The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has commenced the first in a series of quarterly surveys aimed at evaluating the impact of various regulations and the current market situations on business performance.

The survey, covering the on-shore and free zone business community, will ascertain the perceptions of Dubai’s business community and potentially initiate business-friendly actions that would further enhance the competitiveness of the Dubai economy.

The respondents will include entrepreneurs and senior management professionals to understand their views on the performance and prospects of Dubai’s business environment.

Sami Al Qamzi, director general of DED, said the survey is a key initiative by the department to benchmark the business environment of Dubai from the feedback of business owners and professionals.

“As people who are directly involved in business, all regulations and other economic factors have a direct bearing on them. It is important to understand their views on the business climate, which will further enable us to make improvements if needed,” he said.

He added: “This proactive approach that fosters public-private partnerships is extremely important in today’s fast-changing global business environment. Dubai is one of the competitive economies in the world, and we want to further boost its appeal and thus reiterate its position as a leading foreign investment destination and one of the best cities to do business.”

A true demonstration of DED’s commitment to continuous engagement with the business community, the survey covers all major sectors of the economy with special emphasis on understanding the current situation and future prospects for key segments such as small and medium enterprises and exporters, a statement said.

The surveys are expected to yield leading indicators of business performance across all sectors of the economy, and help DED to set the Business Confidence Index.

This will be a valuable tool in improving economic forecasts and policy making. DED will also use the feedback from the survey to enhance its plans for continued support for Dubai’s private sector.

DED has mandated a leading global consultancy firm Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) for undertaking the survey. – TradeArabia News Survey