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The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy signed an agreement with Canva during the World Governments Summit 2026 to establish the platform’s regional headquarters in the emirate and support 250,000 SMEs and individuals in the digital sector over the next five years. Saeed Al Gergawi, vice president of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and Cliff Obrecht, co-founder and chief operating officer of Canva, signed the deal in the presence of Omar Sultan Al Olama, minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications, who also chairs the chamber. The chamber said the partnership aligns with the UAE’s national objectives for digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Under the agreement, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will facilitate Canva’s expansion in Dubai as the company offers newly established SMEs access to its AI-powered design and visual communication tools. The chamber highlighted that these tools, set to launch this year, will allow businesses to strengthen their digital presence, streamline content creation and develop new ideas without specialist design expertise. This offer of free Canva AI-powered design tools to SMEs is expected to lower barriers for entrepreneurs in an increasingly competitive market, according to the chamber.
Canva reported that more than 54 million designs were created on its platform in the UAE in 2025, with one in eight internet users in the country already using the service. The partnership seeks to build on this adoption by extending advanced features to a wider base of small businesses. According to the chamber’s statement, the move will help reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for digital innovation and technology companies.
Small and medium-sized enterprises represent about 95 percent of all companies in the UAE and contribute 63.5 percent to non-oil GDP, according to a 2026 report from the Emirates Council for Entrepreneurship. The chamber’s support for digital startups grew 39.7 percent in 2025, with 1,690 companies assisted, its own figures show. The Canva initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance SME capabilities in the digital space.
Omar Sultan Al Olama stated, “Dubai is continuing to strengthen its position as a global hub for leading technology and digital innovation companies, supported by a flexible, business-friendly environment and advanced infrastructure that keeps pace with the rapid evolution of the digital economy.” He added that the agreement with Canva is designed to enhance the capabilities of SMEs and support their growth and development within Dubai’s advanced digital ecosystem, the chamber reported. The minister’s comments underscored the partnership’s role in advancing national AI and digital priorities.
Cliff Obrecht noted in the announcement that establishing the regional headquarters in Dubai will allow Canva to collaborate more closely with local SMEs, creatives and institutions across the region. The co-founder emphasized the platform’s role in enabling users to transform ideas into professional outputs. Canva serves over 260 million users globally and has facilitated the creation of over 40 billion designs, company data shows.
UAE businesses have seen AI-related spending surge by 521 percent between 2025 and 2026, with SMEs responsible for 59 percent of that expenditure, a Pemo report released in April 2026 found. This trend underscores the value of accessible AI tools such as those included in the Canva partnership for driving productivity among smaller firms. The OECD’s 2025 survey on SME digitalisation noted that AI adoption among SMEs rose to 39 percent globally, with generative AI proving particularly popular for productivity gains.
