du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has partnered with GoDaddy to enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the Small Office, Home Office (SoHo) segment to create, evolve and grow their digital presence. The announcement was made at GITEX Global 2022 – where du is presenting an innovative showcase under the theme ‘Powering Governments, Shaping The Emirates Reality’.

A majority of the UAE’s private sector companies are micro-businesses ranging from home-based businesses and start-ups to more established firms. This has created a demand for digital transformation tools for small-scale businesses bringing a huge opportunity compared to other developed markets. Businesses in the UAE are on a digital transformation journey but face challenges such as technical know-how and high cost perception, according to the GoDaddy entrepreneurship survey conducted in 2020.These businesses require better, affordable, easy-to-use digital tools to drive post-pandemic recovery.

Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer at du said: “It is important for a digital-first telco such as du to identify, understand and effectively support small businesses in the UAE. The sector represents a path to not only individual prosperity but also to strong, equitable communities. Our partnership with GoDaddy will support us in building a healthy ecosystem for entrepreneurs to grow and prosper in the region and beyond.”

Digital transformation for small-scale businesses in the UAE is extremely important to scale-up and grow to new customers beyond geography by pioneering their presence online with the help of easy-to-use digital tools. Through this collaboration, du and GoDaddy intend to bring superior digital tools for the segment that will propel them to new heights in this post-pandemic world.

Selina Bieber, Commercial Strategy Senior Director, International Markets, GoDaddy said: “GoDaddy’s mission is to provide entrepreneurs with the tools and help needed to succeed online and grow their business. We are excited to partner with du to leverage advanced technology and development to drive future growth for small and medium businesses in the UAE.”

GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain registrar that empowers small business owners by helping them build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and manage their work. The partnership between du and GoDaddy will capitalise on the telco’s leadership in connectivity solutions to provide essential tools for businesses and power their digital transformation journeys.

In collaboration with GoDaddy, du is committed to boosting the high-growth potential of the SME and SoHo markets and their role in contributing towards UAE’s vision for advancing national economy.