UAE regulator deal aims to bring more telecoms to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi will seek to encourage more telecoms companies to set up in the emirate as part of an agreement with the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.

The TRA has agreed to help streamline the procedure for companies gaining a commercial licence through Abu Dhabi Business Centre.

The deal underscores the desire to improve access to electronic services for businesses.

"Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development [Added] is keen on creating effective cooperation with the relevant federal and local government bodies, for realising the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 within the strategy of the emirate of Abu Dhabi for … increasing the effectiveness of services to the business community," said Mohammed Omar Abdullah, undersecretary of Added, in a statement announcing the agreement yesterday.

Designed as a one-stop shop for business people in the emirate, the Abu Dhabi Business Centre is aimed at cutting the time it takes to start a new business to a matter of days.

When it launched the facility in March, Added said it planned to add nine government institutions this year to its partnership with the business centre, which will mean it can offer 90 per cent of the paperwork and legwork required for businesses.

Entrepreneurs who need quick decisions already have access in the centre to Daman, Aramex, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Police and Civil Defence.