In a move aimed at enhancing ease of doing business and residency in the UAE, a new digital initiative has been launched today, June 5, 2025, to significantly streamline the process for obtaining and renewing specific business permits and clearances. This is part of the government's ongoing push towards comprehensive digital transformation and improving the customer experience for both companies and individual residents.The updated process, accessible via a new integrated online portal and smart application, reportedly reduces the required documentation by up to 40% and cuts down the average processing time from several days to potentially just a few hours for standard applications. The platform utilizes advanced digital verification methods and integrates various government databases to ensure efficiency and accuracy, minimizing the need for in-person visits to service centres.Officials stated that this particular streamlining focuses on permits frequently needed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual entrepreneurs, acknowledging their vital role in the UAE economy. Future phases of this initiative are planned to cover a wider range of government services, aiming to make nearly all transactions fully digital, paperless, and significantly faster by the end of the decade. This development is expected to be particularly welcomed by the large expat business community, simplifying administrative burdens and allowing more focus on core business activities.