UAE businesses gradually recover and rebuild following floods: Everything needs to be redone

The recent unprecedented rains and flooding in the UAE have left many small and medium enterprise (SME) owners reeling from the losses incurred. One such entrepreneur, Faizah Khadijah, shared her heartbreaking story of devastation after her dessert business, The Sweetie Shop, was severely affected by the storm.

Faizah recounted the moment she entered her warehouse post-storm, only to find everything destroyed. “The roof caved in, and everything was ruined. Five years of my hard work had been wiped out in an instant,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. Like Faizah, many other SME owners are facing similar challenges in the aftermath of the natural disaster.

In response to the crisis, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME) announced interest-free loans for Emiratis whose businesses were impacted by the floods. This initiative aims to provide financial support to eligible companies, offering interest-free loans of up to Dh300,000 with a grace period of 6 to 12 months.

Despite the setbacks, Faizah is determined to keep her business afloat, operating out of a reduced capacity at the Ripe Market location. “We have already suffered significant losses, and we cannot afford to lose more. We are doing our best to reinvest and rebuild the business,” she shared, highlighting the resilience and determination of SME owners in the face of adversity.

Another vendor at the Ripe Market, Harri and Eve, faced a similar fate when their newly inaugurated flagship store was flooded during the storm. Co-owner Lauren Butcher described the extensive damage caused to their container store, emphasizing the need to rebuild from scratch. Despite the challenges, Lauren remains hopeful and optimistic about the future.

The local community has also shown tremendous support for affected businesses, with residents rallying around SME owners in their time of need. Faizah expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support on social media, noting how the community’s response has helped restore her faith in the business’s future.

In the midst of the crisis, the resilience and unity displayed by SME owners and the local community serve as a beacon of hope for the affected businesses. With round-the-clock efforts to clean and rebuild, there is a sense of determination and solidarity that will help these businesses bounce back from the devastation caused by the recent floods.