7 government agencies sign 55 contracts with small companies

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, concluded the National Forum for Small and Medium Enterprises – Government Procurement 2026, with the signing of 55 contracts between seven government agencies that participated in the forum and Emirati small and medium companies worth 78.6 million dirhams. These new partnerships aim to enhance the participation of small and medium enterprises in the government procurement system, and support their growth and sustainability, thus contributing to achieving national economic development goals.

The Ministry stated, in a statement yesterday, that the forum is expected to contribute to providing additional contracts for national small and medium enterprises worth 100 million dirhams during the coming period, which enhances the opportunities for these projects to expand, allows them to participate in larger government projects, and enhances the growth and prosperity of national entrepreneurship.

The forum witnessed wide participation by federal and local authorities, national companies, and Emirati entrepreneurs, and was attended over two days by more than 1,300 people, which provided opportunities for direct communication and establishing new partnerships, in addition to workshops and dialogue sessions that discussed best practices in government procurement and how to enable national projects to contribute more to the national economy.

The forum also witnessed the signing by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism of five memorandums of understanding with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, E&E Etisalat Group, Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), which aim to open more contractual opportunities for entrepreneurs and Emirati small and medium companies in government procurement tenders, and enhance their capabilities for expansion and sustainable growth, which contributes to supporting the national economy and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah Al Saleh, said that the outcomes resulting from the forum reflect the Ministry’s orientation towards building an integrated system for government procurement based on partnership and integration with government agencies and major national companies, which contributes to the empowerment of small and medium enterprises, which represent about 95% of the total companies operating in the country, and whose contribution reaches 63% in the gross domestic product.

He pointed out that the memorandums of understanding contribute to expanding strategic partnerships and enhancing contracting opportunities for Emirati small and medium enterprises, and aim to establish a general framework for joint cooperation that contributes to supporting and empowering members of the National Program for Small and Medium Enterprises and Enterprises.