SBF launches Singapore Enterprise Centre in Dubai, first in Middle East, to support companies’ expansion
The region has seen growing interest from Singapore businesses
[SINGAPORE] Small and medium-sized enterprises will soon be able to tap a new centre in Dubai for support for their expansion efforts in the Middle East.
The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on Wednesday (Nov 19) launched a Singapore Enterprise Centre (SEC) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – its first in the Middle East and fifth globally.
The new SEC@Dubai will serve as a strategic gateway for Singapore companies looking to capture opportunities across the Gulf region through its market advisory programmes, networking, business matching support, workshops, roundtables and seminars, SBF said in a statement.
The centres are part of the GlobalConnect@SBF initiative by Enterprise Singapore and SBF. There are currently four other SECs – in Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Bengaluru, the last of which opened last week.
The UAE is a key market in the Gulf region, with an economy valued at US$569 billion, and projected to grow by 4.8 per cent in 2025.
Singapore businesses have indicated an increased intent to expand into both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to SBF’s National Business Survey 2024. Companies that enquired to set base in the Middle East region have surged more than fivefold in the past two years, SBF added.
Kok Ping Soon, chief executive officer of SBF, noted that this growing demand “reflects the strong receptiveness of Singapore enterprises to opportunities in the market, and positions Dubai as a natural landing point in the region”.
The federation added that this reinforces “the need for a dedicated in-market presence of SBF through SEC@Dubai”.
Added Tan Soon Kim, deputy managing director, markets, EnterpriseSG: “The SEC@Dubai aligns with Enterprise Singapore’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties and create pathways for sustainable, mutually beneficial growth in the Middle East.”
In conjunction with the opening, SBF led a Saudi Arabia and UAE business mission, comprising 18 delegates from 13 companies across seven sectors.
The three-day overseas market workshop provided a structured approach to market entry by connecting participants with key agencies and leading enterprises “that enable the region’s business ecosystem and technology integration”.
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