In a move to accelerate Dubai’s digital economy and empower local entrepreneurs, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced a strategic collaboration with Google to enhance the digital capabilities of Emirati-owned SMEs.

The initiative, launched in the presence of Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Ahmad Alroom Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, and senior Google executives Anthony Nakache and Martin Roeske, aims to strengthen the global competitiveness of local businesses through advanced digital tools and training.

The pilot programme will provide 10 high-potential Emirati SMEs with access to Google’s premium digital marketing platforms, advertising credits, and expert mentorship. Designed as a proof of concept, the initiative addresses key challenges faced by small enterprises, including limited budgets, digital skill gaps, and constraints that hinder expansion. It will enable businesses to reach international audiences with lower upfront investment.

Each selected business will co-invest alongside Dubai SME and Google through a tripartite funding model that promotes accountability and long-term capability building. The programme will also leverage DET’s marketing expertise and partner network to provide hands-on mentorship in digital strategy, content development, and campaign optimisation.

Ahmad Alroom Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, said the collaboration embodies the government’s vision for an innovation-driven economy under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. “This partnership with Google exemplifies how public-private collaboration can transform challenges into opportunities for Emirati entrepreneurs. By investing in digital capability, we are empowering local businesses to compete globally and drive Dubai’s growth as a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation,” he said.

Martin Roeske, Google’s MENA Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy, added: “Technology is the great equalizer. It allows a traditional family business to reach the same global customers as a high-tech startup. By teaming up with Dubai SME, we’re placing advanced AI tools, ad credits, and mentorship directly in the hands of Emirati entrepreneurs.”

Set to launch later this year, the pilot’s findings will inform future large-scale programmes designed to strengthen Dubai’s SME ecosystem and advance the goals of the D33 agenda to establish Dubai as the fastest-growing and most attractive destination for business and innovation.