Department of Economic Development’s eServices, launched on its website www.dubaided.gov.ae/eservices, has received strong response from customers, with the number of users reaching 1,034,311 at the end of 2007.

The DED launched nine eServices last year to facilitate business registration procedures and provide an efficient and simplified environment for investors in Dubai. The initiative is part of DED’s commitment to fulfill the emirate’s eGovernance policies, said an official spokesman.

The DED’s online transaction status service registered the highest usage, with 225,880 customer queries, followed by business set up simulator (212,101), search trade names (183,261), company lookup (157,633), activity search (95,104), number of licenses per person report (94,701), license renewal cost estimator (34,893), fines for a license report (21,818) and the sales and promotions service (8,920).

“The interest in eServices and the increasing number of users highlights the successful roll-out of the directives of UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as an e-driven economy,” said director of DED’s information technology division Abdullah Saif Al Kaabi.

Since the website’s launch, the number of on-line visitors clocked 274,771 from the UAE; 5,790 from the UK; 5,452 from Saudi Arabia; 4,890 from the US and 4,334 from Egypt. – TradeArabia News Service