The Dubai Economy has launched an initiative with food and grocery delivery app Talabat to support the growing number of small UAE businesses.
The new agreement allows Emirati holders of Department of Economic Development (DED) Trader license to display and sell their products on the Talabat platform, enabling them to expand their online presence and reach more customers.
“The agreement with Talabat is in line with the continuous efforts to support Dubai’s economic sectors and drive sustainable economic growth,” said Omar Al Mehairi, director of Development and Follow-up Division in the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector.
The DED Trader is a government initiative that seeks to regulate business activities online, including social networking sites. During the last nine months, the programme saw a 138 percent increase in the issuance of permits.
According to Al Mehairi, the initiative is part of their strategy to enhance the ease of doing business, as well as drive the overall competitiveness and sustainable growth of Dubai.
Jeremy Doutte, Talabat vice president for UAE, said the partnership with Dubai Economy will help Emirati start-ups accelerate their online commerce expansion by increasing their visibility and order volume through direct access to their platform’s “large customer database and logistics network”.
“We share the UAE government’s vision and we believe the future will be positive for the industry. That is why we continue to invest heavily on our platform and restaurant partners. We look forward to continuing to work with Dubai Economy to help Emirati traders chart a successful path forward,” added Doutte.