Dubai SME wins ISO 9001:2008 for service quality

Press release

Published September 25th, 2013 - 04:36 GMT

Al Janahi receiving the certificate

Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, has received the ISO 9001:2008 certification for its quality management programme from the British Standards Institution (BSI), one of the leading assessment and certification authorities in the world.

The certificate recognises the efforts undertaken by Dubai SME to improve services provided to SMEs and entrepreneurs. Dubai SME initiatives including the Intelaq programme for home-based businesses and the Government Procurement Programme (GPP) enabling SMEs to participate in government purchases were evaluated against global best practices as part of the ceritification.

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai SME, commented: “This certification validates our efforts and focus on providing high quality services in SME development and assisting entrepreneurs to evolve into business leaders. Our quality team has demonstrated the required skills and capacity to support entrepreneurship development without external help and they are now taking their initiatives to the next level.”

The certificate was handed over to Al Janahi in by Karen Williams, Deputy Head of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in Dubai in the presence Theuns Kotzé, Regional Managing Director; Ahmad Al Khatib, General Manager Assurance and Testing and Mathew John, Business Development Manager, from BSI Middle East and Africa.

“Getting the ISO certification in 2013 also shows that we have accomplished a major part of our strategy for 2013. We aimed at internationally accepted standards in our quality initiatives and our programmes in training and mentoring entrepreneurial talent and SMEs. The certification proves we were able to achieve this target,” said Shamma Saeed Bin Sulaiman, Quality Manager at Dubai SME.

Background Information

Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Size Enterprises

In September 2009, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai issued Law No.23 of 2009 concerning the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, recently renamed the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders.

The law defines the goals of the establishment for strengthening Dubai’s position as a centre for entrepreneurship and allows for the setting up of projects which encourage entrepreneurship and the innovative ideas of youth. This move seeks to motivate youth to work, as well as to pursue economic activity, such as the development and organisation of programs and initiatives.

Company Profile

Department of Economic Development

The Department of Economic Development (DED) is the government body entrusted to set and drive the economic agenda of the emirate of Dubai, UAE. The DED supports the structural transformation of Dubai into a diversified, innovative service-based economy that aims to improve the business environment and accelerate productivity growth.