UAE SME licenses surge 900% since 2000 amid entrepreneurship push

The United Arab Emirates has seen a massive expansion in its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, with active SME licenses increasing by over 140% since 2020 and more than 900% since 2000. This growth aligns with a national strategy to transition toward an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy.

During a meeting of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, officials discussed initiatives to bolster the ecosystem. This includes the “Mobile Accelerators in Villages” program, which aims to provide business services, streamlined licensing, and access to capital for entrepreneurs located outside major commercial hubs.

According to Ministry of Economy and Tourism data, SMEs now represent approximately 95% of all companies in the UAE and account for more than 85% of private-sector jobs. The country also ranked first globally for entrepreneurship for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025/2026 report.