Dubai teams up with Amazon to boost local SME growth

A new government initiative is set to accelerate the growth and global competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Dubai through a strategic partnership with Amazon UAE. The ‘DET x Amazon Accelerator,’ launched by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), will provide local businesses with cutting-edge digital tools, resources, and mentorship.

According to Ronaldo Mouchawar, vice president of Amazon Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, the online retailer plans to feature products from 100,000 businesses, including Dubai-based SMEs, on Amazon.ae by 2026.

The program is built on five core pillars:

1. Global reach: Offering SMEs access to Amazon’s international market.
2. Digital upskilling: Delivering workshops to upskill SMEs on Amazon’s latest tools and strategies.
3. Tailored expertise: Providing personalized guidance from Amazon service providers, including support for account registration, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon Advertising, and Brand Registry.
4. Enhanced visibility: Promoting registered businesses on Amazon’s “Shop Local” storefront, with exclusive prominence during online sales events.
5. Marketing support: Equipping SMEs with Amazon Ads credits to fuel their marketing campaigns

“Our collaboration with Amazon marks a pivotal step in fulfilling the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33’s goal of empowering local SMEs to harness the full potential of digital commerce,” said Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation at DET.

SMEs interested in joining can find more information and register here.