DUBAI: Dubai SME recorded its most impactful year yet in 2024, helping shape the future of local entrepreneurship and boosting business confidence. As part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai SME has actively accelerated Emirati-led startups and made measurable progress aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The organisation supported the launch of 3,461 new Emirati businesses, up from 2,937 in 2023, pushing the total to nearly 20,000 since 2002. In a strong advisory push, 3,075 entrepreneurs received guidance, double the previous year’s number.
Dubai SME’s training programmes reached 5,498 entrepreneurs, a big leap from 1,627 in 2023. It also offered digital marketing and commercial promotion to 531 startups, enhancing the visibility of 3,989 entrepreneurs since inception.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SME (MBRF) invested AED35.17 million in 44 projects, bringing its total funding to AED137 million across 168 businesses since 2015. The Hamdan Innovation Incubator (HI2) also supported 66 startups, helping them scale up in competitive markets.
Dubai SME showed strong community focus in 2024, offering rainfall relief worth AED2.5 million to affected SMEs and leading workshops at the Hatta Farming Festival. It also gave entrepreneurs exposure at top events like Global Village, Expand North Star, Emaratipreneur Expo, Gulfood, and the Idea Lab Programme.
Initiatives like the Emirati Tech Founder Program (E-TFP) reflect its commitment to sustainable, tech-driven innovation aligned with the UAE’s net-zero goals.
Dubai SME now looks to 2025 with plans to expand e-commerce tools, form new partnerships, and support even more startups across key sectors.
