Dubai Unified Licence Slashes Business Bank Setup Time From 65 To 5 Days

The reform, led by the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC) under the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is streamlining company onboarding and strengthening investor confidence across the emirate.

Launched to streamline business operations and enhance Dubai’s competitiveness, the DUL provides every business in the emirate with a unique, government-verified digital identity.

Dubai Unified Licence business setup

This consolidated system brings together accurate data in a secure registry, simplifying access to both government and private sector services while strengthening transparency and compliance.

Following the rollout of the DUL in 2023, DBLC last year enhanced the initiative with the Service Providers Project, which allows companies to seamlessly access a wide range of services — from banking and utilities to trade and labour processing — through a single, unified platform.

Since its launch in October 2024, the project has enabled the opening of more than 3,000 new business bank accounts and the updating of over 134,000 business banking profiles, underscoring its vital role in supporting Dubai’s business and trade ecosystem.

By accelerating access to banking and government services, the DUL is enhancing the ease of doing business in the emirate and empowering entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and investors to launch and expand operations with greater speed and efficiency.

This progress directly supports the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and reinforce its position as a leading global destination for business and leisure.

Business banking ease

Ahmad Khalifa AlQaizi AlFalasi, CEO of the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), said: “The robust efficiencies delivered through the Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) are a testament to the steadfast guidance and support of our visionary leadership and underscore Dubai’s commitment to digital-first governance, consolidating the emirate’s position as a global leader in ease of doing business.

“The success of the DUL initiative also showcases how collaboration between government entities and the private sector can deliver real benefits for businesses and service providers through our shared determination to build a transparent, investor-friendly environment that supports the goals of the D33 Agenda.

“By simplifying critical processes and advancing Dubai’s digital transformation, DUL is making it easier than ever for companies to set up and grow in the city, while reinforcing the vital role of businesses in driving our economy.

“Looking ahead, DBLC will continue working closely with partners to expand the platform’s capabilities and integration, and supporting Dubai’s vision of a globally competitive, investor-friendly environment.”

Banks integrated into the DUL system

Several major banks are already integrated into the system, including:

• Emirates Islamic Bank
• Mashreq Bank
• Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)
• First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
• Emirates NBD
• Emirates Development Bank (EDB)
• Ruya Bank

Beyond banking, DUL continues to expand its scope of partnerships with leading government and financial entities such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Trade, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and Arab Financial Services (AFS).

Driving D33

Since its inception, more than 900,000 Dubai Unified Licences have been issued to businesses across the emirate’s mainland and free zones.

The initiative forms a key part of DET’s broader drive to enhance transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness in the business environment.

By consolidating processes and data across both public and private sectors, DUL is helping to reinforce Dubai’s reputation as the best city to visit, live, work and do business in — and a leading global model for digital-first governance.