Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) get special focus from the UAE Government as they are considered vital for the economic diversification and growth and also because they help in building national human resources. SMEs in the UAE find support for launching and growth from National SME Programme, The UAE SME Council, Operation 300bn, the UAE’s industrial strategy, Khalifa Fund and Dubai SME.
As of mid-2022, the number of small & medium enterprises in the UAE was 557,000. SMEs contribute as much as 63.5 per cent to the non-oil GDP. It is forecasted that there will be 1 million SMEs in the UAE by the year 2030.
Some of the steps taken by the UAE to boost SMEs are as follows. The UAE:
The Future Industries Lab, run by Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) is designed to enhance the technical skills of SMEs and provide young Emiratis with knowledge in quality control and product development. Its ultimate goal is to build up the capacity of these industries for the future.
The Lab offers innovative training programmes that explore future industries in collaboration with leading organisations and business groups in the UAE. This programme enables national industries to align their priorities and objectives with cutting-edge technologies and it elevates the competitiveness of SMEs and individuals.
Related links from
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance has introduced advanced digital solutions aimed at creating a business-friendly and supportive environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These solutions include:
Read more about Ministry of Finance’s support to SMEs.
Ministry of Economy
Read about the National Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises which aims to enable Emirati entrepreneurs and SME owners to establish and develop their businesses.
Khalifa Fund
Khalifa Fund, a not-for-profit entity mandated by the Abu Dhabi Government has been supporting SMEs since 2007. It started with a capital of AED 300 million, which increased to AED 2 billion and now covers SMEs across the UAE.
Services of Khalifa Fund
Khalifa Fund helps aspiring Emirati businessmen with the following services:
Funding from Khalifa Fund
The table below shows the various programmes under which one can seek funds. Click on the image for a larger view of the text.
Apply for fund
To apply for fund, send an eMail to kfgateway@khalifafund.ae for steps on registering on the Khalifa Fund Gateway or log on to the Smart Khalifa Fund portal.
View your journey from applying for membership to starting your business (PDF, 500 KB).
Refer to the FAQs relating to application, loans, memberships etc.
Download the Business Plan template (Docx file, 350 KB).
Refer to Abu Dhabi SME Hub for additional resources on launching a business.
Dubai SME supports GCC nationals to establish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the emirate of Dubai. Established in 2002, it was created as an integrated division of the Department of Economic Development (DED) and as a resource for support, information and outreach for the growing small and medium enterprise sector.
Services of Dubai SME
Dubai SME helps in all aspects of business: planning, launching and growing.
Planning
Under planning, Dubai SME offers guidance and training to aspiring entrepreneurs. For seeking guidance, GCC nationals must provide the following documents:
How to apply
For guidance, apply to Dubai SME by writing to info@sme.ae.
For training, apply to Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy.
Launching
Dubai SME exempts start-ups from licensing-related fees for five years from the start of the business. It also helps in issuing the Intelaq licence for Dubai residents who wish to run a business from home. It also provides funding options for launching the business.
Funding from Dubai SME
Dubai SME offers a loan on the seed capital to a maximum of 1 million AED to reduce initial costs of starting up a business project.
Terms and conditions
To seek funding from Dubai SME, the following conditions must be met:
Note:
Growing
Dubai SME helps SMEs to grow their businesses by:
Get all eServices from Dubai SME.
Useful links:
The National Entrepreneurship Agenda- – Ministry of Economy Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Market Conduct Regulation-(PDF,1.54 MB)- Central Bank of the UAE.
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