Dubai SME, the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, achieved a landmark year in 2024. Operating under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the organization played a pivotal role in advancing Emirati entrepreneurship and accelerating the growth of the SME sector — key pillars of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the city’s economy by 2033.

Over the years, Dubai SME facilitated the launch of 3,461 new Emirati businesses — an increase of 524 compared to 2023 — bringing the total number of supported SMEs since its founding in 2002 to nearly 19,904.

The organization also doubled its advisory reach, providing expert mentorship and guidance to 3,075 entrepreneurs, raising the cumulative total to 53,206 beneficiaries.

In line with the UAE’s “Year of Community” initiative, Dubai SME intensified its efforts to nurture local talent and drive innovation. Training programs and awareness sessions reached 5,498 entrepreneurs in 2024, up sharply from 1,627 the previous year, reinforcing its focus on building operational excellence among startups.

Financial empowerment remained a key focus. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SMEs (MBRF) financed $9.6 million across 44 projects, raising its total funding to $37.3 million since 2015. The Hamdan Innovation Incubator (HI2) also expanded its impact, supporting 66 entrepreneurs in 2024, up from 29 the previous year.

Dubai SME expanded its outreach by participating in the inaugural Hatta Farming Festival and launching a relief program after April’s heavy rains, providing over $681,000 in support to affected SMEs.

It also boosted visibility for Emirati startups at major events, including Global Village, Expand North Star 2024, and Gulfood 2024. New initiatives such as the Idea Lab with Intelak Hub and the Emirati Tech Founder Program (E-TFP) further strengthened support for startups in the aviation, tourism, and tech sectors.

Looking ahead, Dubai SME plans to scale up training, enhance digital tools, and forge new partnerships to empower Emirati entrepreneurs.