Dubai SME members, including Emirati entrepreneurs and national companies, won contracts and purchases worth Dh1.12 billion ($305 million) in 2022 – a 21.5 per cent year-on-year increase – as part of the UAE's efforts to support entrepreneurship.
Under the Government Procurement Programme, Dh553 million worth of contracts were awarded by Dubai government entities to these small and medium-sized enterprises and Dh88 million by federal government bodies, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, said in a tweet on Wednesday.
Semi-government bodies awarded Dubai SME members Dh268 million in contracts, while the private sector provided Dh214 million in contracts, Sheikh Hamdan said.
The move shows “Dubai's commitment to supporting Emirati entrepreneurs and empowering SMEs”, he said.
“We will continue to support entrepreneurial creativity in Dubai … and look forward to seeing new success stories to go global from Dubai.”
The Government Procurement Programme, an initiative of the emirate's Department of Economy and Tourism, has awarded contracts and purchases worth Dh9.6 billion over the past two decades since Dubai SME's inception in 2002, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.
Dubai, the commercial and trading hub of the Middle East, has unveiled various support measures for SMEs, including financing facilities and mentorship opportunities.
SMEs account for about 98 per cent of companies operating in the UAE. Developing the sector and accelerating the growth of start-ups are priorities for the UAE government under its development strategy for the next 50 years.
Last year, the UAE Ministry of Economy launched an updated programme to drive the country's goal of becoming a global leader for entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneurial Nation 2.0 initiative seeks to develop more than 8,000 SMEs and start-ups by 2030, the ministry said in October last year.
The Government Procurement Programme is helping to back the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and “opening new horizons” for Emirati entrepreneurs, Sheikh Hamdan said.
The D33 strategy is aimed at boosting the emirate’s competitiveness and future-readiness. The plan envisages a programme to support 30 private companies to achieve unicorn status ― worth more than $1 billion ― by 2033.
D33 also aims to make Dubai a global digital economy leader, the fastest growing and most attractive global business centre, a hub for sustainability and economic diversification, and an incubator and enabler of talent.
Dubai is a “centre for launching those with big ambitions” and “backing Emirati entrepreneurs is a priority”. Sheikh Hamdan said.
“The increase in the value of contracts awarded to Dubai SME members in 2022 underlines the confidence and trust in the local SME sector and its pivotal role in building a competitive and diversified economy,” said Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.
“We encourage increased support from government, semi-government, and private sector establishments to create more opportunities for Emirati entrepreneurs and pave the way for top-performing SMEs to grow into successful global enterprises.”
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'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
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- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
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Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
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Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
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Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
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Price, base: Dh132,000
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Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
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England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
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