How Dubai is supporting small businesses

Dubai has rolled out a range of targeted measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recover and scale, drawing on the UAE Central Bank’s Financial Institution Resilience Package and the emirate’s Dh1 billion relief package. Initiatives include free retail space from Ma’an by Majid Al Futtaim in partnership with Dubai SME, bank fee waivers and discounts from institutions such as Emirates NBD, and consumer incentives including Uber’s trip discounts to cultural districts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"Brands must prove they are a locally established business with a valid UAE trade license, and that they have been in continuous operation for a period of at least 12 months," the Ma’an eligibility criteria state, outlining how local entrepreneurs can access in-mall exposure.

Measures on offer

• Free retail exposure: Ma’an by Majid Al Futtaim, working with Dubai SME (part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism), is offering direct space at high-traffic locations such as Mall of the Emirates and THAT Concept Store. The initiative also provides visibility through Carrefour, VOX Cinemas and the SHARE loyalty programme, and is open to locally established brands meeting the 12-month operation and trade licence requirements.
• Bank fee relief: Emirates NBD (ENBD) has announced multiple waivers, including cash withdrawal fees at ATMs across the UAE and GCC, loan deferment fee waivers, waivers on international courier charges for business card deliveries, and cheque return fee relief tied to unforeseen cash-flow interruptions. ENBD is also offering a 30% reduction on charges for letters of credit and guarantees and a 40% discount on cash management services. Ajman Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) have announced similar relief measures for their customers.
• Consumer incentives: In the first week of April, Uber UAE offered 20% off Uber trips via promo codes to encourage visits to cultural districts and community hubs, including Alserkal Avenue and Al Seef in Dubai and Marsa Al Bateen and Miza in Abu Dhabi.
• Business-to-business support: Dubai-based companies and retailers are providing in-kind marketing and retail space. ThinkSmart Hub is offering complementary promotional video reels to select UAE businesses. Kidzapp has launched The Smiles Project to give select local child-focused businesses exclusive exposure on its app. Retailer Brands For Less is providing SMEs with rent-free space to showcase products alongside boosted visibility on social platforms.

Collectively, these measures combine public-sector relief with private-sector support to lower operating costs, increase customer footfall and improve visibility for small businesses. Ma’an’s in-mall placements and Carrefour/VOX cross-promotion aim to connect local brands with mainstream retail audiences, while the banking fee concessions address immediate cash-flow pressures for SMEs.

The mix of temporary fee relief, discounted consumer travel and free marketing or retail space is designed to help SMEs transition from recovery to longer-term growth. With multiple banks and private partners participating, Dubai’s approach seeks to sustain momentum for small businesses as they rebuild revenues and reconnect with customers.