How Dubai SME is empowering Hatta’s entrepreneurial community

October 30, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau

The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), a part of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has outlined its ambitious plan to support and develop the entrepreneur community across various fields in Hatta.

Dubai SME’s new plan for Hatta entrepreneurs aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to empower Hatta’s young citizens to start their own businesses and implement new creative approaches that will ensure the region’s sustainable economic development and contribute to raising the standard of living and ensure the well-being of people.

In addition to Hatta’s status as a leading regional leisure hotspot, facilitating further development of the Hajar Mountain community is a cornerstone of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The plan covers four key strategic pillars: Wellness, Tourism, Sports & Activities and Sustainability, with a specific focus on preserving Hatta’s natural environment, boosting its development and enriching its tourism competitiveness. The plan also seeks to support domestic projects that meet the current and future ambitions of Hatta residents, creating opportunities to support Emiratis in a way that stimulates tourism and encourages entrepreneurial activity while also preserving the unique geographical identity of the region.

Over the past few years, Dubai SME has remained committed to providing financial assistance for the launch and expansion of homegrown projects that add value to the Hatta region and its people.

For instance, an apiary project in the Hatta mountains, Al Doror for Honey and Dates Trade is one of the most prominent projects to receive establishment and expansion loans from Dubai SME. In addition to its agricultural and environmental impacts, the project includes the construction of an apiary consisting of 3,000 beehives, with a production capacity of more than 20 tonnes of honey each year. In addition, Tanoor Restaurant specialising in local dishes has been financially supported, enabling its owners to develop and expand operations. Also, Hur Hatta for Salon Supplies Trade, which provides beauty supplies, tools, perfumes and non-pharmaceutical preparations to licensed beauty centres in the Hatta region, has also been supported by Dubai SME.

In this context, Dubai SME CEO, Abdul Baset Al Janahi said, “The support provided by Dubai SME over the past year to Hatta-based entrepreneurs, as well as other citizens, is a core enabler in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 including integrating Emiratis into the workforce across high-performing sectors.”

“As we work towards achieving the key goal of the D33 Agenda to further consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the top three global cities within the next decade, we will continue to identify and leverage investment opportunities by fostering an environment where entrepreneurship and the next generation of business leaders thrive. Through strategic initiatives, mentorship programmes and access to resources, we are dedicated to equipping our entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. This support extends beyond financial assistance; it encompasses knowledge sharing, networking opportunities and a nurturing ecosystem where ideas can grow into successful businesses,” he added.

To enable youths in the region to start their projects and turn their ideas into reality, a new business facilitation centre, Tasheel has been established at Hatta Community Centre to support young entrepreneurs and SME owners, who can utilise smart services to issue tax-free business licenses, including an Intelaq License via the Invest in Dubai platform. The centre also offers multi-use halls and a meeting room as a hub for entrepreneurs.