Dubai SME And Deliveroo Collaborate To Empower Emirati-Owned SMEs In Food Sector

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME) is collaborating with Deliveroo to boost opportunities for SMEs in the food and beverage sector. This partnership aims to support Emirati-owned businesses registered with Dubai SME by facilitating market entry and accelerating digital adoption.

SMEs are crucial to Dubai's economy, making up over 90% of registered businesses and employing most of the private sector workforce. In this context, F&B entrepreneurs significantly contribute to Dubai's culinary reputation. The partnership with Deliveroo offers these businesses affordable access to digital tools and customer engagement opportunities.

Nick Price, General Manager at Deliveroo Middle East, stated, "At Deliveroo, we are committed to empowering local businesses and ensuring Emirati-owned SMEs have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s fast-evolving digital economy." This collaboration aims to reduce barriers to entry while providing ongoing support for F&B entrepreneurs.

The MoU between Dubai SME and Deliveroo introduces a new model of public-private collaboration. It offers significant commercial benefits such as special onboarding fees, preferential commission structures, and promotional support. These incentives aim to enhance customer acquisition and marketing efforts for participating businesses.

Beyond financial incentives, the partnership provides a comprehensive digital transformation package. This includes in-app marketing visibility, dedicated onboarding assistance, operational training programmes, and personalised account management during the early adaptation period. Such support ensures a smooth transition to digital platforms for SMEs.

Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, highlighted the importance of SMEs in Dubai’s economic success. He said, "SMEs are pivotal to Dubai’s economic success... By combining Deliveroo's technological expertise with our deep understanding of local business needs... accelerating the digital transformation that will define the future economy."

Strategic Public-Private Partnerships

This collaboration aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to double Dubai’s economy size by 2033. It supports local entrepreneurship by unlocking new growth pathways for homegrown businesses. The initiative also aims to integrate Emirati entrepreneurs into the business ecosystem.

Dubai SME plans to support 8,000 new Emirati ventures by 2033, increasing supported businesses from 19,000 in 2024 to 27,000. This effort is part of its mission to integrate Emirati talent into the business ecosystem while advancing broader economic diversification targets.

The partnership exemplifies how strategic public-private partnerships can deliver tangible results for SMEs while advancing broader economic diversification targets aligned with D33 goals. It reflects a shared belief that such collaborations are powerful drivers of innovation and economic progress.

With inputs from WAM