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7/17/25, 10:03 AM Empowering SMEs is key to raising Abu Dhabi’s economic competitiveness | The National
Empowering SMEs is key to raising Abu Dhabi’s

economic competitiveness

Mouza Al Nasri

Mouza Al Nasri is chief executive officer at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development

July 16, 2025
The Abu Dhabi emirate continues to make steady progress in diversifying its economy, fostering

entrepreneurship and empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, all in alignment with the
leadership’s vision to enhance economic competitiveness and future readiness.

By the middle of last year, the total number of registered companies in the UAE reached more than 1

million, representing an increase of 152 per cent compared to early 2020. SMEs account for more
than 95 per cent of all businesses and employ about 86 per cent of the private sector workforce. As of
the end of 2024, the UAE’s non-oil gross domestic product reached about Dh1.342 trillion ($365.4
billion), representing 75.5 per cent of the country’s total GDP. In Abu Dhabi alone, non-oil sectors

contributed 55.2 per cent to the emirate’s GDP in the second quarter of last year.

Within this evolving landscape, enterprise development efforts in Abu Dhabi continue to focus on
enabling SMEs through a combination of institutional programmes and collaboration with both public

and private sectors. One such initiative is the “Abu Dhabi SME Champions” programme that reflects
the emirate’s broader strategy to enhance SME participation in the economy. The programme aims to
bridge gaps in access to finance, procurement and skill development by connecting smaller
enterprises with opportunities and resources, many of which are facilitated through government

platforms such as Tamm.

Abu Dhabi continues to solidify its position as a global hub for talent, business and investment. With a
future-ready economy, progressive policies and world-class infrastructure, the emirate is shaping the

future of global business.

The recently released Global Startup Ecosystem Report highlights Abu Dhabi’s growing role in the
global innovation economy.

Based on an analysis of more than 5 million companies across 350-plus ecosystems worldwide, the
emirate advanced to the 51-60 ranking range in the “Emerging Ecosystem” category, rising from the
61-70 range last year. Regionally, the emirate secured the third spot in the Mena Emerging

Ecosystem, followed by Dubai and Riyadh, both of which have shown strong startup momentum and

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