 2024, bringing the total to 159,000, compared to 145,300 licenses, a growth of 9.5 percent.

Sharjah came third with a share of 7.5 percent, as the emirate issued about 4,600 new licenses in 2024, bringing the number of active licenses to 70.6 thousand, a growth of 7 percent, compared to 66 thousand at the end of 2023.

Fujairah issued about 380 new licenses, bringing the active number to 10,000 licenses, a growth of 4 percent, compared to 9,620 licenses. The number of active licenses in the Emirate of Ajman reached about 19.1 thousand licenses, and the remaining licenses are distributed between the Emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain .

Regarding the most licensed activities in the UAE during the past 12 months, e-commerce licenses through social media and websites topped the number of new licenses in 2024, with 4,700 licenses, representing a share of approximately 30 percent, while e-commerce activity licenses through social media platforms reached 2,500 licenses .

Building project contracting licenses of all types came in second place with 2,300 licenses, general trade activities with 2,000 licenses, import activities with 1,850 licenses, and export activities with 1,210 licenses.

It was followed by cold and hot beverage activities with more than 1,200 licenses, real estate rental and management activities and services with 1,110 licenses, restaurant activities with about 900 licenses, and general materials transportation activities by heavy trucks with about 800 licenses .