The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched a new platform aimed at helping entrepreneurs start and run businesses more efficiently in the emirate.
Called SME in a Box, the platform brings together key business services into a single system, allowing founders to access licensing support, banking, payment solutions, logistics, telecommunications and other operational services through approved partners.
Easier business setup
The platform is designed to reduce the time and administrative work often involved in setting up a business, where entrepreneurs typically deal with multiple service providers separately.
According to DET, businesses can access a network of partners through one platform instead of comparing and onboarding different providers individually.
Some digital services, including payments, logistics and telecommunications, can be activated within 24 hours through integrated onboarding processes. Services such as corporate banking and licensing approvals will continue to follow existing regulatory requirements.
Cost savings
DET said partner offers available through the platform could provide more than Dhs80,000 in potential value per business, depending on the services selected.
The savings come through discounted transaction rates, fee waivers, subsidised onboarding and reduced service charges. Emirati SME members will also receive additional support and preferential offers.
The department added that founders who use the platform for banking and payment services could save up to 200 hours otherwise spent sourcing providers, comparing options and completing onboarding procedures.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of DET, said:
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of Dubai’s economy. Through direct consultation with founders, we understood that what they need most today is clarity, speed, and cost efficiency. SME in a Box is designed as a working product that removes friction from the system: fewer steps, fewer delays, and clearer costs from the outset. Founders can see what they are getting, how long it will take, and what it will cost before they begin.
“This product reflects a broader shift in how we support SMEs: from offering individual services to delivering a coordinated operating environment. It is built in partnership with the private sector, aligned with real business needs, structured to save costs, reduce time to market and increase certainty for founders. In a rapidly evolving global landscape, our priority remains unchanged: to ensure Dubai is the most dependable, efficient, and enabling place to start and grow a business. SME in a Box is a practical step towards that goal, and we will continue to expand and refine it in line with the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”
Partner network
The platform launches with 18 private-sector partners, including Emirates NBD, Commercial Bank of Dubai, du, Aramex, DHL, Network International, Paymob, Tabby and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
DET said SME in a Box will be introduced in phases, beginning with core business services before expanding to include greater digital integration and automated onboarding features.
The platform will also be integrated with Dubai Founders HQ and, in the future, with the Invest in Dubai platform to create a single digital gateway for business setup and growth.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
