In a strategic move to deepen engagement with small enterprises and better align trade policy with on-the-ground business needs, the Al Ain branch of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a dedicated initiative targeting the retail, tourism, and agricultural sectors.
This initiative reflects the Chamber’s commitment to enhancing its active presence across the emirate and supporting the growth of small businesses through direct, field-based engagement.
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Hands-on approach to business support
Designed to foster closer interaction with enterprise owners, the initiative offers a direct view into the day-to-day challenges and opportunities facing businesses in Al Ain. This hands-on approach is intended to generate actionable insights that will inform targeted, data-driven policies to enhance the effectiveness of the Chamber’s support programs.
The first phase of the initiative included field visits to a wide range of local enterprises, receiving highly positive feedback from business owners. Many welcomed the Chamber’s outreach as a vital step in understanding their operational realities and supporting business sustainability and growth.
A tour of Al Ain’s diverse business landscape
The Chamber’s visits highlighted Al Ain’s dynamic small business ecosystem, with stops at prominent locations such as:
- Hili Mall, home to over 100 retail outlets
- Bawadi Mall, featuring around 270 stores offering a wide variety of products and services
- Al Ain Mall, owned by Meer Group, with over 300 diverse retail shops
- Ayla Grand Hotel, a leading hospitality provider with integrated tourism offerings
- Al Amaan Travel and Holidays, part of the Bin Ham Group and a key tourism sector player
- Deep Café, known for its collaboration with over 30 local partners, showcasing a strong model of community-based commercial integration
The Chamber also visited Could Be Flower & Café, a hybrid space combining a modern café with a flower boutique, and Al Narjes Nursery, a vibrant center for local, community-driven businesses. Enterprises within Al Narjes include:
- SILO Bakery and Coffee
- POFA Café
- Al Narjes Productive Families
- Al Narjes Vegetables
- Chai Jamr
- Al Narjes Handicrafts
Each of these businesses contributes to Al Ain’s local economy through innovation, creativity, and grassroots entrepreneurship.
Identifying growth opportunities
During the visits, the Chamber identified nine key opportunities to improve the local business environment in Al Ain. These insights will help shape more inclusive and practical trade and support policies tailored to the needs of small enterprises.
Leadership commitment
His Excellency Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, second vice chairman and managing director of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, emphasized that the initiative is part of the Chamber’s broader mission to empower entrepreneurs, strengthen local enterprises, and enable them to make meaningful contributions to the emirate’s economy.
Al Dhaheri said:”At the Abu Dhabi Chamber, we see entrepreneurs and small enterprises as essential pillar of a resilient and future-ready economy. These field visits are more than a listening exercise — they are a platform for real partnership. By engaging directly with business owners, we are transforming challenges into concrete opportunities for growth, expansion, and long-term impact.”
“The Chamber’s Al Ain branch plays a vital developmental role within the broader Abu Dhabi Chamber ecosystem. This initiative reflects the Chamber’s commitment to activating its regional branches as drivers of inclusive economic development — aligned with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities and its drive to cement the emirate’s standing as a leading regional hub for business and investment,” he added.
Building a resilient and inclusive economy
Through this initiative, the Abu Dhabi Chamber aims to support a resilient, inclusive, and opportunity-rich business environment, enabling small enterprises to thrive and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading regional hub for business and investment.
