Google and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry partnered to launch “Get Dubai Businesses Online,” an initiative that promises to give listed businesses a new mobile-friendly website that provides better exposure to companies.
The website will be listing verified business information, which includes the company’s contact information, opening hours, and location on Google Search and Google Maps Google’s My Business (GMB) solution.
New and existing members of the Dubai Chamber are able to list their business by visiting the GMB page, or a dedicated booth at the Chamber’s HQ in Deira, where they can also instantly convert their listing into a free mobile-friendly website in English and in Arabic.
According to Google’s report, over 79% of their users use GMB’s listings to help direct them to businesses. One in 3 searches in the UAE are about locations of local businesses and 88 percent use Google Maps for directions, according to research by Ipsos.
Moreover, purchasers who see the complete listings for businesses on Google’s search engine and its Maps services are 20% more likely to have positive feedback.
Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber commented on the importance of this partnership saying: “It has become apparent that consumers are increasingly turning to online channels to access information, products and services, which is why it is absolutely crucial that businesses of all sizes invest in this area and leverage the right tools to boost their online reach.”
He also mentioned that this program came to live after an extensive study and pilot test that was conducted in 2017, adding that the pilot conducted in 2017 exceeded the Chamber’s expectations. The initiative aims to address the challenges that business owners face with limited advertising budgets and understanding how to market to customers online.
Google is also planning on expanding this program across the Gulf. Lino Cattaruzzi, Managing Director for Google in MENA said: “We’re very pleased to partner with the Dubai Chamber to help put businesses in Dubai on the map. Now is the time to experiment and to use the digital tools out there to help make businesses smarter, and to measure results. This is just the beginning. We plan to roll out the same program with local partners across the region.”
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