9 August 2026, 14:59
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Last updated:
9 August 16:03 2026
Summary
Dubai Customs increases its purchases from Emirati suppliers by 18% to 9.7 million dirhams in 2025, with 363 transactions involving 27 companies under the SME support programme.
With a total of 363 transactions involving 27 Emirati companies, Dubai Customs has significantly impacted local economic dynamics.
According to Abdullah Bousnad, the Director General of Dubai Customs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to creating a resilient economy. In collaboration with local businesses, the organisation aims to foster growth and enhance their competitiveness through strategic initiatives.
These efforts have resulted in a notable increase in the value of purchases and contracts with Emirati suppliers, rising from 8.2 million dirhams in 2024 to approximately 9.7 million dirhams in 2025—a growth of 18%. This increase reflects a growing confidence in the efficiency of Emirati suppliers and the successful transition of institutional support into sustainable business opportunities.
Strengthening Partnerships
The achievements of Dubai Customs are part of a record performance by the supporters of the “Emirati Supplier” programme in 2025, where the total value of purchases and contracts facilitated by the programme for Emirati companies surpassed 1.78 billion dirhams. This involved over 84 supporting entities and benefited more than 1,070 national establishments, demonstrating the effectiveness of government-promotion in boosting the competitiveness of Dubai’s economy.
This aligns with the objectives of the “Emirati Supplier” programme, managed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation for Small and Medium Enterprises Development. The programme facilitates access for Emirati companies to government and semi-government sectors as well as the private sector, thus enhancing their role in supply chains while providing guidance, training, and support services.
Dubai Customs was among the first governmental entities to initiate support measures for national projects, launching the inaugural government exhibition dedicated solely to SMEs in 2019. This initiative provided a platform for showcasing Emirati suppliers’ products and services, aimed at forging new partnerships across various departments and entities while nurturing their market presence.
Competitive Support
Abdullah Bousnad
Bousnad stated, “Supporting Emirati suppliers is an investment in Dubai’s economy and its future. Small and medium national enterprises form a fundamental pillar in building a more diverse and resilient economy. At Dubai Customs, we continuously work on developing initiatives that offer these companies greater growth opportunities, enabling their increased participation in government procurement.”
He added, “We believe that establishing a sustainable partnership with Emirati suppliers directly enhances the competitiveness of Dubai’s economy. Therefore, we are consistently refining policies and initiatives that facilitate business operations.”
Rashed Alshard
Rashed Alshard, Executive Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs at Dubai Customs, remarked, “We have focused on transitioning the initiatives supporting Emirati suppliers from mere procedural easements to tangible business opportunities for national companies. We have developed a comprehensive system that combines purchasing facilitation, institutional support, and promotion.”
Purchasing Facilitation
Dubai Customs has adopted a range of initiatives to support members of the “Emirati Supplier” programme. These include prioritising certain purchases for them, implementing direct agreements based on established regulations, and reserving a number of purchasing activities in their favour. Furthermore, they encourage principal contractors to engage them in contract execution and exempt them from document purchase fees and preliminary guarantees. Special areas have been designated within the customs territory for showcasing and selling their products annually, benefiting over 18 suppliers in 2025. Additionally, they have provided free promotional and media support through Dubai Customs, Ports and Customs Authority, and the Free Zone platforms.