Putting Dubai Businesses on the Map

Many of us may recall when phone directories were the only way to look up information, like a phone number or address, before making a purchase. Today, the ease of accessing the internet, fuelled by mobile phones, has been a game changer for all of us.  And that’s especially true in the UAE, where you’ll find the highest smartphone penetration in the world. Online search has become an essential part of people’s daily lives here. According to an IPSOS survey commissioned by Google, almost 95% of mobile users in UAE say that they use Google search as part of their research to make a purchase decision and 1 in 3 searches on Google are about locations of local businesses.

Despite all that, it’s not always easy to find what you’re looking for online and that’s because the majority of businesses still do not have proper online presence. We talked to many business owners in the UAE, and their biggest priority was for people to find accurate information about their business online and for this to require minimal effort from the business owner. In partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, we launched ‘Get Dubai Businesses Online’. The program is designed to help businesses sign up on Google my Business, a free tool that helps businesses create and manage their business listings on Google Search and Maps. Businesses registered with the Chamber can visit a booth at the HQ in Deira or visit a dedicated page on their website to get started. They can even develop a free mobile-friendly website in Arabic and English in a matter of minutes.