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Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, applauded all federal and local government and semi-government entities, private organisations, that had put forth initiatives to improve the performance of the Government Procurement Programme. Image Credit: WAM

Dubai: The total value of contracts awarded to Emirati-owned small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the emirate since the Government Procurement Programme was begun in 2002 is Dh5 billion, Dubai SME has said.

The total value of contracts awarded in 2017 was Dh1.5 billion — the first time the scheme has generated contracts worth more than Dh1 billion in a single year.

The Dubai SME report noted that Dubai Municipality — winner of the Best Supporting Government Initiative in the UAE in the SME Awards 2018 — awarded contracts worth Dh482 million in 2017, and offered more than 30 initiatives and exclusive franchises to Emirati entrepreneurs.

Members of the programme are exempted from paying Dubai SME’s registration fees. Dubai SME acts as a smart portal for government procurement operations.


Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) — the best large government entity — provided contracts worth Dh107 million, while the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs provided contracts worth Dh11 million.

30 initiatives and exclusive franchises offered by Dubai Municipality to Emirati entrepreneurs

Emirates Flight Catering, the best semi-government entity supporting the programme, awarded contracts worth Dh120 million, with Dubai Holding awarding contracts worth Dh102 million.

Dubai Statistics Centre made 20 per cent of its purchases through the programme — the highest proportion among government entities — providing contracts worth a total of Dh3 million.

Dubai Health Authority had the highest number of initiatives supporting the Government Procurement Programme, and awarded contracts worth Dh45 million.

The Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme — the best UAE federal government entity supporting the programme — awarded contracts with Dh316.5 million, offering SMEs opportunities in construction and engineering consultancies.

Members of the programme are exempted from paying Dubai SME’s registration fees. Dubai SME acts as a smart portal for government procurement operations, providing a comprehensive platform on the website that supports the government’s smart strategy. The agency seeks to establish centralised procurement systems that act as a unified access point for SMEs in Dubai, starting from registration, and going through the training and participation stages, to eventually gain access to government contracts.