MEC issues circular cancelling CR dept stamp on signboards

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) yesterday issued a circular cancelling the Commercial Registration and Licenses Department’s stamp on the design of commercial signboards.The ministry has said in a press statement that the circular is in line with its efforts to “streamline work procedures, provide investor services in line with the best standards and reduce the number of commercial licensing procedures”.Based on the circular, the stamp of the Commercial Registration and Licenses Department is no longer required on the design of signboards of commercial and industrial establishments as well as similar stores before the sign is manufactured.When designing the signboard, companies shall be responsible for matching the data on the signboard with the data in the commercial register, the statement notes.The circular highlights the need to write the data on the signboard in Arabic based on the commercial register’s data while adding a translation in English and the number of the commercial register.In case the company wishes to add an advertisement or trademark to the signboard, a legal proof shall be submitted.All companies must adhere to and implement the circular from the date it goes into effect, the MEC has said.The ministry had earlier launched a number of initiatives to reduce licensing procedures and provide investor services in line with the best standards in a bid to streamline procedures and transactions.