Among the milestones in our time, the share of small and medium-sized companies in the global economy, and the proportion of their contribution to job creation, as well as their contribution to gross national product.
In one of the statistics issued by the World Bank, it is estimated that small and medium-sized companies represent about 90% of businesses and more than 50% of job opportunities globally, and according to data published in December 2019 for the UAE Ministry of Economy, small and medium-sized companies represent 94% of the total companies In the country, while 95% of companies represent in Dubai, they provide 42% of job opportunities, and contribute to about 40% of Dubai's GDP.
Although this sector has the lion's share of the national and global economy, global studies show that small and medium-sized companies are the least adopting plans and projects for digitization of their operations, with the exception of companies that originated from an idea or digital sector and represent digitization at the heart of their work, and among the most important semi-neglected strategic resources in SMEs globally «data wealth».
And I chose to have "data moments" around the "lost data opportunity", because many companies still believe it is too early to adopt a clear strategy to digitize and classify their data, and to study opportunities to open, share and monetize them. Many global studies on the subject unanimously agreed on the lack of belief in the leadership of these institutions in the impact of this on business, and the reluctance to invest in digitization, because they believe that it is still early, the high cost of attracting data scientists, or solutions and companies that provide services in the field of data, as well as concern about the extent of the possibility Keep data safe during the process of classification and sharing of specialists.
At Dubai Data Corporation, and "Smart Dubai" in general, we realized this early in the beginning of our journey, and therefore we made the private sector a strategic partner in our various steps, and the design of the data strategy for the private sector was from the reality of the situation and the needs of the sector, and we made sure to provide resources through our website The electronic, enables small and medium enterprises and the private sector in general to learn the basics of digitization, but helps companies to take their first steps in the field.
And so that the data is not a missed opportunity for small and medium-sized companies in Dubai, we provided "Dubai Data Directory" through the "Smart Dubai" website www.SmartDubai.ae to serve as a road map for companies in their first steps, without the need for consulting companies and exorbitant expenses in the beginning, and to realize the size The tremendous opportunity awaits them. We are aware of the privacy of this sector, and the changing nature of its needs. Therefore, we have adopted transparency and participation as a pillar of our work, and I invite, through 'data moments', this sector to benefit from these resources.
Assistant General Manager of "Smart Dubai", Executive Director of Dubai Data Corporation
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Dubai Data Directory is a road map for companies in its first steps without the need for consulting firms.