Dubai SME, Google launch pilot program to enhance digital skills for 10 high-potential Emirati businesses

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced a partnership with global tech giant Google. This collaboration aims to launch an innovative initiative focused on enhancing the digital competitiveness of Emirati-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as reported by Dubai Media Office.

The announcement was made in the presence of prominent figures including Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, part of DET; Ahmad Alroom Almheiri, acting CEO of Dubai SME; Anthony Nakache, managing director for Google MENA; and Martin Roeske, MENA director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google.

Overcoming budget constraints and skill gaps in digital marketing

The pilot program will support a carefully selected group of 10 high-potential Emirati businesses by providing them with access to premium digital marketing tools, advertising credits, and expert mentorship. This initial phase, intended as a proof of concept (POC), addresses significant challenges faced by smaller enterprises, such as limited budgets, the need to develop digital marketing skills, and reduced access to major advertising platforms. By doing so, it enables participants to compete globally while maintaining a much lower capital investment.

These businesses were chosen based on specific criteria aimed at testing and refining the program’s model. Upon successful completion of this pilot, proven strategies and resources will be scaled up into a broader industry-wide program designed to support a larger number of SMEs.

This initiative underscores Dubai SME’s dedication to furthering the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to establish Dubai as the fastest-growing and most appealing business hub for SMEs and local champions.

The collaboration utilizes a distinctive tripartite co-funding model, wherein the total investment for each participating business is equally divided among Dubai SME, Google, and the SME itself. This approach fosters ownership, accountability, and the development of long-term capabilities.

Providing businesses with expert advice and creative resources

Participating businesses will gain from strategic professional guidance, creative support, and access to Google’s advertising platforms, enabling them to conduct impactful campaigns and elevate their digital performance.

The program also draws on DET’s marketing expertise and its network of partners across both public and private sectors, ensuring participants receive hands-on mentorship regarding digital strategy, content, and campaign optimization.

Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, acting CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), remarked: “Under the visionary leadership guiding Dubai’s transformation, SMEs represent both the driving force and future of Dubai’s economy. This pioneering collaboration with Google exemplifies how strategic collaboration between government and the private sector can transform challenges into opportunities for Emirati entrepreneurs.

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Empowering Emirati enterprises

By investing in genuine digital capability, we are ensuring Emirati businesses can scale with confidence, compete on the global stage, and play their vital role in achieving the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. This initiative further reinforces our commitment to making Dubai the most attractive hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Martin Roeske, director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google MENA, stated, “Technology is the great equalizer. It allows a traditional family business to reach the same global customers as a high-tech unicorn. By teaming up with Dubai SME, we’re putting Google’s most advanced AI tools, along with ads credits and mentorship, directly into the hands of Emirati entrepreneurs – giving them the precision to make every dirham count and compete on a world stage.”

The pilot phase is set to begin later this year, with performance insights expected to inform future digital enablement initiatives aimed at strengthening Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.