The UAE announced a considerable reduction in rates for 14 services as part of a continuing attempt to improve the attractiveness of its business climate, which is ranked 12th in the world for competitiveness.

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) decreased and waived fees for 14 major and sub-services beginning January 1.

The Ministry said in a statement that "The move is consistent with the objectives of the 'Make in the Emirates' initiative, which aims to create an appealing business environment for local and international investors, as well as to support entrepreneurship and SMEs in the industrial sector by lowering the cost of doing business in the UAE."

The UAE has been ranked 12th in the world and first in the MENA region in the most recent World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), with a score of 88.67 out of 100.

The UAE is ranked 16th in the World Bank's Doing Business Report, and top among Arab countries. This is largely due to business setup services and effective business regulatory changes that make business operations easier and better.

According to the ministry, the service charge decrease would boost sustainable industries by encouraging the deployment of modern technology that reduces emissions and improves the sector's circularity.

According to the initiative, it coincides with the declaration of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, the charge for obtaining product conformance certifications from a provider of a specific conformity assessment has been reduced from Dh1,000 to Dh670.

The conformity certificate for optional products was reduced from Dh3,700 to Dh1,720, the licensing fee for using the Emirates Quality Mark was lowered from Dh26,000 to Dh2,000, the fee for using the national Halal mark was lowered from Dh18,000 to Dh2,000, and the scope of the Emirates Quality Mark and the national Halal mark was lowered from Dh2,500 to Dh250.

Fees for notifying conformity assessment entities have been reduced from Dh33,000 to Dh24,500, while prices for registering conformity assessment bodies have been reduced from Dh7,500 to Dh5,000.

According to Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of MoIAT, the action is following the ministry's goal to improve legislative flexibility and offer extra value to its clients.

Furthermore, the MoIAT eliminated the Dh481 fee for selling UAE standards.

"The fee decrease will strengthen the UAE's competitiveness via economic and business development growth, which will reflect on the ease of doing business index," said Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of MoIAT.

He stated that the decision is consistent with the ministry's objective to improve legislative flexibility and offer extra value to its clients and also lessens the load on designated bodies as well as registered conformity assessment organizations, which promotes national industries under Operation 300 Billion, the national industry, and advanced technology policy.

According to Al Suwaidi, his ministry places a high priority on creating an efficient and effective industrial business environment, citing studies conducted by the ministry's sectors that show an increase in factory demand for certificates, with an expected annual growth rate of up to 25% in the number of applications for next year, compared to a 12% increase in applications in 2020.

Furthermore, the MoIAT anticipates a rise in requests for licensing the use of the Emirates Quality Mark and granting conformity certifications for items that meet health and safety standards.

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