The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), a subsidiary of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), participated at the first ever Hatta Farming Festival, hosting a workshop and showcasing entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Hatta’s agricultural sector. Held from 23-27 February at Hatta Hall, the inaugural festival was launched to inspire and empower local farmers in one of the UAE’s oldest agricultural regions and educate the community about environmental practices.
Further cultivating agricultural enterprise, Dubai SME delivered a workshop to introduce the services and privileges it provides as support for entrepreneurs and SME owners and to encourage them to launch projects. Services from Dubai SME included supporting the issuance of 45 fee-exempt commercial licences for startups in Hatta to date. To showcase Dubai SME projects in the region, participants including Muhammad Khalfan Humaid Al-Mutaiwei (Alberi Cafe), Ahmed Mutawa Muhammad Khalfan Al-Badwawi (Black Rose Cafe), and Abdullah Jumah Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi (Fritz Café L.L.C) provided services at the festival.
Hatta-based residents who have graduated from the Certified Agri-Entrepreneurship Professional Diploma, a training programme conducted by DET in coordination with Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy (DEA), the educational arm of Dubai SME, also showcased their businesses and products at the festival. Khalfan Humaid Sultan Al Mutaiwee (Hatta Model Strawberry Farm), Sindhi Khalfan Fadel Al-Badwawi (Al-Dhabi Farm), Nasser Salem Saif Al-Baddawi (Hatta Hills Farm), and Ahmed Muhammad Abdullah Al-Hashemi (Al-Hashemi Farm) were among the entrepreneurs to participate.
His Excellency Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, said: “In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai SME has implemented an integrated plan to support agriculture in Hatta. The support provided by Dubai SME to Hatta-based entrepreneurs at the Hatta Farming Festival, in addition to initiatives such as the diploma programme, are core enablers in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to double the size of Dubai’s economy and position the emirate among the top three global cities. The festival allowed Dubai SME to showcase our services and partners in the region, while the event encouraged small business owners from the Certified Agri-Entrepreneurship Professional Diploma to display their products. We are committed to providing financial and technical support to Emirati entrepreneurs, as part of the wider effort to further boost the development of the Hatta region, as well as the vibrant SME sector.”
Dubai SME’s plan for Hatta
Last year, Dubai SME implemented ambitious plans that support and develop the start-up economy and entrepreneur community in Hatta, empowering Hatta’s young citizens and entrepreneurs to start their businesses, implementing 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 residents and visitors.
In addition to Hatta’s status as a leading regional leisure hotspot, facilitating further development of the Hajar Mountain community – regarded as one of the UAE’s most prominent tourist, heritage, and cultural destinations – is a cornerstone of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Covering four key strategic pillars – Wellbeing, Tourism, Sports & Activities, and Sustainability – there is a specific focus on preserving Hatta’s natural environment, boosting development and enriching tourism competitiveness.
Agricultural entrepreneurship
Catalysing Hatta’s entrepreneurial surge, Dubai SME has been actively organising training courses and specialised programmes to lend direction to young entrepreneurs in Hatta on setting up or expanding their own businesses and the results have been extremely encouraging. In 2023, Dubai SME conducted 21 workshops and specialised diplomas in entrepreneurship for the commercial and agricultural sectors, while in 2022, 401 citizens participated in 19 workshops and the specialised programmes saw 103 citizens participate in 52 projects.
The Certified Agri-Entrepreneurship Professional Diploma, launched in 2021, is a specialised programme run by DET and DEA that aims to build the capabilities of entrepreneurs and enable them to start projects in the agriculture sector. The diploma programme introduces the principles of entrepreneurship and agricultural production as well as business development, including economic importance of the agricultural sector; research and innovations in agriculture and food security; business model and design of agricultural farms; and agricultural production, marketing and financial management.
In February 2023, when reviewing the progress of phase one of Hatta Development Projects and Initiatives encompassing 14 projects and initiatives, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum felicitated 87 Hatta residents who graduated from the certified professional diplomas in entrepreneurship and agricultural entrepreneurship.
Through financial and technical support, Dubai SME has contributed to several Hatta success stories, including projects related to construction and contracting enterprises; blacksmithing, carpentry and aluminium; food; tourism and leisure establishments; productive farms; hotels and vacation homes; restaurants and cafes; fitness centres; services; domestic projects, and more.
