Service fees reduced by 50 per cent in UAE

Service fees for the registration of properties, rental contracts and other transactions at the Abu Dhabi Municipality have been reduced by up to 50 per cent, according to a new government resolution.

Abu Dhabi has also exempted all businesses issued with new licences from local fees for two years as the Capital looks to attract investors.

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council resolutions that have been published in the latest local official gazette came into force on December 1, 2018.

The secretary-general of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, issued the Council’s Resolution No.336 of 2018 concerning the reduction and cancellation of fees of some municipal services in Abu Dhabi.

Al Mazrouei said: “These decisions come with the aim of bolstering the competitiveness of the businessenvironment and improving it in a way that attracts companies and institutions and developing partnerships with the private sector.”

In the new resolution, 75 municipality services fees were cancelled and 23 municipality fees were reduced by 10 to 50 per cent.

Services for which fees were either cancelled or reduced included the replacement of title deeds; photocopying of a real estate’s file; land ownership merging; registration of rental contracts; to whom it may concern certificates; clearance certificate for no-objection of building on industrial land; exchange of low-cost houses; will registration; delivery of ownership borderline poles; and provision of land coordinates, digital and paper satellite maps.

The changes were applied on fees that ranged from Dh50 to Dh10,000.

A separate Resolution No.337 of 2018 has been issued to exempt firms from fees – such as those for government approvals or documenting contracts – upon the release of their new licences.

“All concerned parties should implement this decision in coordination with the Department of Economic Development. The decision will be implemented from December 1, 2018,” the resolution stated.

Emirati businessman Hussein Al Shamsi welcomed the decision, saying it would boost the business landscape of the Capital.

“This is a great move by the Abu Dhabi government. The exemption of new businesses from paying licence fees for two years will attract more firms to come to Abu Dhabi,” said Al Shamsi.

“Reducing the fees on many municipality services including the registration of properties and rental contracts will increase transactions at the municipality and boost economic development.”