TikTok has partnered with Visa to launch a new initiative aimed at empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the UAE. The collaboration offers a mix of financial incentives, expert-led training, and digital marketing tools to help entrepreneurs grow their presence on the short-form video platform and thrive in the digital economy.
Starting from July 1, 2025, SMBs that spend $250 on TikTok ad campaigns using a Visa Commercial card will receive $150 in TikTok Ad Credits. The offer, which runs until September 30, 2025, is exclusive to first-time users of TikTok Ads Manager.
In addition to the ad credits, eligible businesses will gain access to a suite of support services, including TikTok masterclasses, live Q&A sessions with platform experts, and the “Grow with TikTok Resource Hub.” As an added incentive, the first three businesses to register will receive a custom ad created by a TikTok content creator.
“SMBs are the heart of the UAE’s economy, and we are committed to helping them thrive in the digital era,” said Joanne Chehab, head of business partnerships, Global Business Solutions, MENA at TikTok. “This collaboration with Visa provides SMBs with not just financial incentives, but also the knowledge and tools they need to show up authentically and creatively on TikTok. It aligns perfectly with the UAE’s vision to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital growth.”
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Aligning with government
The initiative directly supports the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy and the government’s ongoing efforts to create a globally competitive digital economy. Under the country’s Digital Economy Strategy, the UAE aims to double the digital economy’s contribution to GDP to over 20 per cent by 2031, making collaborations like this critical to achieving national objectives.
Visa’s regional leadership echoed these ambitions. “Visa is proud to support SMBs; an essential driver of economic resilience and innovation in the UAE,” said Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP and country manager for UAE. “Through our collaboration with TikTok, we are enabling businesses to access new customers not only through digital marketing but also equipping them with the skills needed to succeed. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering entrepreneurs as part of the UAE’s digital transformation agenda.”
By combining Visa’s trusted financial services with TikTok’s dynamic and fast-growing platform, the two companies are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs to build stronger, tech-savvy businesses. The campaign also reinforces Dubai’s recent initiatives to support startups, develop national tech talent, and accelerate innovation across sectors.
With digital adoption becoming a key pillar of the UAE’s economic diversification strategy, this partnership marks a timely step in bridging the gap between financial enablement and creative engagement for the region’s SMBs.
