Aruba business permits for new establishments totalled 259 during the third quarter of 2026, according to figures announced by Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Geoffrey Wever and reported by 24ora on October 14.
New-business approvals rise from a year earlier
The July-to-September total was 22 higher than the 237 permits issued in the same quarter of 2025, an increase of about 9%, the minister said. There were 106 new permits in July, 64 in August and 89 in September.
The new quarterly figures bring the January-to-September total to 501, following 242 permits during the first half of 2026. The second quarter alone accounted for 104.
Applications and decisions cover different stages
The Department of Economic Affairs received 579 applications of various kinds during the third quarter. Of those, 156 had been processed, 275 remained in progress and 148 could not be processed because required documents or proof of payment were missing, according to the announcement.
The minister also reported 494 signed ministerial decisions relating to establishment permits. That separate total includes applications received in earlier periods as well as during the quarter; it is not the number of newly permitted businesses.
Source: 24ora’s report on Minister Wever’s third-quarter permit figures.
