The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), achieved significant milestones in 2024, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global hub for entrepreneurial growth.
The outcomes of 2024 were instrumental in advancing Emirati entrepreneurship and boosting the SME sector, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal to double the city’s economy by 2033 and solidify its position as a premier business and tourism destination.
In the past year, Dubai SME played a pivotal role in driving economic transformation and supporting Emirati entrepreneurship through a wide range of services and opportunities. It helped launch 3,461 new Emirati businesses in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s figures by 524, taking the total number of supported SMEs to 19,904 since 2002.
Furthermore, Dubai SME provided advisory services to 3,075 entrepreneurs, more than double the number from 2023, bringing the total to 53,206 beneficiaries since its founding.
Aligned with the UAE’s Year of Community, Dubai SME continues to nurture home-grown businesses, helping them grow locally and scale internationally. It also trained 5,498 entrepreneurs in 2024, a significant rise from the 1,627 in 2023, highlighting its commitment to operational excellence.
Additionally, Dubai SME extended digital marketing support to 531 startups in 2024, improving the online presence of 3,989 entrepreneurs.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SME (MBRF) played a crucial role by funding 44 projects in 2024, amounting to AED35.17 million, taking total funding to AED137 million since 2015. The Hamdan Innovation Incubator (HI2) also supported 66 entrepreneurs, bringing the total number of startups backed to 826.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, expressed that the establishment remains committed to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, ensuring their long-term success and global expansion.
