Dubai chamber adds over 16,000 firms in 2020 despite pandemic

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) added over 16,000 new member companies in 2020 as the organisation responded to new challenges posed by the pandemic by increasing its digital services for the business community.

The value of exports and re-exports of Dubai Chamber members amounted to Dh185 billion and a total of 632,436 certificates of origin were issued by the organisation last year, the Chamber said in its annual report released on Saturday.

In 2019, a total of 18,260 new member companies had joined Dubai Chamber while exports reached Dh226 billion.

The last year’s numbers are still very positive considering the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic last year.

Meanwhile, 2,914 ATA Carnets worth Dh3.3 billion were issued and received by the Chamber. The ATA Carnet system is managed by Dubai Chamber in cooperation with Dubai Customs, facilitating the temporary entry of imports to Dubai.

In 2020, Dubai Chamber made 98 per cent of its core services available online.

Hamad Buamim, president and CEO of Dubai Chamber, credited the chamber’s positive performance and various achievements in 2020 to a number of important factors such as proactive communication, leadership, innovation, digital preparedness and close public-private sector cooperation, which helped the organisation overcome unprecedented challenges and guide the business community through various stages of the pandemic.

“Dubai Chamber remains fully committed to supporting businesses in Dubai as they adapt to a new reality and providing access to new growth opportunities at home and abroad,” Buamim said.

Though the first-half of last year was very challenging for the overall economy, but shifted to recovery mode with the easy of lockdowns and reopening of the economy in the second half after the pandemic.

The chamber processed more than 659,000 e-transactions during the year, with more than 78 per cent of the customers having to wait less than five minutes to be served.

Importantly, Dubai Chamber unveiled plans to get 50,000 local businesses online by listing them on Google my Business and train them in digital marketing. This initiative has helped 100,000 businesses across the UAE get verified over the last two years.

The chamber’s 11 international offices held 2,388 virtual meetings in 2020 and engaged with 3,652 business leaders who are keen to enter the Dubai market.

The organisation’s legal services department received 334 mediation cases, 148 of which were settled amicably, while the Dubai International Arbitration Centre received 230 arbitration cases in 2020.

In line with its role as the voice of the business community, Dubai Chamber reviewed 62 draft local and federal laws and ministerial decisions during the year 2020, with the aim of ensuring a favourable business environment.

A total of 2,166 entrepreneurs benefited from Dubai Startup Hub programmes in 2020, 19 per cent of which were Emiratis.

— waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com