Dubai SME Collaborates with noon Food to Empower Emirati F&B Startups

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced a strategic partnership with noon Food to foster growth among Emirati-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

This alliance was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which outlines a comprehensive plan for integrating eligible Dubai SME members onto noon's digital platform. This integration will enable businesses to tap into a vast customer base, utilize delivery services, access payment systems, and engage in targeted marketing campaigns.

This initiative is in line with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, which envisions doubling the emirate’s economy by 2033 and enhancing its stature as a premier hub for SMEs and entrepreneurship.

As part of the agreement, noon Food has committed to waiving onboarding fees for participating SMEs and instituting a tailored five-year commission structure that starts at 10% in Year One and escalates to 20% by Year Five. Additionally, noon will offer robust marketing assistance, including advertising credits and enhanced visibility during significant seasonal promotions, aiming to boost customer acquisition and foster sustainable growth.

Operational support will also be part of the collaboration, providing onboarding help, expert advice, dedicated account management, and detailed monthly performance evaluations. These measures are intended to help SMEs enhance performance while ensuring transparency.

Dubai SME will play a pivotal role in identifying eligible F&B businesses, promoting the partnership, and overseeing smooth execution to optimize benefits for Emirati entrepreneurs.

Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, emphasized that this collaboration will unveil new opportunities for local entrepreneurs by merging government backing with the capabilities of a digital platform. He stated that the initiative is set to propel sustainable growth and enable effective competition in the digital marketplace.

Faraz Khalid, Group CEO of noon, remarked that this partnership will equip Emirati businesses with essential tools and infrastructure to expand swiftly while contributing to Dubai’s economic ambitions.

With SMEs comprising over 95% of registered businesses in Dubai, they are fundamental to job creation, innovation, and economic diversification. Emirati-owned F&B enterprises, specifically, are instrumental in shaping the landscape of Dubai’s food sector and driving growth in digital commerce.

Through this five-year collaboration, Dubai SME and noon Food aspire to enhance market reach, elevate brand visibility, and expedite digital transformation for local F&B entrepreneurs.