SME REVIVAL: SUPPORTING THE ECOSYSTEM

Motivate Media Group, along with an expert panel, has selected these 20 SMEs as the beneficiaries of the $1m initiative

- AARTI NAGRAJ

As we approach the end of 2020, the monumental impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is now palpable across all sectors. One segment that has arguably been among the hardest hit is the small and medium enterprise (SME) ecosystem. While some have struggled to stay afloat, others have been forced to put their expansion plans on hold. In such an environment, SMEs have understandably hesitated to allocate budgets towards marketing and advertising. However, it is imperative for companies to remain visible and market themselves during this period. In a bid to support such SMEs, Motivate Media Group is offering $1m worth of free advertising and marketing to homegrown UAE small businesses. The initiative, which has received approval from the Dubai government’s Department of Economic Development (DED), is offering 20 SMEs upto $50,000 free advertising space each across Motivate’s brands including Gulf Business, What’s On, Emirates Woman, Campaign and Identity. As part of the initiative, Motivate has also pledged to support five tech SMEs in partnership with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa).

The SMEs have been chosen by an expert panel including: Badr Al Olama, executive director, Mubadala Aerospace; Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, executive board member, director and COO, AW Rostamani Group; Hamdi A Osman, chairman and CEO, Ho Holding; Mona Ataya, CEO and founder, Mumzworld; Ahmed Ramdan, group CEO, Roya International; Donna Benton, founder, The Benton Group; and Ian Fairservice, founder and managing partner, Motivate Media Group.

BAYZAT