The business registration and licensing activity in Dubai mirrored an increasingly positive investor sentiment and expectations.

New project pipelines and growing links to new markets are attracting more investors who are leveraging the various business set up and growth options .

Dubai’ s Department of Economic Development (DED) recorded a 15 percent increase in licenses issued in August 2013 compared to the same month of 2012 as economic activity in Dubai remained on an upward curve.

While 996 licenses were issued in August 2012, 1,148 were issued in August 2013 reflecting increasing investor confidence in Dubai.

“Overall competitiveness and sustained investment in infrastructure producing rich returns,” DED sources told Arab News.

The tourism sector saw a 29 percent increase in the number of licenses, the highest among all sectors in August 2013. The professional sector accounted for a 17 percent rise, followed by the commercial sector (15 percent).

The total number of licenses amended in August 2013 was 4,430, while the total number of renewed licenses reached 6,399.

The total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 41,993, compared to 35,847 in August 2012, an increase of 17 percent.

The number of trade names issued in August 2013 reached 4,840, up 27 percent from August 2012 (3,805).

According to the annual statistical report on the Gulf Common Market (GCM), Saudi citizens have been investing heavily in different sectors in the UAE.

Economic Departments from different emirates issued 30,425 trade licenses to GCC nationals between 2000 and 2012. Of this, 43.2 percent was issued to Saudi citizens, which is over 13,000.