Dubai Municipality has been ranked first in the Arab world and second globally for the “ease of issuing building permits,” according to a World Bank report.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai’s civic body, said that this great achievement emphasises the leading role played by the UAE in international competitiveness, according to UAE state news agency WAM.

The World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report 2018 also showed that Dubai Courts has maintained its regional leadership for the third year running in the ease of enforcing contracts.

The UAE ranked 12th globally, scoring 74.02 out of 100 points with the regional average for the Middle East & North Africa standing at 54.21.

The World Bank report covers indexes of quality of judicial processes, court structure and proceedings, case management, court automation, alternative dispute resolution and mediation/conciliation.

Taresh Al Mansouri, Director-General of Dubai Courts, said the World Bank ranking is a global testament of the UAE’s judiciary competitiveness and its global standing among the world’s most advanced nations.

Doing Business 2018 measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business. Ten of these areas are included in this year’s ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.