The Department of Economic Development (DED) will move its offices to the Entrepreneur Business Village, the emirate’s first integrated hub dedicated to entrepreneurs and business innovation.

The offices of DED’s four agencies will also move to the village.

The move is part of DED’s commitment to enriching and improving access to its customer services, said a statement.

The Entrepreneur Business Village, a brand new purpose-built one million sq ft facility located adjacent to the Clock Tower in Deira, will offer small, medium and large businesses easy access to DED’s diverse services and personnel, with the added benefit of onsite facilities including business consultancy, parking and leisure.

The Village is an initiative of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders.

Sami Al Qamzi, director general, DED, said: 'The move to Entrepreneur Business Village will contribute to creating an integrated work environment where all facilities and requirements are available for customers.”

'One of our key objectives is to work more closely with the private sector and ensure that they have the opportunity to provide input into economic policy development. Together with our agencies - the Foreign Investment Office, the Export Development Corporation, the Dubai Shopping Festival Office and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, which supports SME growth in Dubai - we will contribute to the economic growth plans of Dubai,” added Al Qamzi.

Details about the timeframe of the move will be announced in coming months.

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders CEO said: 'Shifting DED’s offices and agencies to the Village will be a critical support to the SME sector as all manner of services will be available under one roof to help small and medium-sized companies set up and nurture business activity and contribute to Dubai’s economic growth.”

The Village comprises a mixed-use business incubator, surrounded by commercial and business organizations directly engaged in supporting and providing services to foster entrepreneurship and SMEs. A number of public and federal bodies are moving to its premises, including the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade and Aswaaq. – TradeArabia News Service