DUBAI: The Dubai Department of Economic Development has launched ‘eTrader’ licence to run a business on social media.
The initiative is aimed to promote and facilitate doing business in Dubai; and the emirate expects to issue some 3,000 e-Trader licenses in 2017.
The licence is open to Emiratis and GCC citizens in Dubai.
“We are delighted to launch e-Trader as it will have a significant role in promoting consumer confidence in shopping for products and services on social networking sites. Through this initiative, we aim to promote and facilitate doing business in Dubai and introduce new solutions capable of contributing to economic development in Dubai, and the UAE in general,” said Omar Bushahab, CEO of Business Registration & Licensing (BRL) sector in DED.
e-Trader not only eliminates obstacles for social media users but also improves accountability and intellectual property protection. “Licensing a business activity enhances consumer confidence on one hand and on the other, it removes the risk of infringement on a reserved trade name or other intellectual property. A license guarantees the rights of everyone concerned and defines the legal accountability of the merchant.”
No Shop, No Visas
The e-Trader license can be registered under the name of a single owner only and the owner must be an Emirati or GCC citizen aged 18 or above and residing in Dubai. The e-Trader cannot open a shop or issue visas and in case of a legal dispute, the licensee alone will be held responsible.
Abdul Aziz Bin Hathboor, Director of Customer Relations in BRL, said the e-Trader license offers varied privileges to the merchant, most notably a detailed user feedback and observations on the merchant’s products and services.
Bin Hathboor said the first phase of the initiative will include creating awareness among traders and owners of social networking sites on the benefits of e-Trader. Nearly 3,000 e-Traders are expected to be licensed in Dubai in 2017.
“Those who wish to obtain an e-Trader license can complete the registration by visiting the site www.etradr.ae and entering their details, such as proof of identity, type of business activity and the account through which products and services will be displayed. Once the entries are validated and payment completed, the license will be electronically issued,” said Bin Hathboor.
– By Rajive Singh