The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, known as Dubai SME and operating under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with noon Food to support Emirati-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in the food and beverage sector.
The agreement establishes a framework for onboarding eligible Dubai SME members onto noon’s digital marketplace, giving them access to the platform’s customer base, delivery fleet, payment infrastructure, and promotional campaigns.
Under the terms of the MoU, noon Food will waive all onboarding fees for participating Dubai SME members. The partnership also introduces a commission structure spanning five years, beginning at 10 per cent in the first year and rising to 20 per cent by year five.
noon Food waives onboarding fees for Dubai SME members in new five-year partnership
noon has additionally committed to a marketing investment for participating businesses, alongside advertising credits and visibility during seasonal campaigns. The measures are intended to reduce barriers to entry and support customer acquisition.
“Dubai SME and noon have partnered to create new opportunities for Emirati F&B entrepreneurs by combining institutional support with digital platform scale. This agreement delivers tangible advantages, from tailored commission rates to structured promotional investment, enabling our members to compete effectively and grow sustainably within the digital marketplace. It reinforces Dubai’s commitment to empowering SMEs as key drivers of economic diversification and long-term growth, as envisioned by our city’s leadership through the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33,” Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME) said in a statement.
Beyond the financial terms, businesses that join the programme will receive onboarding assistance, operational guidance, account management, and monthly performance reports. Dubai SME will nominate eligible F&B members, promote the initiative across its network, and oversee implementation.
Faraz Khalid, Group Chief Executive of noon, said: “Partnering with Dubai SME allows us to provide Emirati entrepreneurs with the digital infrastructure they need to thrive. By offering localised support and preferential access to our ecosystem, we are ensuring that homegrown F&B brands can scale rapidly and contribute directly to the goals of the D33 agenda.”
The partnership is aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which targets a doubling of the city’s economy by 2033 and positions Dubai as a hub for SMEs and local enterprises. SMEs account for more than 95 per cent of registered businesses in Dubai and play a role in employment, innovation, and sectoral diversification. Within the F&B sector, Emirati-owned enterprises contribute to the city’s growing digital commerce ecosystem.
Through the five-year collaboration, both entities aim to expand market access, strengthen brand visibility, and drive digital transformation for Emirati entrepreneurs across the F&B industry.
