Saudi Gazette report

 

RIYADH — Many businesswomen and men are migrating to Dubai because of complicated government procedures for launching new projects in the Kingdom, executive manager of the Khadija Bint Khuwaylid Center at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Basmah Umair was quoted as saying in a section of the Arabic press here on Saturday.



Umair said that she has received many e-mails from businesswomen who have launched investment projects in Dubai.



“Procedures between the municipalities and the ministries of commerce, industry, labor, and the Civil Defense simply take a very long time. This causes delays in launching projects, which causes huge losses,” she said while stressing that Saudi businesswomen’s investments in Dubai were mainly in the sectors of media and advertising, marketing, fashion and training.



According to Umair, the center has communicated with several ministries to facilitate procedures, and some issues have been resolved. However, she believes that simplifying complicated government procedures will take a much longer time.



She also stated that migration to Dubai is not limited to investors, but young Saudis of both genders are also migrating to the Emirate for better opportunities.



The head of the investment committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Huda Al-Jeraisi, concurred. She said that she has received information on a number of businesswomen who have either migrated or are in the process of migrating to Dubai.



“Due to the recent residency correction campaign, a number of businesswomen have faced difficulties investing inside the country. Procedures and directives have increased investment costs, which drove many to migrate to Dubai,” she said.