Dubai awards Dh1.78 billion in contracts to Emirati SMEs in 2025, up 38% under Supplier Programme

Dubai awarded Dh1.78 billion in contracts to Emirati small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2025, a 38 per cent increase on the previous year, as part of the Emirati Supplier Programme managed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development. The programme — supported by 84 participating entities — now includes 1,070 Emirati establishments and aims to deepen the participation of national companies across public and private supply chains in support of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

"Supporting entrepreneurs and Emirati start-ups is an investment in Dubai's future, in the potential of our people, and in the companies that will lead tomorrow's economy and contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said after reviewing the latest results of the programme.

The Dh1.78 billion total reflects procurement across government, semi-government, private and federal entities. Government entities accounted for Dh1.03 billion of contract value, while semi-government entities contributed Dh420.5 million. Private sector awards amounted to Dh254.9 million and federal entities represented Dh74.6 million. The distribution underscores the role of public-sector demand in catalysing opportunities for Emirati-owned businesses while attracting private-sector participation.

Programme mechanics and participants

The Emirati Supplier Programme is overseen by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, a subsidiary of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Its stated objective is to strengthen Emirati SME participation in supply chains across both public and private sectors, thereby supporting entrepreneurship, economic diversification and sustainable private sector growth under the D33 agenda.

• Contracts awarded in 2025: Dh1.78 billion
• Year-on-year increase: 38%
• Government entity awards: Dh1.03 billion
• Semi-government awards: Dh420.5 million
• Private sector awards: Dh254.9 million
• Federal entity awards: Dh74.6 million
• Participating entities: 84
• Registered Emirati establishments: 1,070

Officials stressed that the programme’s expansion will help channel more public procurement to Emirati SMEs, a strategic lever for nurturing homegrown enterprises and building capabilities within the national private sector. By increasing the volume and visibility of contracts directed to Emirati businesses, programme managers expect to accelerate firm-level growth, job creation and the formation of longer-term supplier relationships with large government and semi-government buyers.

Outlook

With the Emirati Supplier Programme now linked to more than 80 procurement entities and over a thousand national establishments, momentum appears to be building going into 2026. Continued emphasis on funneling government and semi-government spending to Emirati SMEs will be critical to meeting D33 targets on entrepreneurship and diversification. Authorities will likely focus next on raising private-sector participation, enhancing supplier capability, and tracking the economic impact of contracts on employment and revenues within registered Emirati firms.