Dubai:Taking stock of the global turbulence, and recessionary pressures triggered by the rapidly evolving context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) unveiled a series of impactful measures to aid sustainability of businesses within its ecosystem, in alignment with the city’s stimulus package recently announced under the directives of
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of the Board of
Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), announced a comprehensive support
programme covering key sectors associated with the DWTCA portfolio - Meetings
Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions [MICE], Free Zone [FZ], Retail and Commercial
Real Estate - providing critical remedial aid to tackle some the most immediate
challenges faced by clients and vendors, in particular the most vulnerable and deepest
hit businesses. Commenting on the initiative, His Highness explained, “Dubai’s
economy is built for resilience in scenarios of extreme global volatility and
unprecedented uncertainty. Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and
the Ruler of Dubai, our city continues to deliver expedient and concerted societal action,
harnessing the collective efforts of government, business and the community, to ensure
economic stability in today’s climate.
DWTCA has been working actively with all stakeholders over the past weeks to support
sectoral needs, and these latest measures are an enablement of broader financial relief
to enable business continuity, and operational sustainability for entities housed within
the FZ complex”.

DWTCA COVID-19 Extraordinary Measures Programme covers various categories of

actions, to provide timely assistance, especially to smaller scale businesses, and core
sectors across business tourism and events. To ensure accelerated return to normalcy,
many of the key highlights outlined below have already been activated:
1. MICE BUSINESS:
a. For organisers - Zero [0] cancellation and/or rescheduling fees; No
penalties for late payments; Allow carry forward of pre-paid fees as credit
to 2021; and
b. For exhibitors (DWTC-owned exhibitions) - Full refund on cancelled
events and where new schedule is not feasible for participants

2. RETAIL TENANTS:
a. Up to 6-months rent-free on base rent [April – Sept 2020] for retail tenants
in the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and One
Central, impacted by mandatory public lock-down restrictions – eg.
Government enforced cancellations, and/ or temporary facility closures.

3. SMEs and START-UP TENANTS:
a. Up to 3-month base rent deferment for DWTCA commercial tenants [April-
June 2020]

4. FREE ZONE BUSINESSES [effective for 3 months starting April to June 2020]:
a. 70% rebate on annual fees for all category-specific business registrations
and licenses [new and renewal];
b. 50% rebate on annual fees for general trade licenses and registrations;
and
c. 0% administration fee on all visas - new, transfer and renewals

Measures above are aimed at supporting enterprises within the DWTCA ecosystem to
better manage their fixed operating costs, and liquidity amidst loss of activity due to
stringent public health related restrictions and business closures.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre
Authority and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said:
"Guided by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when he declared
coronavirus as much ‘an economic virus as a health one’, and the imminent ‘need for
unity, cooperation and solidarity to protect our economy and confidently combat this
global crisis’, DWTC is grateful for the unfailing backing of our leadership and our Board
in introducing these hard-hitting, and urgent remedial measures for business resilience.

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As a foundational pillar of the emirate’s business tourism industry, we seek to assist our
stakeholders navigate the COVID-19 circumstantial risks, preserve financial viability,
and manage operational sustainability for the interim until conditions normalise. The
actions unveiled today are designed to significantly subsidise the cost of doing business
within the DWTCA free zone complex for those most impacted – especially the smaller
players and those in the MICE ecosystem, offering assistance to our clients, partners
and suppliers.
Even as we work towards active recovery, and acceleration of the economic
contributions of business tourism to Dubai’s GDP, we continue to diligently prioritise
protecting the health and safety of our people and our communities. These factors
remain integral to our core values as a business, and we are deeply appreciative of the
trust and confidence that the industry has shown in us and in Dubai, as we work
together to tackle this global crisis.”