HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman of the Executive Council, has issued a decree announcing the launch of an Events Licensing System (ELS) to be implemented by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of TCA Abu Dhabi, will form a committee to oversee the implementation of strategies and policies surrounding the coordination of events in Abu Dhabi between the relevant authorities, by providing support for necessary services and facilities, while enhancing the contribution of government, private sector, and relevant stakeholders when organising events in the emirate.

The introduction of the ELS will drive tourism industry growth within the emirate through improving event planning, and by developing industry best practice in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

The ELS will allow for a streamlined process of registration while outlining licensing requirements, connecting to ticketing and other electronic systems, and providing insight on industry-wide metrics. The centralised system will also assist host venues identify potential calendar conflicts and identify opportunities for TCA Abu Dhabi to identify clusters of sector specific event promotional opportunities, such as the recent Abu Dhabi Aviation Week, a series of aviation themed industry and consumer events staged in April 2016.

ELS will be applied in the fourth quarter of 2016, and will consolidate relations with TCA Abu Dhabi’s strategic partners, as well as enhance the quality of services provided by stakeholders across the emirate’s tourism sector. By supporting event organisers, TCA Abu Dhabi will facilitate coordination between organisers from both the public and private sectors.

The service will be applied to entities that organise and manage events across Abu Dhabi, which include those with dedicated spaces for hosting functions. Its scope also covers events held in tourism investment areas and free zones.

ELS places an emphasis on processing event licences and collecting key information from functions across the emirate, including agendas, participants, speakers, set-up dates and locations, among others. The new service will cover all entertainment, sports, art, culture, education, tourism, health, and any other events relating to these fields.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: "Through the Events Licensing System, we seek to organise, standardise, and manage events across Abu Dhabi, whether leisure or business-related, in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, which leads the emirate on a path to become a global tourism destination.

His Excellency added: "The new online platform will help reduce the time required for registering events and obtaining permits, and will include an expanded database on tourism performance, growth trends, event types, success indicators, and meeting targets. All efforts will be executed in close collaboration with the relevant strategic partners in the emirate."

The service requires event organisers to register all their events on the website, which includes all necessary information about requirements for obtaining licences, in addition to the ticketing systems where tickets can be issued, distributed and marketed, as well as other electronic solutions.

TCA Abu Dhabi will produce an event and statistics guide for events organised in the emirate. It will also organise extensive workshops with stakeholders and event organisers from government and private sectors to introduce the new electronic system, the registration mechanism for various events and the application process for event licensing. - TradeArabia News Service