Buraimi – The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) in Buraimi registered 3,127 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2023. Of these, 2,551 were small enterprises, 460 medium-sized enterprises and 16 large enterprises.

Shedding light on the authority’s initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, Saeed bin Musbih al Shukri, Assistant Director of ASMED in Buraimi, said, “Our aim is to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture across all market sectors through various support programmes.” 

Among these was the Entrepreneur Readiness Programme in 2023 in which 71 Buraimi entrepreneurs participated to gain essential skills to navigate the business landscape.

The authority’s programmes include financial support. “Eight entrepreneurs benefited from financing programmes, with the total aid amounting to over RO1mn,” Shukri added.

ASMED data showed 571 enterprises had secured entrepreneurship cards, which are designed to facilitate business operations and access to support services, while 2,456 enterprises awaited these cards.

ASMED also supported local artisans, with 11 craftspeople receiving a total of RO5,000 in aid to help sustain traditional crafts. Further contributing to the local SME ecosystem, ASMED organised three exhibitions in 2023, attracting over 150 participants and generating sales exceeding RO12,000.

The registered SMEs span a diverse range of economic sectors, including wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, construction, and more specialised fields such as professional, scientific and technical activities. Other sectors represented include accommodation and food services, transportation and storage, real estate activities, and sectors crucial to infrastructure like electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply.

The vibrant SME landscape in Buraimi is a testament to the governorate’s robust economic activities and ASMED’s commitment to nurturing a dynamic business environment.